Need information on treatment my mother is receiving

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mymom1
mymom1 Member Posts: 13
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

I posted here a few months back when mom was diagnosed. Since then she has had a lumpectomy and was diagnosed with Stage 1. What complicated matters is she is a Stage IV colon cancer patient. The Breast Cancer was a new primary, not mets. Her colon cancer has been surgically removed from the colon and liver - she was lucky to be a candidate for liver resection. Right now that is the only place the colon cancer has spread to.

The original plan was radiation after the lumptectomy but since she is getting chemo for the colon cancer she really cannot do the radiation. We knew this was a possibility.

Her doctor has her on irinotecan. She says this will work with both cancers and she says and she wont need radiation. She will also be put on Tamoxifan. She will turn 66 in September.

Has anyone had irinotecan for Stage I breast cancer or just did a lumpetomy with no radiation?

Thank you

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  • HLB
    HLB Member Posts: 1,760
    edited August 2012

    I have never heard of that type of chemo. I don't really understand why she can't have radiation because many people have both for breast cancer. The only thing I can think of is that specific type of chemo won't go well with radiation?

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited August 2012

    mymom1, there was a Research News report on the main Breastcancer.org site about a combination of medicines including Camptosar (chemical name irinotecan) in treating advanced-stage cancer. We hope you'll also hear from members who have experience with this treatment.

    • The Mods

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  • mymom1
    mymom1 Member Posts: 13
    edited August 2012

    Hi. I will definately ask again why radiation cannot be administered during chemo but I think it is just too much for her. I have heard that there is an accelerated radiation...1 week twice a day. Not as good as the 5 days a week for 7 weeks but maybe with the chemo it would be ok.

    She first had surgery in May 2011 for a single met to liver...they cut it out. Her first line of chemo for the colon was 5-FU, Leukovorin and Oxyplatin (known as FOLFOX). She had severe neuropothy from the Oxyplatin so after 8 rounds of FOLFOX they switched her to Folfiri (5-FU, Luekovorin and Irinotecan) for another two rounds. She was cancer free for a year but after 10 rounds she had another two mets to liver. She had another liver resection in June 2012 and something called an HAI pump inserted which delivers chemo (FUDR) directly to liver. On top of that she is getting systemic again with just Irinotecan which brings me to my question. My mother said that it is just Ironotecan and no 5-FU or Leukovorin.

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited August 2012

    Mymom1, I'm sorry your mother has to go through so much.

    Usually chemo and rads are not given at the same time. It's a lot for the body to handle.

    Best of luck.

    Leah

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  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 3,018
    edited August 2012

    Mymom1- Here is a link to chemocare.com which is a website founded by Scott Hamilton, former Olympic ice skater and cancer survivor.  You might find this info about the chemo your mom is on helpful.

    http://www.chemocare.com/bio/camptosar.asp

    Sending your Mom and you and your family lots of HUGS, and positive healing and calming prayers, thoughts and energy.

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  • bcbarbie10
    bcbarbie10 Member Posts: 319
    edited August 2012

    Mymom1, my SO gave me the option of mastectomy vs. lumpectomy with rads.

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