Perjeta, Herceptin, Anastrozole, indefinitely...

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thsizit7
thsizit7 Member Posts: 35
edited June 2017 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

Hi Ladies!

I was diagnosed in March, 2015 as stage II grade 3 ER+PR+HER2+ breast cancer, I  had a lumpectomy and axillary lymph node removal and surgeon found DCIS also. Pet scan showed an internal mammory node lit up and a suspicious area in right Hilar region but they thought it was inflammation, and thought if it was anything the chemo would take care of it. Well, after chemo, the follow-up Pet scan showed IM node and RH node still slightly lit up. So I was told the next step was mastectomy, then radiation. My stepson is an oncologists and he pushed for me to have an EBUS Bronc of the node in R hilar region just to see if it was cancer. The Dr who was to do it didn't want to attempt it because it was so small and in a hard to reach area, he said there was only a 20% chance he could even get to it. But thank the Lord he was able to reach it and obtained a biopsy that showed breast cancer cells. So that changed everything! I am now stage IV, incurable... no mastectomy, no radiation. 

I then went to MD Anderson (My stepson's suggestion) and they are telling me they hope to manage this like any others chronic illness, such as diabetes! I hope they are right! 

Hence the regimen I am on.

Anyone out there on this regimen?

I'm wondering about hair growth. I had my last Perjeta, Herceptin and Taxotere in August 2015. Have been on Perjeta, Herceptin only since then until Nov when Dr added Anaztrozole to the mix. I am one of the fortunate ones who have never had side effects other than hair loss and change of taste. After I stopped the Taxotere, my hair started growing back and my taste came back, but it's been over 4 months now and my hair is only about two inches long! I just thought it would grow faster than that??? and it came back exactly like it was before...fine and thin, and same color. I have kept it blonde for the last 40 years (I am 64 now). Before color, I was always called a dishwater blonde and still am except a little gray around my temples. I would be interested to here from others about your hair growth! Looks like I will be wearing my wigs for a very long time!!! They actually look better than my real hair anyway!😉

Also my "wig chick" says you can color your hair when it gets 2 inches long...has anyone out there done that?

Looking forward to hearing some of your experiences!

Thanks in advance😊

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  • Shutterbug73
    Shutterbug73 Member Posts: 791
    edited January 2016

    Hello! I am not on Anastrozole but have been on Herceptin and Perjeta and Tamoxifen for about a year, with Taxotere for 6 rounds before that. Like Bon, my hair is also growing back think and wavy/Curley. It is taking its sweet ol' time though. I stopped wearing a wig about 1.5 months after my last Taxotere. At the time it seemed like I had a lot of hair, but when I look back at pictures, I'm surprised that I left the wig behind so early. I just got so sick of it!

    I used Nioxin scalp conditioner for thinning hair on my scalp the whole time I was bald. I still use it. I have no idea if it helped or not. I've heard many women say they take Biotin supplements to strengthen hair and nails.

    Speaking of nails...how are yours? I never lost mine, but they did begin to lift and became quite brittle. They have not come back as strong as they were, and 4 of them still look pretty funky. I miss my healthy nails!

    You may want to hop over to the Herceptin and Perjeta thread. It's a lovely supportive bunch of ladies over there.
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  • sueopp
    sueopp Member Posts: 1,541
    edited January 2016

    My two cents worth: I'm betting that the perjeta is to blame for the slow growth of your hair. At least perjeta and herceptin don't rob you of hair totally, but a lot of us on this regimen notice that it grows reeeeeaaaaaaaalllly slowly! Adventures in cancer land - gotta keep on dancing. Best to you, SUE

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  • ccristee
    ccristee Member Posts: 9
    edited January 2016

    I finished chemo in August, but am still on Herceptin. So, that's over four months off chemo for me too, and my hair is probably only an inch or inch and a half long. I so tired of wearing hats.

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  • thsizit7
    thsizit7 Member Posts: 35
    edited January 2016

    Hi Ladies, thanks for your replies!

    Bon - 8 years out is very encouraging! Wishing you many, many more! I do think the biopsy of R hilar lymph node changed my options...but I'm glad they did it. As my local oncologist, Specialist at MDA, and my breast surgeon all said...BMX and Rads would not change my situation...I would still have cancer, so why put myself through all of that. I trust them, and they believe they can manage it with chemo. So we will see.

    Congrats on your hair growth, you obviously have good hair for it to grow to the length you said it was! I hope you realize how fortunate you are! I find it so interesting that your hair changes from blonde to gray according to your nutrition! I've never heard of that... will have to google it when I get time!


    Shutterbug - Sounds like your are another one blessed with good hair! Mine has always been fine and thin, and I couldn't stand it... but I would love to have my pitiful little hair back, I will never complain about it again!

    I never lost my nails either, but they were pretty sad looking by the end of Taxotere! They were very brittle and turning brown, but never lifted. I do take Biotin and Selenium and had for years before DX but while on the harsh stuff, Dr told me not to take any supplements, other than Centrum silver. I am back taking them now, and getting my nails done again. I had been getting solar nails for years and I missed them terribly while on the harsh stuff! Now I can throw on a blonde wig or hat (or both), my red lipstick, and with my toes and nails done, I feel like ME again!


    sueopp - You are so right for reminding me that Perjeta and Herceptin don't rob us of our hair! That alone is a lot to be thankful for! I have adapted pretty well, but I do worry when I look in the mirror and see that it hasn't grown much...just wanted to know if anyone else had the same issue. I like your reference to this as "Adventures in Cancer Land"! LOL and Yes, we must keep on dancing! One of my motto's before all of this was "I'm not going to let anything rain on MY parade"...and that still stands...not even cancer! I haven't let it slow me down yet!


    ccristee - Sounds like we are in the same boat...glad to know I'm not alone. I read an article yesterday about of all things, "Castor Oil" being good for re-growing hair after hair loss! I had always heard about taking it to clean out "the other end"!!! So, I hopped in my car and went to the local Dollar General and bought a bottle! The article said to massage a few drops into your scalp daily. Hey, I will try most anything once I massaged it in last night, it IS pretty oily, so I put a towel over my pillow... we will see what happens in the coming weeks!

    I have been a hat girl for about 20 years and I already had tons of them, so it comes natural for me to wear them! God knew I would need them one day, He truly is amazing! Just buy you some cute ones (if you don"t already have some) and make a fashion statement! The little fedora's and floppy hats are actually in right now!


    Praying that the future holds only good things for all of us, and thanks again for your replies, I feel better to know I'm not the only one!


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  • Fitztwins
    Fitztwins Member Posts: 7,969
    edited January 2016

    Hair grows very slowly on Anaztrozole, I have lost my hair 4 times, this time I am on Faslodex/prejeta/herceptin and it came in faster and thicker...

    p.s. (I am 7 1/2 out with mets, 11 since reg dx)

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  • thsizit7
    thsizit7 Member Posts: 35
    edited January 2016

    Fitztwins - what an encouragement you are to me! I hope I will have many years ahead like you! Praying that they can keep us around until a cure is found!😊

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  • Wiegp22
    Wiegp22 Member Posts: 268
    edited June 2017

    Thsizit7,

    I am almiost exactly the same am just on herceptin and perjecta now was also on taxatere, to many se after generic armidex. Hair is also about 2 incheslowings had it dyed a couple of times before the color was half way decent. No more wigs said my hair dresser, slowing growth of of hair.

    Paula.

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