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04-20-2007, 09:50 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 8
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Herceptin without Taxol?
Hi all,
First time to ask questions but I've been reading and learning, thanks to all of you!
Back story:
I was diagnosed last year with 1.3cm IDC, sentinal node biopsy neg.,Her3+,ER+PR+. My Oncotype DX score was 27. I had a partial mastectomy, (clear margins),dose-dense A/C, 4 rounds, 2 weeks apart, and dose-dense radiation, (I was given this choice) every
day for 15 days. I was then started on Herceptin, every three weeks, but was never offered Taxol. It appears that, from what I've read, it's typical to give the two together. I asked my onc about Taxol and she said since I was stage 1 she didn't think I needed it. Has anyone else been given the same advice?
As it turned out I was only able to finish 7 months of Herceptin due to ejection fraction problems-the first time it happened I took a six-week break from Herceptin and my e. fraction went back to normal. Restarted Herceptin and it nose-dived again. At that point my onc advised me to quit altogether because she said that "it has not been proven that a full year of Herceptin is actually necessary" and she also said that she "didn't want to cure my cancer and leave me with heart trouble." Anyone get similar advice?
PS: My hair is coming in curly--new for me but I've heard it's pretty common-how long does it stay curly?? Just wondering...
Thanks for staying with me through this looong e-mail...
All good wishes,
Nina
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04-20-2007, 10:19 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 3,154
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Justnina,
I am stage 1 and I had taxotere plus herceptin.
Will finish my one yr. shortly.
Hope this helps you.
Jean
__________________
Stage 1, Grade 1, 3/30/05
Lumpectomy 4/15/05 - 6MM IDC
Node Neg. (Sentinel node)
ER+ 90% / PR-, Her2+++ by FISH
Ki-67 40%
Arimidex 5/05
Radiation 32 trt, 5/30/05
Oncotype DX test 4/17/06, 31% high risk
TOPO 11 neg. 4/06
Stopped Arimidex 5/06
TCH 5/06, 6 treatments
Herceptin 5/06 - for 1 yr.
9/06 Completed chemo
Started Femara Sept. 2006
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04-21-2007, 01:20 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,519
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hmmm - I think many docs feel that way about stage 1... I got taxol and herc only after I had recurrence, but I also didn't get herc as a first line drug either. It wasn't available in wide access at that time. I had to wait for recurrence before I could get it.
I am curious as to others answers here.
__________________
Brenda
NOV 2012 - 9 yr anniversary
JULY 2012 - 7 yr anniversary stage IV (of 50...)
Nov'03~ dX stage 2B
Dec'03~ Rt side mastectomy, Her2+, ER/PR+, 10 nodes out, one node positive
Jan'04~ Taxotere/Adria/Cytoxan x 6, NED, no Rads, Tamox. 1 year, Arimadex 3 mo., NED 14 mo.
Sept'05~ micro mets lungs/chest nodes/underarm node, Switched to Aromasin, T/C/H x 7, NED 6 months - Herceptin only
Aug'06~ micro mets chest nodes, & bone spot @ C3 neck, Added Taxol to Herceptin
Feb'07~ Genetic testing, BRCA 1&2 neg
Apr'07~ MRI - two 9mm brain mets & 5 punctates, new left chest met, & small increase of bone spot C3 neck, Stopped Aromasin
May'07~ Started Tykerb/Xeloda, no WBR for now
June'07~ MRI - stable brain mets, no new mets, 9mm spots less enhanced, CA15.3 down 45.5 to 9.3 in 10 wks, Ty/Xel working magic!
Aug'07~ MRI - brain mets shrunk half, NO NEW BRAIN METS!!, TMs stable @ 9.2
Oct'07~ PET/CT & MRI show NED
Apr'08~ scans still show NED in the head, small bone spot on right iliac crest (rear pelvic bone)
Sept'08~ MRI shows activity in brain mets, completed 5 fractions/5 consecutive days of IMRT to zap the pesky buggers
Oct'08~ dropped Xeloda, switched to tri-weekly Herceptin in combo with Tykerb, extend to tri-monthly Zometa infusion
Dec'08~ Brain MRI- 4 spots reduced to punctate size, large spot shrunk by 3mm, CT of torso clear/pelvis spot stable
June'09~ new 3-4mm left cerrebellar spot zapped with IMRT targeted rads
Sept'09~ new 6mm & 1 cm spots in pituitary/optic chiasm area. Rx= 25 days of 3D conformal fractionated targeted IMRT to the tumors.
Oct'09~ 25 days of low dose 3D conformal fractionated targeted IMRT to the bone mets spot on rt. iliac crest that have been watching for 2 years. Added daily Aromasin back into treatment regimen.
Apr'10~ Brain MRI clear! But, see new small spot on adrenal gland. Change from Aromasin back to Tamoxifen.
June'10~ Tumor markers (CA15.3) dropped from 37 to 23 after one month on Tamoxifen. Continue to monitor adrenal gland spot. Remain on Tykerb/Herceptin/Tamoxifen.
Nov'10~ Radiate positive mediastinal node that was pressing on recurrent laryngeal nerve, causing paralyzed larynx and a funny voice.
Jan'11~ MRI shows possible activity or perhaps just scar tissue/necrotic increase on 3 previously treated brain spots and a pituitary spot. 5 days of IMRT on 4 spots.
Feb'11~ Enrolled in T-DM1 EAP in Denver, first treatment March 25, 2011.
Mar'11~ Finally started T-DM1 EAP in Denver at Rocky Mountain Cancer Center/Rose on Mar. 25... hallelujah.
"I would rather be anecdotally alive than statistically dead."
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04-21-2007, 06:57 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,380
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Justnina,
You joined the board after the thread below was posted, so I don't know if you saw it. It may contain information that could be useful to you: http://her2support.org/vbulletin/sho...eferrerid=1173
Best of luck with your treatment.
Hopeful
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04-21-2007, 08:23 AM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 8
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Thanks so much for sending this thread. I hadn't seen it and the last post helped me to understand my onc's reasoning. She's well-respected in the New york area where I live and I do trust her opinion but didn't understand it.
Once again, this wonderful Web site has come through for me. !!!
Nina
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04-21-2007, 09:13 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 153
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Yup same thing happened to me. My onc said that given my 7mm tumor taxene's were only a 1% benefit to me but I was able to finish 1 year.
I read all these women having AC+TH and know that I did not get T and it scares the crap out of me. But 1%!!! That did not sould worth it. I wonder what the absolute risk reduction was for AC followed by H. What were you quoted?
__________________
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