HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Retrying chemo-what does your onc say?

Stephanie · 12-27-2007, 07:16 PM

I am in desperate need of help for my mom. Her PET today shows progression on Gemzar/Herceptin. She just was admitted to the hospital (went straight from the PET via ambulance) b/c her oxygen sat dropped to 83% while on 4 liters of O2.

She's been on, and failed, every chemo there is over the past 5 1/2 years. The onc is willing to try Taxol/Tykerb just to pacify us, but says that once a patient is chemo resistant, she is resistant to ALL chemos.

I know some oncs will retry chemos and some won't, but I don't know what the majority of them say. I don't want to be unrealistic about my mom's situation, but I also don't want to give up too soon.

I appreciate your input.

12-27-2007, 07:16 PM	#1
Stephanie Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: San Marcos, CA Posts: 48	Retrying chemo-what does your onc say? I am in desperate need of help for my mom. Her PET today shows progression on Gemzar/Herceptin. She just was admitted to the hospital (went straight from the PET via ambulance) b/c her oxygen sat dropped to 83% while on 4 liters of O2. She's been on, and failed, every chemo there is over the past 5 1/2 years. The onc is willing to try Taxol/Tykerb just to pacify us, but says that once a patient is chemo resistant, she is resistant to ALL chemos. I know some oncs will retry chemos and some won't, but I don't know what the majority of them say. I don't want to be unrealistic about my mom's situation, but I also don't want to give up too soon. I appreciate your input. __________________ Mother/daughter bc patients (should have signed up for spa treatments instead of chemo! Who knew?) Mom: dx 2002 age 62 Stage IIIB, triple positive FACx6, tamoxifen 2004 Stage IV, started Herceptin mets to pleura, lungs, bone tried Arimedex, Faslodex, Zometa, Navelbine, Taxol, Taxotere, Gemzar, Carboplatin, Abraxane, Xeloda June 2007 new mets to nodes and pericardiam Switched from Xeloda/Herceptin to Xeloda/Tykerb September 2007 Failed X/T. Switched back to Xeloda/Herceptin, added Gemzar Jan 2008 Taxol/Tykerb Feb 2008 Tykerb as a single agent Me: dx 2007 age 38 Stage IIA pleomorphic ILC ER/PR + HER2 - FACx6, tamoxifen Mom to 2, ages 6 and 9 Trying to find a new hobby besides going to the cancer center.