How useful is chemo (taxotere) for Her+ ?

Options
Anotherone
Anotherone Member Posts: 633
edited August 2019 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

Dear ladies ( and gentlemen if there any familiar with the topic)

I have multiple lung and lymph nodes metastasis of breast cancer which is Er-/her+.

Treatment suggested was taxotere 3 weekly for 6 months then continue with herceptin and pertuzumab.

My question is how useful taxotere would actually in this regimen or is it just poisoning myself unnecessarily ?

By how much does chemotherapy and in particular taxanes and in particular taxotere help in this situation? When I asked oncologist she said that chemo drug alone would add just a few months and that nobody has done trial comparing all 3 versus just herceptin and pertuzumab.

If it was the case indeed then taxotere would be of next to no benefit for me but I just can not believe it

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • DATNY
    DATNY Member Posts: 358
    edited July 2019

    I had taxotere, carboplatin, herceptin and perjeta for my breast tumors. The combo cleared them up completly, there were 4 tumors initially and at surgery they found none. I had minimal side effects from chemo, mostly fatigue and heart burn, and of course hair loss. However, I did do intermittent fasting (I only eat from 12-4, and vegan only, no sugar and almost no bread, pasta etc).

    I am also hormone negative and her2 positive. I am really surprised your cancer came back after so many years. I know that this type of cancer has virtually zero chances of coming back after eight years. I hope they are re-testing the pathology.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anotherone
    Anotherone Member Posts: 633
    edited July 2019

    they have retested it and that is what it is I am afraid.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • WC3
    WC3 Member Posts: 1,540
    edited July 2019

    Anotherone:

    I had a pathologic complete response (pCR) in my breast to neoadjuvant TCHP (taxotere, carboplatin, herceptin and perjeta), meaning that pathology found no invasive cancer cells remaining in my breast in the tissue excised during surgery, but I don't know if it was due to one of those compounds alone or a combination. Neoadjuvant TCHP frequently yields a pathologic complete response, particularly in ER negative, HER2 positive breast cancer, but the only studies I can find on it are for stage I to IIIC breast cancer. Have you sought a second opinion?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anotherone
    Anotherone Member Posts: 633
    edited July 2019

    I will have one - booked for next Tuesday. Any info on how it was with taxotere only? Although I suppose HP may act synergivally with it so its benefit will be more than when it is used on it's own.

    What I do not understand as well- if there is a pCR with localised disease why can not the same happen with metastasis ?

    In fact I think I will start a separate thread for the last question..

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • WC3
    WC3 Member Posts: 1,540
    edited July 2019

    Anotherone:

    I don't think a pCR to advanced disease is impossible, just uncommon. I think it would be a good subject to discuss at your visit.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anotherone
    Anotherone Member Posts: 633
    edited August 2019

    I do not think I would be discussing it. It is either an academic question for which a clinical consultation is not the right place or a heavily loaded one if it was about me in particular and I do not think I would achieve anything with that discussion. I have a million more practical questions - to which extent taxane is beneficial, which one, where , brain MRI( by the way I was told by one of the oncologists they would have to stop me from driving if it transpired I had brain metastasis- is it true in your country?), further tests, molecular testing , what types, what relevance for treatment, progesterone responsiveness ( as mine was not done), may be prescribing beta blockers, where would she see me next , funding, trials and my suitability, whether she actually works for HCA as it is a bit confusing- I am sure I will think of some more.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories