A newly diagnosed family member-- with a few questions
 

Hi everyone!

My sister has just been diagnosed with stage II, HER2+. I've been doing a lot of research on this great message board -- thanks for helping us start to deal with this news.

After going for two different opinions-- my sister and her husband have decided to go with an oncologist who has decided to start her with Herceptin and Tykerb for six weeks before starting chemo for another six weeks followed by surgery.

She just started the herceptin intravenously on Thursday and is taking Tykerb orally.

The other doctor (whom she didn't choose) had said that approach wasn't the right way to proceed.

I need to say we are reeling over this diagnosis and don't know wheather this is the right or wrong thing to do. We're feel helpless, lost and confused.

Any input would be really appreciated.

Thanks so much! Prayers to everyone.

Re: A newly diagnosed family member-- with a few questions
 

Natasha,

Welcome to our group.

I would agree that the it is not the traditional treatment. However, more and more oncologists are offering neoadjuvant treatment. I wonder if this is part of a clinical trial?

I disagree with the statement that it is not the right way to proceed from my experience as a patient. Personally I would have leap onto the chance to do a treatment that included only targeted treatment for the first six weeks.

I have read that a patient who did a treatment combination of herceptin and tykerb experienced a complete response (tumor disappeared).

Do you recall anything about post surgery treatment? Perhaps continuing the Herceptin?

Everyone agonizes over the right or wrong choice in the beginning after a diagnosis. I feel there is a benefit to this neoadjuvant (before surgery) treatment approach as it gives so much more information to the doctor - with scans to determine treatment effectiveness.

I wish your sister an easy time with treatment and surgery.

Re: A newly diagnosed family member-- with a few questions
 

Please read the post "You'll love to read this" by Lani for helpful info.

Re: A newly diagnosed family member-- with a few questions
 

Sorry your family had to join our "club," but we're glad you're here. Tell your sister not to worry about anything until she has to. She's going to be fine.

Although I had what was then the standard of care for patients who are Stage IV at diagnosis, and although at least one study said that Taxol might actually "train" the immune system to recognize the cancer and eradicate it (and although I had a good response from the Taxol), my oncologist thinks targeted treatments are an especially good idea with HER-2 positive cancer. Your sister's immune system is her primary means of recovering completely from this cancer. Have her do all she can to boost it, including mindfulness meditation, excellent nutrition, exercise, and good sleep. She might also try guided imagery. Anything she can do to improve her sense of wellbeing and mastery will make her own natural defenses work better.

I was on Herceptin and Tykerb. I got some great advice from someone else who's on that combination: "Stay ahead of the diarrhea." I took it at night, right before bed, and I took Immodium at the first sign of a loose stool. I also ate lots of yogurt and/or took probiotics. Hydrate.

'Lizbeth and Nancy are right--neoadjuvant therapy for HER-2 breast cancer seems to be an exciting new breakthrough in treating it.

Re: A newly diagnosed family member-- with a few questions
 

'You'll love to read this': http://her2support.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=59005

Re: A newly diagnosed family member-- with a few questions
 

Each oncologist should be able to tell your sister why they recommend a particular treatment plan. Treatment protocols seem to be rapidly changing. Also, I found it helpful to be part of a system (Franciscan) in which all of the various providers weigh in on treatment plans during weekly "tumor boards". At least I then knew that other oncologists (and radiologists and plastic surgeons, etc) had reviewed my case. I think this type of care is becoming common.

In my case I had neoadjuvant chemo (TCH) prior to surgery because of a large tumor size. The herceptin followed by chemo and then surgery sounds intriguing, but you are right to have questions.

Shirley

Re: A newly diagnosed family member-- with a few questions
 

@Shirley

The tumor shrunk from 9cm to 2.1cm - that is amazing. And only 4 treatments of TCH instead of 6. That is better yet.

So pleased to see treatment changing. It took awhile for neoadjuvant to catch on, but it is really hot. I searched the clinical trials and there are large numbers of pre surgery options. And with luck - it will result in a more rapid number of fast track approval and a lower number of patients agonizing over the question "Did my treatment work?"

Still I wish we could have Rational Therapeutics in a clinical trial so we could use the cancer cells as test dummies, and not the actual patient. This is a no brainer.