Newest Chemo Options...And Introduction

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Eddie4f77
Eddie4f77 Member Posts: 4
edited June 2014 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Newest Chemo Options...And Introduction
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  • Eddie4f77
    Eddie4f77 Member Posts: 4
    edited January 2008

    Hello All.  I'd like to introduce myself, my name is Edward and my mother was recently diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer.  This was a little over a month ago, she has gone through the lumpectomy and we are currently meeting with oncologists to discuss treatment.  I am from the NY/Long Island area.  She had .9 Tumor, Clear Margins, No lymph Nodes involved, grade 3.  Stage 1.

    I've become quite fanatical with doing research, so much that I feel like my head is spinning.  The first oncologist that we saw recomended Dose Dense ACx4 followed by Taxol x4 followed by radiation.  From what I read on the message board this seems to be a standard treatment set,  However from posts I've seen made it seems like this treament option is becoming someone dated.

    I see people posting about Taxotere rather than Taxol. Also I read a lot pf people getting Carboplatin.....and getting the T before the A and C.

    I also see people mentioning the dangerous effects of Andriamycin.

    I guess the question I am asking is what is the newest regiments coming from the top oncologists?  Why are these drugs superior to the older treatments?

    I also read that article on breast cancer watch about triple negative breast cancer speaking about certain biological therapies like Avastin and Erbitux can anyone eleborate on those?

    I really appreciate this forum, i've found so much information here!

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  • Eddie4f77
    Eddie4f77 Member Posts: 4
    edited January 2008

    Edit: When i said taxotere rather than taxol....I had meant Carboplatin as a seperate question,  the first onc did not mention carboplatin at all.

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  • ravdeb
    ravdeb Member Posts: 3,116
    edited January 2008

    All that you have said is right...AC dose dense followed by Taxol (either dose dense or 12 weekly treatments) has been standard treatment, followed by radiation.

    Recently they have found that the Platins work with triple negatives. Taxotere is from the same family as Taxol (Taxane) and I am unsure of the difference.

    Triple negs are still being given ac followed by Taxol. Some are getting taxotere and cytoxin together. The best thing to do is get a second opinion so that you can learn better the new procedures. I actually had 3 other doctors give me opinions (in 2005) and it was then that Taxol had been shown to work with triple negs whether there was lymph node involvement or not.

    Avastin, from what I understand, is given alongside another drug..it's not meant to work alone. For bc, it is given in clinical trials only, I believe. I could be wrong on that one. And..only with metastasis..again I could be wrong on that one, too.

    This is why you need to get a second opinion from a professional!

    I remember the fury and anxiety when I was first diagnosed...the fury to get all the information that I needed and the anxiety of making the right decision about treatments. One thing is good..usually you have time because bc tumors tend to grow slowly. I did the surgery (lumpectomy) and started chemo 6 weeks later...just at the border of what they feel is the length of time between surgery and starting treatments.

    So..do your homework, discuss it with your mom and trust the oncologist!

    Good luck. I wish your mom well. You are a great son to be helping her with this...

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  • twink
    twink Member Posts: 1,574
    edited January 2008

    I agree with everything ravdeb has said above.  Her understanding and mine are in sync.  Eddie, there are a few triple neg resources you may want to check out:  http://www.websitetoolbox.com/mb/nosurrenderbreastcancer?forum=96656  and www.tnbc.com .

    Taxotere is a synthetic equivalent (roughly) to Taxol... that's what my onc told me when I asked the question.

    Seems that the recent gold standard treatment (virtually the same regardless of receptor status) has been AC and T, Dose Dense, X4 (neoadjuvant in my case).  In that order.  I added Carboplatin and Radiation to my course of treatment after a mastectomy and axillary node dissection.  Lately there's much more talk about targeting TNs with platinum chemos .. carbo or cis, and I've seen several women whose Tx seems to replace A with C-platin and Taxol with Taxotere.

    You are a good son to be helping your mom with this research.  It can be overwhelming for one mind to absorb.  Good luck to your mom.

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  • FloridaLady
    FloridaLady Member Posts: 2,155
    edited January 2008

    You girls are right.

    It all goes back to patients stage, grade, tumor size, nodes involved and if they are Brac+.  Health of patient for example: heart problems, diabetic etc... And clinic does make a difference.  Some only use what is standard protocol and other will step up to more cutting edge.  But again if you have a low grade tumor they are less likely going to be cutting edge.  I would get a second opinion on Andriam. they seem to be moving more away from it even for triple neg. This is one bad chemo for a low grade tumor.  I have read many times Taxotere is better than Taxol. (Yes it's in same family)

    Avastin and Gemzar are usually for a recurrence.  Carboplatinum I think is going to be a standard chemo soon.  I have taken all these chemos (and more) and for me (local recurrences) Carbo, Gemzar and Avastin was the best.

    Living in hope,

    Flalady

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  • ravdeb
    ravdeb Member Posts: 3,116
    edited January 2008

    When I did Taxol, they were saying that if there was a strong allergic reaction to it (it's from the bark of a tree, I think?) then they would switch to Taxotere. If Taxotere is a synthetic of it, then I guess the chance of getting a severe allergic reaction would be greatly decreased????

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  • pattypoo53
    pattypoo53 Member Posts: 46
    edited January 2008

    I am Patty, I am 54 years young. I was diagnosed on Dec. 15,2003. Stage IIA, Invasive Ductal Carcinoma(atypical medullary) 2.8 cm,,er, pr,her2 all negative,grade 3, no nodes involved out of 23, no vascular invasion. Four days later had a lumpectomy, with clear margins. Then in Jan. 04,started chemo 4XAC every three weeks, and then 4 X Taxol every three weeks, and then did 33 radiation treatments. So far all good reports. In December 2007 had a routine followup appt with my onc. I requested a breast mri, I have dense breasts, and a chest ct scan, both were normal. All bloodwork, mammo, tumor markers were normal. I am over four years out from triple negative, there is hope. Happy New Year to all, I don't post much but read daily. They are doing alot of research on this type of breast cancer.

    Hugs

    Patty

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  • guitarGrl
    guitarGrl Member Posts: 697
    edited January 2008

    a new trial (in the UK) for triple negs & chemo: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/93915.php



    Given where you live, there are plenty places to get second opinions if you are not sure. Go for it.



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  • danmatt
    danmatt Member Posts: 9
    edited January 2008

    Hello,

    Lots of luck with everything with your Mom.  I have the same dx  my tumor was 1.2 cm.  I took part in a clinical study and received 6 rounds of FEC instead of the standard regimen.  I finished the treatments in January of '07 and finished my radiation in March.  And so far, so good!  I feel great and everything has been fine.  The FEC is the standard in Europe I believe and is supposed to be easier on the heart.  You should be able to find some info on it online.

    Best of luck!

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  • nosurrender
    nosurrender Member Posts: 2,019
    edited January 2008

    Hi Edward,

    I am from the Long Island area too.

    I was first diagnosed with tripleneg six years ago.

    I BEAT IT.

    So keep positive about things because  tripleneg has come a long way in those six years.

    Many doctors are now prescribing a more aggressive approach to tripleneg because your best shot is the first shot at it and they have found that drugs like carboplatin or cisplatin are very effective agents. Many also recommend abraxane over the more common taxanes of Taxol or Taxotere, but it is a little difficult to get in the non-metastatic setting - although there are ways of doing it!

    If you need any recommendations for doctors in the area please PM me. I am on the North Shore of the Island.

    Good luck!

    g 

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  • nosurrender
    nosurrender Member Posts: 2,019
    edited January 2008

    Edward, here is the latest info on triple neg treatment:

    Triple Negative Disease 

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  • caitlin1025
    caitlin1025 Member Posts: 8
    edited January 2008

    Hi Eddie & Gals,

    I had a 4.9cm tumor, triple neg tumor, no BRCA 1 or 2 gene carried. Neg for HER/2. Had neoadjuvant therapy - 4 rounds of A/C, 4 rounds of Taxatere. (As I recall, my oncologist at Northwestern, switched from Taxol to Taxatere after some survival study came out.)

    After my double mastectomy,  had a cPR (complete pathological response) to the treatment. NO CANCER was found in my breast or my nodes!!!! Bottom line: this particular "chemo cocktail" worked for me - - and it can work for your mom, too. Best of luck!!!

    Caitlin

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  • 2curvy
    2curvy Member Posts: 183
    edited January 2008

    I don't know if I'll be of any help at all, but my diagnosis was very similar to your mothers, with the exception of a 1.2 tumor size, which is a little larger than your mothers.  I had 4 rounds of Taxotere and Cytoxin.  My understanding of why I didn't get Andrymicin is that the danger of heart damage is significant.  I live in Los Angeles and my onc is very well known, and supposedly on top of all the latest treatments.

    I discovered this triple negative thread after I started chemo, and discovered all the different regimens others were being given.  I voiced my concern to my onc, who told me that the size of the tumor was the main indicator of treatment in my case.

    I hope they gave me enough!  Good luck to your mother.  I am 49 and tolerated the T/C regimen extremely well.

    Colleen

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  • Eddie4f77
    Eddie4f77 Member Posts: 4
    edited February 2008

    Hello all, thank you for your comments, we have met with our 3rd opinion today...have a few days to make a final decision between ACT and CT.

    Just wanted to thank all of you for all of the help!

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