Herceptin along with Taxol at 12 weeks or after ending chemo??

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melani_k
melani_k Member Posts: 13
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

my sister could not get the initial dose of herceptin before starting taxol because of reducing WBC.

her docotor was worried about postphoned taxol so after 4x AC she is getting taxol every 3 weeks. last wednesday she got the second taxol and now her blood test is ok and she can get herceptin along with taxol, is there anyone who started herceptin after getting 2 rounds of taxol ( every 3 weeks) I mean in the middle of the way??

should my sister wait to end the taxol then start herceptin every 3 weeks? we are worried about her conditions, Age: 35 IDC 2.8 cm stage IIB 1/24 node positive, ER, PR - and Her 2 ++

How long before starting herceptin along with taxol weekly, she should get initial dose of herceptin 4mg/kg?

if the vial of herceptin remains, does it possible to preserve herceptin for next injection? 

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  • Jennt28
    Jennt28 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited July 2012

    Herceptin has been shown to work better when taken WITH Taxanes. Here in Australia you can't GET Herceptin unless you are having a Taxane at the same time...



    regards Jenn

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  • melani_k
    melani_k Member Posts: 13
    edited July 2012

    Dear Jennt 

    Thank you for your comment, I hope you are fine. my sister could not get herceptin with taxol same time ( risk of reducing WBC) so because chemoteraphy is more important than target therapy her oncologist recommended taxol alone and after ending chemo treatment will be continued by herceptin every 3 weeks. now because of our insist, her docotor accepted but we are wondering if it's correct to continue 6 weeks of taxol with herceptin weekly while she has got 2 rounds of taxol every 3 weeks. 

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  • gonegirl
    gonegirl Member Posts: 1,871
    edited July 2012

    My oncologist here in Washington, DC was recommending dense dose chemo with Herceptin. Because I have metastatic breast cancer, she then change the protocol to weekly Taxol with Herceptin. I've seen nothing that says that Herceptin will affect white blood counts.  My wbc readings were great during the entire treatment.  I am on a break from chemotherapy right now and am getting Herceptin every three weeks to hopefully keep the cancer in check (I am estrogen/progesterone negative and HER2 positive).

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  • melani_k
    melani_k Member Posts: 13
    edited July 2012

    Dear Gritgirl

    I wish you are fine soon, you diagnosed almost one month before my sister, I underestand your feeling well.

    these last months were the most difficult days in our life, congrates to you because got on the chemo successfully. As you know the chemo days are really hard but it passes. my sister wbc was reduced because of 4 AC rounds and if she got initial dose of herceptin while her wbc was less than 3000 it would be dangerous for her. so doctor did not permit. now she is fine and her wbc counts are ok.

    As I underestood of your comment, changing the protocol is not that much disturbing and we are allowed to follow weekly taxol with hercepting on the middle of the way. I don't know when you are going to start radiation but I heard very much of the considerable importance of radioteraphy. 

    best wishes

    Melani 

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