Recurrence of Cancer Growth While On Chemo-Help!!!
My mom was diagnosed with BC (Stage 3B, Triple Neg) in April 2009. Because of the size of her tumor and chest wall invasion, it was determined that she would do neo-adjuvant chemotherapy to try to shrink the tumor prior to surgery. She was selected to participate in a clinical trial of a new drug (Sutent) along with weekly chemo which started in May. She did 12 weekly treatments of Taxol along with daily Sutent for those 12 weeks. The tumor responded very well to the Taxol and shrunk from the approximate size of a golf ball to practically undetectable to the touch. Then about 6 weeks ago my mom began phase 2 of the trial and switched from Taxol and Sutent to weekly Adriomycin and daily, oral tablet dosage Cytoxan. She was scheduled to do 15 weeks of that, instead at last week’s chemo we learned that her monthly ultrasound showed that she is failing to respond to this chemo and the cancer has restarted growth. It is now detectable to touch again and approximately the size of a marble. She has been removed from the clinical trial and we meet with the oncologist tomorrow to see what our next course of treatment is. Most likely the next step is surgery and then radiation. However, what is really scaring me is that, based on whatever the onc saw on the MRI he ordered to confirm the ultrasound results, he has now ordered a PT scan which makes me question whether the cancer has spread from her breast. I am very scared for my mom, since she is triple negative, if 12 weeks of Taxol didn’t stop it and Adriomycin and Cytoxan are ineffective, what else is there? Also, my mom is unlikely to do any more chemo after six months already that haven’t been successful. Please, any thoughts/advice would be appreciated. Thank you.
Comments
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Thats so terrible but Im sure the PT is routine. Did she do other scans other than the ultrasound? Hang in there - I wish I had good advice to give you but I am not familiar with this and can only offer support. Good luck and post back

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Ps73-Thank you for your support!
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