Why experimental?

Lisat2822
Lisat2822 Member Posts: 3
edited June 2014 in Alternative Medicine

I'm actually not the one with breast cancer but my mom is. She was diagnosed back in october with some lymph node involvement. Had chemo every three weeks for 6 treatments, had a masectomy of her left breast and the next step was radiation. Unfortunately a minute amount of cancer was found left in her lymph node when sent to pathology. She was told she would need more chemo using am experimental drug and multiple radiation treatments, more than the three originally abrogated. She is 65 and considering just giving up. She is very concerned about the treatment being experimental. My question is why would they use an experimental drug? She still needs to meet with her doctors again next week but I'm just looking for as much info as I can. Thanks in advance for any info, advice, etc...

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  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited April 2012

    Do you know the name of the experimental drug? Have you asked the doc why they want to use an experiemntal drug? It is not necessarily a bad thing, but it sounds as if you need her docs to give you fuller info.

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  • LuvRVing
    LuvRVing Member Posts: 4,516
    edited April 2012

    Lisat - sorry your mom is going through this.  If your mom had radiation to her nodes area, that cancer should be gone.  If she didn't have a full course of radiation, it might be wise to finish up the full protocol. 

    Has she had a PET scan to determine if there is cancer left after all the treatment?  Perhaps she should seek a second opinion.

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  • barsco1963
    barsco1963 Member Posts: 2,119
    edited April 2012

    Lisa - I can't advise on the experimental drug - it is good that your mom will see the dr next week to discuss it. I can understand your mom's aprehension, but hopefully once she discusses the next step with her dr, then she will feel better about moving forward with treatment.

    Sending best wishes for brighter days ahead!

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  • Lisat2822
    Lisat2822 Member Posts: 3
    edited April 2012

    I don't know the name of the drug actually but I will find out. She actually hasn't had the radiation yet. She just had her masectomy last thursday and that was the next step. Now they are calling for chemo and lots of radiation. She is not sure she wants to go through all of this. Is it too soon to give up? She actually tolerated the first chemos pretty well but may have been keeping some things to herself. I just dont know how to handle all of this new info. I thought she was doing so well!

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited April 2012

    It is not unusual when nodes are involved for there to be chemo. The protocol for differen't types of breast cancer is different and different Drs will follow different plans with different people. You didn't say what type BC she is - Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Invasive Lobular Carcinoma or Inflammatory Breast Cance.



    The standard for IBC is to start with chemo and do 2 different chemos as it doesn't form as a lump but rather as 'nests' or 'bands'. The chemo will get it to shrink and form a 'lump' so that it can be gotten out. Some Drs will order the different chemos before surgery followed by rads. In my case, I did A/C first then surgery (got good margins on it and nodes), then Taxol and finally rads. I don't have any experience with it but I have seen several that are IDC, DCIS, ILC, or DCIL also having chemo first.




    You also didn't mention her ER/PR or HER2 status.


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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2012

    Lisa, you've posted your question in the ALTERNATIVES Forum , where most of the women reading do not have chemotherapy.  Try repeating your orignal post/question in the Forum about the TYPE of cancer your mom has, or CHEMOTHERAPY, or the Forum of the STAGE of her cancer.  That way you'll get information from women who have had a similar situation.

    You'll find the LIST OF ALL THE FORUMS under FORUM INDEX, top left of this page

    Good luck.

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