Any stage 3 long term survivors with minimal chemo?

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dharmamama
dharmamama Member Posts: 138
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

Due to rare side effects from chemo, I was only able to recieve 3 rounds. I will be continuuing with 1 year of Herceptin as well as radiation. I am hoping to hear of women that are stage 3 long term survivors who weren't able (or chose not) to complete chemo as well. Thank you!

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  • lexislove
    lexislove Member Posts: 2,645
    edited November 2009

    Hi there.

    Im sorry about your struggles. What a tough situation to be in. What chemo cocktails have you done so far? Are you able to try a different combo?

    Im looking at your stats and you are ER- so anti hormone meds are not an option. It is a good thing that you are Her2+, so you can have the Herceptin. Most woman get through Herceptin much...much easier. Herceptin is probably THE most important.....BUT....as you are aware, your breast cancer is really advanced and needs as much as possible to beat it.

    I would maybe ask about some other chemos...maybe they would be easier to tolerate?

    I hope someone can give some help for you...BUMP!

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  • bejuce
    bejuce Member Posts: 97
    edited November 2009

    Hi dharmamama,

    I'm sorry about your struggles. Have you been to the HER2support.org site yet? Someone there may give you a better answer to your question.  You may be able to join a trial and get a Tykerb/Herceptin combo - some HER-2+ folks are getting great results with it.

    Good luck and all the best to you! 

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  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited November 2009

    You might want to vist the natural thread. There are a lot of girls in there that chose not to do chemo. 

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  • Bugs
    Bugs Member Posts: 1,719
    edited November 2009

    I second bejuce's suggestion.  Herceptin is your best weapon in this and if you can add a little kick to it...awesome.  You may also want to check into staying on Herceptin longer than a year.  I know of a few stage 3'ers that were on longer than a year.

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited November 2009

    I read somewhere that the first chemo kills something like 99% of the cancer anyhow. So, you already got most of its benefit. As the other women have said, Herceptin is probably your best weapon anyhow.

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  • TammyLou
    TammyLou Member Posts: 740
    edited November 2009

    There are at least 2 items of speculation that I am aware of (on the CAM front)

    1 is curcumin.

    The other is celebrex...found to have some effective action against HER+++ type cancers.

    tl

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  • phoenixsmom
    phoenixsmom Member Posts: 58
    edited December 2009

    Tammy Lou, sorry I was just kind of browsing some posts and was wondering what you meant about curcumin?  I take have been taking it myself but have not heard about it specifically attacking Her2 bc.  Also, what is CAM?

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  • dharmamama
    dharmamama Member Posts: 138
    edited December 2009

    I was on abraxane, carbo & herceptin for 3 cycles and then had 1 additional cycle of just abraxane and herceptin. I am definitely staying on herceptin for at least a year. Thank you all for the great info!

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  • Bugs
    Bugs Member Posts: 1,719
    edited December 2009

    Phoenixsmom,

    CAM is complimentary alternative medicine. :)

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  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited December 2009

    wow thats awsome....

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  • blondie45
    blondie45 Member Posts: 580
    edited December 2009

    PureE - I second that "wow thats awesome" for SherriG's friend out 5 years. Love hearing this.

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  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited December 2009

    Yesterday at the OBGYN my nurse told me her sister diagnosed at age 40, both breasts and passed to sternum. She is 12 years cancer free.

    I also forgot this story-when I woke up from surgery I was crying b-c the surgeoun came to me to to tell me they removed 2 sentinal nodes one clean one had very small amount of cancer.

    I remember the nurse saying "Honey I had 11 nodes positive. We sare strong women living with bc not dying." I can't believe I forgot that. That was powerful.

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