Chemo dilemma

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MTB42
MTB42 Member Posts: 10
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
Chemo dilemma
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  • MTB42
    MTB42 Member Posts: 10
    edited September 2009

    I have completed lumpectomy and Mammosite radiation for a 1 cm ILC.  I'm stage 1, Grade 2, ER+/PR+/HER+ and my oncologist is recommending chemo.  I'll need taxotere and herceptin but was given a choice of carboplatin (more commonly used but apparently more side effects) and cytoxin (shorter duration of treatment, somewhat less side effects).  I chose to go with the cytoxin and am hoping I'm making the right decision.  Anyone have experience with taxotere, cytoxin and herceptin?

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  • flash
    flash Member Posts: 1,685
    edited September 2009

    Sorry no one has responded to you.  Bumping this up for you.  I did AC and the TH so I can't help you on the TCH combo.

    good luck

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  • 07rescue
    07rescue Member Posts: 168
    edited September 2009

    Also sorry no one has responded. I did the Taxotere with carboplatin and Herceptin, so I'm also useless to you. For whatever it might be worth, if I had had a grade 2 tumor I would have opted for the lesser side effects. The neuropathy and other side effects can last a long time. they certainly are for me.

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  • GracePang
    GracePang Member Posts: 178
    edited September 2009

    I am in Stage IV, mets to bone, lungs and liver. My onc suggests me using exactly the same drugs. I may start my chemo next week. would like to know how you respond to it.

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  • MTB42
    MTB42 Member Posts: 10
    edited September 2009

    GracePang, I will let you know soon how this treatment protocol goes for me.  My first chemo is tomorrow.  I'm frightened but have read a number of posts that say it's not as bad as they were afraid of.

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  • Vegasmom
    Vegasmom Member Posts: 33
    edited September 2009

    hi I am currenty doing the TCH.  Actually just finished my last one today.  I only had .3mm, but ER+ and HER2+ grade 3.  My onco said I did not need chemo until my fish test confirmed I was HER2 + .  That changed everything.  I got 3 opinions.  1 said no chem , 2 said do the chemo. Plus thay looked at my age 35, I have alot of time to reoccure.  There is a new MD Anderson study out that says less that 1cm HER2+ that did nothing , there is a 25% chance of reccurance within 5 yrs.  Pretty scary,so I did the chem.  I started a thread a while back "Chemo or no chemo, confused".   Also there is another thread called "Mushy in the middle" that talks about this.  So far I did really great on the TCH, no serious problems.You should go to & read those threads, alot of people helped....You can PM me if you like.....Tanya

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  • still-me
    still-me Member Posts: 34
    edited September 2009

    Hi-

    I am not HER2+  But I am on Taxotere and Cytoxin.  I have had 3 rounds of 4.  Round 4 is on October 5th.

    As for the effects- hair loss on head, legs, and the pubic area.  Tired for about 3 days.  Nasty taste in my mouth for about a week.

    But I have managed to keep eyebrows, eyelashes, and nails so far!!  I have amintained my weight the entire time and never experienced nausia.

    I also get the Neulasta shot the day after chemo and that causes severe bone pain in my legs for several days.  It could be a combination of the chemo and the shot.  But I think it is the shot.  I hate the Neulasta shot.  But only one to go ;)

    I think...at least for me, the Taxotere and Cytoxin is very doable.

    I hope you do well with it.  Good Luck.

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  • bluedasher
    bluedasher Member Posts: 1,203
    edited September 2009

    The reason that they use carboplatin with Herceptin is that there seems to be a synergistic effect between platins and Herceptin in killing cancer cells in vitro. They started out with cisplatin, but that has worse side effects than carboplatin. Therefore, the non-anthracyline treatment tested in BCIRG 006 was Taxotere, carboplatin and Herceptin. That's what I had, but some of the worst side effects seemed to be carboplatin ones.I don't think there has been any trial of Taxotere, Cytoxin and Herceptin.

    Both the Taxotere and the Herceptin are pretty effective against HER2+ cancers. And we are just stage I so it seems reasonable to try something that is less hard on the kidneys.

    There is a trial for stage I using just Taxotere and Herceptin. So Taxotere, Cytoxin and Herceptin might be a good compromise between effectiveness and side effects if not doing the trial. 

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  • MTB42
    MTB42 Member Posts: 10
    edited October 2009

    To GracePang:  I had the first chemo with taxotere, cytoxan and herceptin.  No major side effects, just a bit of hot/numb feeling in my toes, some fatigue, and a bit of diarrhea on day 5 or so.  Had herceptin alone this week (I get that weekly) and have been feeling a bit weak and shaky.  Don't know if that is from the herceptin or the intestinal upset.  No hair loss as yet but I'm not quite at two weeks from treatment.  Wonder when that will happen?

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