Meds during remission?

Flywithme337 · February 2012

Hi everyone. My mom was diagnosed in 2008. She has not had a recurrence since then THANK GOD. Not sure if that means remission or that its completely gone? Anyway, her doctor doesnt have her on any meds. Should she be on something? Is there a drug that will help lower chances of recurrence? Its as if she never had BC in the first place. Thanks all!

NancyD · February 2012

The only ongoing medication would be an anti-hormonal like Tamoxifen, Arimidex, Aromasin, or Femara. Those are only given to woman whose bc tested positive for estrogen (ER) or progesterin (PR) receptors. You don't say what your mother's status for those receptors was, but if it was negative, then the initial chemo, which I hope included Herceptin because of her HER+ status, is all that the medication the standard of care protocol recommends.

Many women take a proactive stand by improving their diet, exercising more, and limiting their exposure to known carcinogens, but really, I'm sorry to say there's no sure-fire way to prevent a recurrence. So, if your mom is overweight, try to encourage her to lose some. Encourage her to eat nutritionally high foods, perhaps take some supplements like Vitamin C and D that bolster the immune system (not proven to be preventative, but certainly can't hurt in general health upkeep), and check in with her oncologist on a regular basis.

And help her move on to a more normal life. There is no sense in worrying about something that is either inevitable or will never happen. That's a waste of good living time!

sweetbean · February 2012

Flywithme,

there have been good studies on low-dose aspirin, metformin, and low-dose neltrexone. She might look into taking one or any combination of these. Also, ground flaxseed has been shown to downregulate Her2+.

Flywithme337 · February 2012

Thank you!! Yes she was on Herceptin. Sweetbean - I will look into those that you mentioned. She is overweight and needs to lose and we are working on that. I just want her to be healthy and live forever! Ok, maybe not forever, but I'll take another 25+ years Smile

sweetbean · February 2012

Yes, diet and exercise are important for recurrence - glad she is working on that. I know it isn't easy, but it makes a difference. I think the most important things to cut out or reduce are dairy, sugar (including white flour products) and fat.

dreaming · February 2012

I am 20 years from dx, I stay away from negative people, make sure to have follow ups, with a yearly spine MRI, mammogram an ultrasound.

I had always had a very healthy diet and life style, just like the 84% that like me are diagnosed and are not at high risk.

I do not take herbal medicines or vitamins. If it happens I hope is caught early enough. I know I am in remission, not cured.

I try to have a tranquil life with as little stress as possible.

Love chocolates,fruits. . Also I keep very busy.

CoolBreeze · February 2012

Diet and exercise are important for general health but we have to be careful when we say it will prevent recurrence. Data is conflicting on that, and we don't want to get into the blame game with cancer. I've seen as many super healthy women get breast cancer as women who live unhealthy lifestyles.

But yes, your mom should eat healthy, lost weight, drink moderately if at all, excercise as that's the way to a longer, healthier life for all of us. Your mother may be in remission for life - most women are after a breast cancer diagnosis. We don't usually say that we are cured of breast cancer because it has been known to recur even 20 years down the road. Thankfully, that is very rare. If she has made it the famous five years, she's greatly upped her odds of being cancer-free forever, especially if she's HER2+ which recurs quick. But, there are no guarantees.

I'm sure her doctor has given her the appropriate follow-up meds. Without knowing her biology it's hard for us to say what normal treatment would be. Here's hoping your mom is around for 25 years.

suemed8749 · February 2012

Hi flywithme - Sounds like are a wonderful daughter! I was also diagnosed in 2008 with ER/PR- Her2+ bc. After I was done with the Herceptin, no medication for me either. I did participate in a clinical trial (Neratinib), but people are always surprised that I have no prescriptions. Wishing all the best for you and your mom.

sweetbean · February 2012

Hey there,

I did not mean to imply that diet and exercise alone could prevent recurrence. I only meant to say that they can help - there is a good amount of research that shows that it does help, so that is good news. However, if it prevented cancer, then I never would have gotten cancer in the first place, because I was always a health nut. I definitely don't want to imply that those who got cancer or had progression have done something wrong - that would be completely unfair. But if there is anything that anyone can do, whether it is a new med or a lifestyle change, then I want to share it with the ladies on this board in the hopes that it will help someone.

Anti-Cancer: A New Way of Life and Life Over Cancer are good books to read regarding diet/lifestyle changes and cancer. At the very least, this falls into the "can't hurt, might help" category, which makes it good enough for me.

NancyD · February 2012

Yep, sweetbean, there are lots of things in that category: can't hurt, might help. Diet and exercise are the most proactive since they are so much in the patient's control. And they will lead to a generally healthier life by reducing the prospect of other diseases. But, hey, we've been told that all our lives, and how many of us actually made significant changes?

So, I just want to add that it may take baby steps at first to make changes, but even a small effort can expand and become a habit that leads to greater good.

Flywithme...go for walks with your mom. That's a good start to daily exercise that also will give you together time. Don't push her to overdo it at first...I'm sure you'll be able to walk rings around her. You don't want her to give up because she can't keep up. Half a mile, then 3/4 of a mile, and work it up to longer distances over time.

Maybe take on one of her daily chores (like cooking dinner or the dishes) so she has incentive and energy to walk. I had lots of family support emotionally, but really could have used more physical help at times that would have allowed me to concentrate on good exercise instead of routine and less cardio-active chores.

Meds during remission?

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