Tykerb through mastectomy??
 

I have had a great response to Tykerb and Xeloda and am finally having my bilateral MRM this week. My onc told me to go off the Xeloda for the surgery (my last dose in this cycle was today, surgery is wednesday) but continue the Tykerb through surgery and beyond. I have had 2 people tell me they were told to stop tykerb in advance becasue of potantial wound healing issues. Anyone else continue Tykerb through their surgery? I guess my case is unusual in that most people out on these agents have probably already had surgery.

Thanks so much!

Re: Tykerb through mastectomy??
 

Hi Lori
Sorry I have no personal information to offer however a couple of years ago a small trial (about 40 women )of tykerb for IBC was completed. The women on the trial continued tykerb throughout mastectomy surgery and had no problem with wound healing.
Sorry I can't locate the actual trial info to send you but I remember this information well.
Hope this might help.
Ellie

Re: Tykerb through mastectomy??
 

Lori, I recurred last Sept. & started on Herceptin asap. But I was suppose to start chemo when we found out I had an "impending fracture" of my femur and needed surgery. I wanted to add something to the Herceptin due to the down time I would have with surgery & recovery. So I asked my onc if I could start on Tykerb? She was adamant that it would cause problems with my healing. After surgery I had an open hole from where the drain was and my incision--and it took forever to heal when I was only on Herceptin.

So I don't know if Tykerb would of slowed the healing or not...but my onc insist it would have. I also met this woman that is scheduled to have surgery on her shoulder and was told to stop her Tykerb by her onc. But now I question this advice since the trial Ellie mentioned had no problems with continuing Tykerb? Since a trial allowed it I would be more inclined to believe it's ok. Is there any other 2nd opinon onc's you have seen that you could call this wk before your surgery? Wish I could help more.

Chelee

Re: Tykerb through mastectomy??
 

Lori,

The link from the American Cancer Society

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CDG/co..._lapatinib.asp

has a long list of drugs that interact with Tykerb, including some antibiotics.

I'm thinking that your doctor probably had weighed the situation and thought it's worth the risks since you've responded to the drug so well. You can always stop taking Tykerb if it indeed causes problems.

Re: Tykerb through mastectomy??
 

Ellie, Chelee, and Jackie,

Thank you so much for the advice! I would be extremely nervous to go off Tykeb for surgery since I am stage IV, and I think that would leave me uncovered systemically. Although my mets are only to a cross axillary lymph node, which will be addressed in surgery with my bilateral axillary node dissection, who knows what else is lurking out there! I did verify multiple times with both my MDA onc and my local onc that I was supposed to continue the Tykerb. The one thing on my side from a healing standpoint is that I am young and healthy with no other medical problems so hopefully it will be ok.

You ladies are awesome. Thanks again so much!

Hugs,
Lori