Taxol/Herceptin

Hi CristlC, after a lot of reading and soul searching I'm taking the clinical trial that my oncologist offered: TH (Taxol/Hercepting) weekly for 12 weeks then Herceptin for the year...I have more decisions to make down the road but for now I've got this one down. I had an infection on my right breast so my post placement was postponed until next week. 

 Orange1, thank you so much for all the info.

Big hug, Em. 

Hi Chrisi,

I am currently trying to decide between Taxol/Herceptin, TCH or no treatment.

A few questions. What did you do about the neuropathy issues from the Taxol? Did they go away or are you still having problems? Did they continue on the Herceptin? I already have some neuropathy due to fibromyalgia that cycles in and out.

Any side effects from the Herceptin? Have they monitered your heart during the 12 treatments?

Also, why did you choose to get the port in your arm instead of your chest?. I just had a bilateral mast and was told it would have to go in the chest and I don't see how when I am in so much pain in the entire area.

Read my profile for more info about my treatment problems. Thanks and hope you are feeling well. Also great that you are almost finished.

Elaine, I encourage you to look at some of the other Her2+ threads.  Her2+ cancer is more aggressive, but what I understand and what I have read here says that Herceptin has leveled the field, because it does such a good job of stopping the Her2.  It is a reasonably new drug, especially for early cancer, and the doctors are still figuring out new ways to use it to combat the cancer. 

I found the weekly Taxol and 3 weekly Herceptin very easy, the only SE I noticed from the Taxol in the first 6 weeks was tingling in my toes by week 8 I had some numbness in my fingers and joint pain, but within 3 weeks of finishing the Chemo the SE's had gone. I continued to excerise throughout treatment.

I'm continuing 3 weekly Herceptin which I have no SE's from, work full time and busy Mom of 3 little ones. I have a heart scan every 3 months, which the results haven't changed.

Also started Arimadex and have no side effects from that either - maybe a few new aches and pains but too busy to notice.

Hi newyorker1,

This is such a hard decision--I'm in the Taxol/Herceptin trial at Dana-Farber, and remember how confusing and frustrating it was to sort out all the information and opinions during the early days of diagnosis and treatment. I remember consulting an oncologist (who did not treat breast cancer patients) when I was trying to decide what to do. He told me to trust my gut. My gut was telling me nothing except that I was scared and this was could be a life-altering choice. 

You've had opinions from two oncologists, both of whom recommend a stronger regimen than Taxol/Herceptin. I'd suggest you question both carefully about their reservations for recommending the Taxol/Herceptin trial. I don't know the role of tumor size in any of this. My inclination (and of course all of this is personal and individual) would be to listen to their concerns and choose the least toxic protocol with the best chance of success. From what you've said, it doesn't sound like the T/H trial is among those.

You'll be having chemo of some kind, and that means a year of adjustments and changes to your life. But it will end, and at least you'll have the confidence that you made the best decision you could with the information available to you at the time.

Sending you wishes for good health and peace of mind!

Hi NewYorker1,

Congratulations on making your decision and moving ahead with treatment! I've heard very positive things about Sloan-Kettering.

I'm good. I've started an exercise program, run by a physiologist from Dana-Farber, and it's given me a real focus as I move away from treatment. I have neuropathy in both feet from the Taxol, but this isn't a problem for most women--from what I understand this side effect usually goes away shortly after treatment ends. It's annoying, but manageable.

And I can reassure you that the hair comes back, and it's wonderful! Mine is thicker now than before. I'm keeping it short and it looks good. I would never have tried this length if nature and Taxol hadn't taken over!

Good luck and stay well!

I am with MSK in New York and I am currently finishing up A/C treatments.  I will be starting Taxol/Herceptin x 12.  They recently switched my treatment plan from Taxol/Herceptin x 4/bi-weekly,  to Taxol/Herceptin x 12/weekly. 

I was Stage IIB and completed TCH X 6 last February, but cancer returned, local recurrence within a few months of completing my one year of Herceptin.  I don't know what my stage is, just that it was a local recurrence, with no mets.

I am hoping that this regimen will knock it out for good.  My oncologist is confident that the weekly Taxol/Herceptin will be better tolerated than the bi-weekly regimen.  She has told me to continue with my summer plans for vacation/recreation etc.  The A/C was not as bad as I thought it would be.  I am tolerating it much better than the TCH.

Hi GAgirl01 - Good for you!!  I feel like second opinions are so important and even more so being your own advocate.  I also chose the taxol/herceptin trial last year as a result of a second opinion out of Dana Farber.  Not looking back and feeling fantastic.  All of the best to you with your treatment. Looking back, it goes by fast and you will be so happy when it is done!

Hi there GA girl01...I also had two different treatment options with a very similar diagnosis...I was diagnosed in May 08...tumor less then 1cm...no node involvement grade 3 0/8 nodes...only difference was that I am ER positive...I was offered TCH....and then ended up going with the Taxol Hereceptin Trial for 12 weeks through Sloan.  After the 12 weeks I received Herceptin every third week.  I was very perplexed over what to do...but after many conversations with experts in the field and many hours spent researching I chose the trial and I have never looked back..I have been doing well...Hope your journey continues to be a good one...

newyorker1 & HES112 ~ Thank you for the words of encouragement!! I'm 4wks into the TH trial and this Tues. I go for #5.  So far I'm feeling very good.  Very little se's; I'm still running daily and working my regular schedules.  I've been using the pcc's (cold caps) so I haven't had any hair loss (shedding has been very minimal-what I would consider to be normal for me)  Fatigue hasn't been an issue either. I won't have to have radiation, I had a bmx prior to the start of TH.  I will have to schedule my exchange though, I currently have te's.  They've been a real pain...can't wait to get rid of them.  Would you mind if I ask you a coulple of ?'s...did either of you loose eyebrowns or eyelashes with TH treatments? If so, do you remember around when?  I'm really struggling with the possibility of this and I know all of the above could happen, I just want to know @ what point to expect it if there is a way to do so.  Thanks ladies, without each other I think we all would feel totally helpless!

Hi GA girl,  I think your doing great with the pcc's.  I did not know about them when I started the Taxol and Herceptin.  I lost alot of hair by the fourth treatment and just decided to take it off at that point as it was too overwhelming for me to watch it fall out.  As far as my eyebrows...maybe I lost a little.  I definately lost more in the way of the eyelashes toward the end of treatment.  I did not lose them all. Keep strong and keep smiling....