Xeloda not working - now what?

CSheley · 02-26-2007, 09:30 PM

I've monitored this site for over a year and have gained great insight and reassurance from reading other postings. I'm at a point now where I need some outside support and advice. I had a PET scan this morning and talked to my oncologist just before leaving work. I have mets to lymph nodes in the collarbone area and under the chest bone that are progressing even after adding Xeloda to the Herceptin in Dec. 2006.

I've been on Herceptin since Nov 2005 every 3 weeks. When my cancer reoccured the first time, it was a skin rash across the chest along with lymph nodes in the neck and chest. After 4 rounds of Abraxane and Carboplatin all scans were clear so stopped the chemo but continued the Herceptin. A PET scan last fall showed activity in the same lymph node areas so started the Xeloda. The scan today shows it has a "mild" progression into more nodes in the chest area.

I won't kinow completely what this means until my doctor appointment on Wed but would like to know what options are available. His comment was to stop the Xeloda (which I had to do anyway because of the side affects) and "we will have to rethink the treatment." I would like to do some research and/or have some knowledge before my appointment on Wed.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Carolyn

Adriana Mangus · 02-26-2007, 10:50 PM

Hi: Welcome aboard! There are many other options, talk to your onc. Do not get discouraged, read the postings from the other girsl, it's encouraging to know that there are plenty of other treatment avaialble to you....Do not despair.

Keep us posted, please. Sending you best wishes....

Sheila · 02-27-2007, 05:44 AM

Carolyn

There are a few of us on the site with mets to the nodes...axilla, collarbone...they are stubborn. The Xeloda with Herceptin has kept mine stable, but not gone....I see you've had Abraxane...maybe Herceptin with Navelbine....my friend is on this right now and it is doing the trick so far where she failed on Abraxane and Xeloda. She said it has been easy to take.
Hope this helps and welcome to our group. Lolly on the site has also had lots of experience with nodes returning, so I am sure she will reply.

Shell · 02-27-2007, 06:50 AM

Carolyn-

if you didn't progress while on one of the taxanes, maybe you will get one of those again. after i progressed while on xeloda (but for 17 months), i was put on navelbine/herceptin/avastin (but only because the taxanes were not an option for me). i'm sure there are other combos as well...

good luck w/ things,

Lolly · 02-27-2007, 03:48 PM

Hi Carolyn;
I've been fighting stubborn nodes in neck, collarbone and axilla areas since 2001. The good news is that Herceptin can still be effective in keeping these nodes under control even after progression. In my case, even after progression my onc has kept me on Herceptin, added a chemo for up to 6 months, then reverted to Herceptin maintenance again and so far no progression to major organs or bone.
Navelbine was a great chemo for me, although hard on stomach and blood counts these side effects were manageable.
Will try to include some links to data. Best wishes and will keep you in my thoughts and prayers this Wednesday as that is also my treatment day!

Efficacy in Advanced (Metastatic) Breast Cancer
(Hermine)<O</O
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=59291

Patient information: Chemotherapy and Herceptin (trastuzumab) for metastatic breast cancer
http://patients.uptodate.com/topic.asp?file=cancer/8347

HER-2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer: Optimizing Trastuzumab-Based Therapy http://theoncologist.alphamedpress.o.../11/suppl_1/34
<O</O