Neo-Adjuvant therapy

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Stunned_at_33
Stunned_at_33 Member Posts: 27
edited June 2014 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

Had my ONCO follow up on Tuesday to review test results & finalize a plan of action. All test were normal... meaning no additional cancer outside of the breast tumor & affected lymph node that we were already aware of. Doc suggest doing Neo-adjuvant therapy (consisting of taxotere, perjeta, & herceptin) followed by surgery (likely BMX). The perjeta & herceptin to continue for a full year.

Has anyone had similar treatment? How did/do you feel about it?

I appreciate any feedback. :)

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  • katiegrey
    katiegrey Member Posts: 79
    edited February 2014

    Hi Stunned - I'm also doing neoadjuvant chemo, but with different drugs - AC for 8 weeks and Taxol for 12. My onc recommended it because one of my tumors is very large (almost 6 cm) and shrinking it first is supposed to make surgery more successful (better clean margins, etc). My oncologist says the upside is that they can monitor how well your cancer is responding to chemo, rather than relying on blind faith after surgery. For me, chemo is the worst part of all this and  I'm grateful to be getting it over with first!  

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  • Kris103
    Kris103 Member Posts: 57
    edited February 2014

    I'm doing neoaduvant chemo as well, although with Cytoxan and Taxotere for 4 to 6 cycles (depending on how well I'm doing after 4). My tumor is 4.7 cm, and just about on top of my pectoral muscle. They want to shrink it and get better definition before surgery, and make sure it hasn't gone into the muscle. Can't say I was too excited about having to do all of chemo, surgery and rads, but if that's what has the best chance of beating this, then that's what I'll do.

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  • annika12
    annika12 Member Posts: 433
    edited February 2014

    hi ladies !! I did 4AC and 12 taxol then surgery . My pathology report came back a complete response , no evidence of any cancer anywhere :D best phone call ever !!! I'm half way done with external radiation and will be receiving herceptin until Sep 2014 ever 3rd week.  For me noeadjuvant worked great !!

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited February 2014

    I did 4 DD A/C neoadjuvant and 12 weekly Taxol adjuvant.  For those of us who are IBC, neoadjuvant is the standard to try to get it to form into a lump so surgeon has a chance of getting it.  Neoadjuvant seems to becoming used more with other types of BC now too.  My TX plan was different than most I see other IBCers post that they did.  Most say they did 2 different 'batches' of chemo neoadjuvant but I did neoadjuvant and adjuvant.  The A/C did get it to form a lump and shrink so got good margins with surgery.  Then the Taxol adjuvant to be sure 'everything' was gotten everywhere as best as possible.  Then rads as a bit more 'insurance'.  Apparently for me, 'it' did all of what  was hoped for - as far as I know today, I'm still NED after 4 1/2 yrs IBC. 

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  • kaluha
    kaluha Member Posts: 26
    edited February 2014

    I have had one round of TAC for ILC.  I'll be having 5 more.  They are hoping to shrink my 8cm+ mass.  Next week, I have my second round.  I'm nervous because the first round was very tough on my body. After chemo, I'll have surgery and radiation.  For the first time since I was diagnosed, I felt my mass.  To me it feels larger.  My nipple is starting to invert.  I'm scared that Chemo isn't going to work.  I'm really scared!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2014

    I had neoadjuvant chemo - TCH x 4, Herceptin for a year. HER2+++ tumor went from 1.5cm to 1.4cm. TN tumor went from 1.4cm to 3mm. MO seemed happy with response. I was hoping for more. Good luck!!

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