HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - anthracyclines to become an adjuvant chemo of the past?

Chelee · 09-17-2008, 09:23 PM

Debbie, Thanks for posting this. I knew nothing about any of these chemo drugs when first dx. But my very young new onc choose TCH for me. I asked if there were other options and he said no...I would be treated with "TCH"...period. Later when I found the Her2support board I found everyone here had been treated with AC it seemed. I was very upset because I wondered why I had no say in my treatment options at all when the other her2 women had AC...& many even had DD AC.

Being dx stage IIIA, her2 3+++, 5 positive nodes, Richardson scale 9 of 9...I wanted to be treated as aggressive as possible. I had many tell me TCH was a good choice but it still bothered me that at that time I was pretty much the only one as a stage III'er getting TCH? But now almost 3 yrs out it seems to have been a very good choice...and knock on wood I'm NED and doing great so far.

I know I had two other oncologist tell me after I finished treatment with TCH that I should of had AC..followed by TH. They said they would of never treated me with my dx with just TCH. (That sure didn't make me feel very good after the fact.)

I follow everything I can find on this topic from Dr. Slamon and I have confidence now that this was the best way to go for me. It took time...but I'm good with it now. Thanks so much for your post Debbie...I really appreciate it.

Chelee

09-17-2008, 09:23 PM	#5
Chelee Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Southern, CA Posts: 2,511	Debbie, Thanks for posting this. I knew nothing about any of these chemo drugs when first dx. But my very young new onc choose TCH for me. I asked if there were other options and he said no...I would be treated with "TCH"...period. Later when I found the Her2support board I found everyone here had been treated with AC it seemed. I was very upset because I wondered why I had no say in my treatment options at all when the other her2 women had AC...& many even had DD AC. Being dx stage IIIA, her2 3+++, 5 positive nodes, Richardson scale 9 of 9...I wanted to be treated as aggressive as possible. I had many tell me TCH was a good choice but it still bothered me that at that time I was pretty much the only one as a stage III'er getting TCH? But now almost 3 yrs out it seems to have been a very good choice...and knock on wood I'm NED and doing great so far. I know I had two other oncologist tell me after I finished treatment with TCH that I should of had AC..followed by TH. They said they would of never treated me with my dx with just TCH. (That sure didn't make me feel very good after the fact.) I follow everything I can find on this topic from Dr. Slamon and I have confidence now that this was the best way to go for me. It took time...but I'm good with it now. Thanks so much for your post Debbie...I really appreciate it. Chelee __________________ DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes. Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs. Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06 Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07 3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07 9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV. 9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa 9-29-09 Power Port Placement 10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head. 11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed 12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa. 3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed. 4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone. 5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy. Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time. 7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.