Taxol for early stage BC with node negative

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BinZ
BinZ Member Posts: 3
edited June 2014 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

My mom was diagnosed in August with Stage1/Grade2/IDC bc, 1.5cm, ER+/PR+, node negative. She had a mastectomy and has hust finished the 3rd of 6 rounds of ECF chemotherapy. 

We went to another oncologist for a second opinion on the chemo drugs, and he mentioned about adding Taxol/Taxotere. I did my research online and can't find much information on the effectiveness of Taxol for node negative patients.  I wonder if anyone here has any information or similar experience. Thank you so much...

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

    Taxol is very effective against breast cancer, but EFC plus Taxol seems like a lot for stage I unless it is HER2+.

    I'm confused by the signature line because it says C-erB+ and FISH-. C-erB is another name for HER2 and FISH is also a test for HER2 so those should be the same. There are two tests for HER2+ and FISH is suppose to be the more accurate one. Sometimes if the first test was ambiguous they do the FISH test to decide whether the tumor is strongly HER2+.

    Will your mom be getting Herceptin (which is only given for HER2+)? For HER2+, Herceptin is often started along with taxane (Taxol or Taxotere) chemo and it seems to be most effective when given that way. But for early stage HER2+ chemo, I think TCH is better then getting CEF or AC followed by Herceptin or Herceptin plus a taxane is preferable because of lower heart risk.

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  • BinZ
    BinZ Member Posts: 3
    edited October 2009

    bluedasher - Thank you for the information! The C-erB2 showed one (+) and we ordered the FISH test which came back negative. So my mom will not be getting the Herceptin.

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  • knowledgeforpower
    knowledgeforpower Member Posts: 184
    edited October 2009

    Definitely ask the oncologist why he feels your mom needs Taxol.  I was offered either taxol or adriamycin/cytoxan.  I did 4 rounds of AC and that was it.  I was node negative, Her2-, and was grade 3 with a very agressive pathology even though the tumor was small.  I am taking Aromasin for 5 years.  Good luck...

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  • buffy
    buffy Member Posts: 73
    edited October 2009

    I have to agree with blue dasher.  Adding Taxol seems a lot of chemo for someone node negative, grade 2.  Remember, chemotherapy only works on those cells that warrant the treatment.   I was node negative, grade I and a friend who is a pathologist said chemo would not do a thing for my type of cells.  If you are still unsure, maybe you should get a 3rd opinion, or stick with your initial treatment decision.  

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  • kbugmom
    kbugmom Member Posts: 15,189
    edited October 2009

    I am triple neg. The first time I was dx I was node neg and had mast. But it still came back. I wonder if I had of had more than a/c maybe it would not have reared its ugly head again. Talk to the dr at length about concerns. Get another opioion which is a good idea. Keep us posted.

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  • LRM216
    LRM216 Member Posts: 2,115
    edited October 2009

    I too am triple negative, diagnosed late Feb. 2009 and I had 1.2 cm IDC in right breast, grade 1, stage III (triple neg is aggressive), no node involvement and I had 4 DD AC every two weeks, and the 1 DD Taxol (neuropathy right out of the gate) then switched by onc to 3 DD Taxotere every three weeks.  Just finished all the chemo and am on to rads as I had a lumpectomy.  Good luck to you.

    Linda

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  • BinZ
    BinZ Member Posts: 3
    edited October 2009

    Thank you all! I really appreciate the information you shared. We'll sure get a 3rd opionion on it. The second onc suggests FECx3 followed by Tx3, instead of the original FECx6. I'm not sure if this is actually easier on the body because it takes out the last 3 cycles of FEC.

    I read through the Chemo forum and found more people are also being offered with TCx4/6 option. I also found in 2009 NCCN Clinical Guidelines for bc where it says "Randomized clinical trials demonstrate that the addition of a taxane to anthracycline-based chemotheropy provides an improved outcome". We still have some time before the 4th cycle chemo, so we'll see how the 3rd opinion goes.

     Good luck to you all.

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