When to Have Exchange Surgery after Adjuvant Taxol/Herceptin

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Becca953
Becca953 Member Posts: 99
edited September 2018 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

Wondering when other HER2+ members who have had surgery with chemo following had exchange surgery? My original surgery was late January, with TH following March through May. At the time of the mastectomy the breast surgeon said exchange surgery will take place after all treatments are completed. Admittedly, I was a bit over the edge and a little overwhelmed at the time, but I took this to mean after chemo and the nine months of Herceptin. Yesterday, at MO appointment, she asked when they were doing the exchange surgery. When I told her what has been my understanding all along, she was puzzled and said the Herceptin should not hold up the exchange, only chemo would. Once the 12 week chemo regimen was complete, the surgery can take place. This was news to me. What is standard protocol?

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  • NotVeryBrave
    NotVeryBrave Member Posts: 1,287
    edited September 2018

    I had my surgery 4 weeks after chemo (6 rounds of TCHP). I continued with the Herceptin for the rest of the year and didn't have to postpone any of those infusions because of the surgery.

    As long as your blood counts are okay and you feel okay - it should be fine to do the exchange.


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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited September 2018

    I had BMX with expanders prior to chemo but lost one expander before starting. I had that expander replaced 6 weeks after last TCH, and exchanged during Herceptin only. As stated above, your blood counts would be the only obstacle, so if they are good there is no reason you can’t exchange during Herceptin. I would recommend timing it so that you have your surgery shortly after a Herceptin infusion so that you have the maximum amount of time between the surgery and next infusion for recovery

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  • Becca953
    Becca953 Member Posts: 99
    edited September 2018

    Thanks ladies for the answers and advice! Here I have been plodding along thinking I had to wait a year.

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  • Becca953
    Becca953 Member Posts: 99
    edited September 2018

    As an update, I contacted the plastic surgeon to schedule the exchange, and she is out on maternity leave until next year. I am a bit floored and floundering now. I was not even aware she was pregnant two months ago. So, I am going to regroup here and perhaps look for a new surgeon that can do surgery sooner, but I really liked her, so maybe I wait? Not sure. I literally just went through the same thing with the breast surgeon, but she was only out for a few months. Either way it is really inconvenient; then their schedule is slammed for months after their return so it is difficult to get in. Ugh! As a woman I can understand, but as a patient it is frustrating. I am in metro DC, so am guessing there are plenty of good surgeons around. I have also heard about NOLA in New Orleans, and may explore that option.

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