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11-02-2007, 05:00 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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Chemo Dosage Reduced
I've been on Taxol, Carboplatin combo with 3 weeks on and 1 week off; Also Herceptin weekly since July. My blood counts (red, white and platlets) have been dropping severly and I've had to miss 3 treatments due to low counts. Thursday I went for treatment and saw my oncologist as well. Her feeling is that the Carboplatin is what is playing havoc with my blood counts. Her recommendation was that we either reduce the dosage of Carboplatin or cut it out completely since I've been having such a good response to treatment. My last scan showed great improvement in the lung nodules and the brain MRI was clear. I wasn't ready to cut out the carboplatin completly since it does pass through the brain blood barrier. What we decided to do was go with the lower dosage of Carboplatin and keep the Taxol the same. My Carboplatin is now 150mg. Hopefully this will help my counts and also help me have a better quality of life. I will have my next scans in January.
__________________
Kate
Stage IIIC Diagnosed Oct 25, 2005 (age 58)
ER/PR-, HER2+++, grade 3, Ploidy/DNA index: Aneuploid/1.61, S-phase: 24.2%
Neoadjunct chemo: 4 A/C; 4 Taxatore
Bilateral mastectomy June 8, 2006
14 of 26 nodes positive
Herceptin June 22, 2006 - April 20, 2007
Radiation (X35) July 24-September 11, 2006
BRCA1/BRCA2 negative
Stage IV lung mets July 13, 2007 - TCH
Single brain met - August 6, 2007 -CyberKnife
Oct 2007 - clear brain MRI and lung mets shrinking.
March 2008 lung met progression, brain still clear - begin Tykerb/Xeloda/Ixempra
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11-02-2007, 05:25 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bedford, Virginia
Posts: 134
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Kate, I have learned so much from your posts. I admire your strength and how you candidly share your diagnosis which, in turn, enables us to learn more about BC and its treatment. I, for one, will continue to keep you in my prayers because I have learned God does listen to our prayers.
Louise
__________________
- Diagnosis 06/06 - Stage II-A BC; BC was 2.5 cm, grade 2; ER/PR negative & HER-2/neu positive;
- Mastectomy w/ reconstruction (implant) in 09/06;lymph nodes - negative;
- AC/Cytoxin combo - 4 treatments (dose dense);
- Taxol/Herceptin combo- 12 weekly treatments;
- Completed chemo - 2/07; completed restruction 02/07; reduction of left breast.
- BRCA 1 and 2 negative - 6/15/07;DX high risk for distant recurrence
- MRI, 08/02/07 - NED
- 1 year Anniversary - 09/07; completed Herceptin 11/07.
- Mammo 02/14/08 - NED; MRI - 08/2008 - NED
- 2 year Anniversary - 09/08
- Mammo 02/09 - NED; MRI - 08/09 - NED
- 3rd year Anniversary - 09/09
- 5th Annivery - 09/2011 - NED
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11-02-2007, 05:42 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: DFW area (TX)
Posts: 431
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Hi Kate,
Sending good thoughts your way. Have you tried the astragalus and reishi? They seemed to really have a positive effect on Ruth's WBC. The ones she took were Gaia liquid extract caps.
Terri
__________________
Terri, spouse of Ruth, Dallas/Ft. Worth area
Ruth dx 05/01/07 (age 50) Filipino
multifocal, several tumors .5 -2.5 cm, large area
Breast MRI showed 2 enlarged nodes, not palpable
100%ER+, 95%PR+, HER2+++
6x pre-surgery TCH chemo finished 9/15/7 Dramatic tumor shrinkage
1 year Herceptin till 6/08
MRM 10/11/07, SNB: 0/4 nodes + Path: tumors reduced to only a few "scattered cells"
now 50% ER+, PR- ???
Rads finished 1/16/08
Added Tamoxifen,
Finished Herceptin 05/08
NOW is the time to appreciate life to the fullest.
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11-02-2007, 06:31 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Morris, IL
Posts: 3,507
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Kate
You amaze me, you are always so upbeat. I am glad to hear you will stay on the carbo as it is getting to the brain, but with the reduction, hopefully your counts will rise...you are always in my heart and in my prayers Kate. You give me strength from your posts!
__________________
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Hugs & Blessings
Sheila
Diagnosed at age 49.99999 2/21/2002 via Mammography (Calcifications)
Core Biopsy 2/22/02
L. Mastectomy 2/25/2002
Stage 1, 0.7cm IDC, Node Neg from 19 nodes Her2+++ ER PR Neg
6/2003 Reconstruction W/ Tissue Expander, Silicone Implant
9/2003 Stage IV with Mets to Supraclavicular nodes
9/2003 Began Herceptin every 3 weeks
3/2006 Xeloda 2500mg/Herceptin for recurrence to neck nodes
3/2007 Added back the Xeloda with Herceptin for continued mets to nodes
5/2007 Taken Off Xeloda, no longer working
6/14/07 Taxol/Herceptin/Avastin
3/26 - 5/28/08 Taxol Holiday Whopeeeeeeeee
5/29 2008 Back on Taxol w Herceptin q 2 weeks
4/2009 Progression on Taxol & Paralyzed L Vocal Cord from Nodes Pressing on Nerve
5/2009 Begin Rx with Navelbine/Herceptin
11/09 Progression on Navelbine
Fought for and started Tykerb/Herceptin...nodes are melting!!!!!
2/2010 Back to Avastin/Herceptin
5/2010 Switched to Metronomic Chemo with Herceptin...Cytoxan and Methotrexate
Pericardial Window Surgery to Drain Pericardial Effusion
7/2010 Back to walking a mile a day...YEAH!!!!
9/2010 Nodes are back with a vengence in neck
Qualified for TDM-1 EAP
10/6/10 Begin my miracle drug, TDM-1
Mixed response, shrinking internal nodes, progression skin mets after 3 treatments
12/6/10 Started Halaven (Eribulen) /Herceptin excellent results in 2 treatments
2/2011 I CELEBRATE my 9 YEAR MARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7/5/11 begin Gemzar /Herceptin for node progression
2/8/2012 Gemzar stopped, Continue Herceptin
2/20/2012 Begin Tomo Radiation to Neck Nodes
2/21/2012 I CELEBRATE 10 YEARS
5/12/2012 BeganTaxotere/ Herceptin is my next miracle for new node progression
6/28/12 Stopped Taxotere due to pregression, Started Perjeta/Herceptin
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11-02-2007, 06:41 PM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: East TN and San Antonio
Posts: 13
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Kate, same thing happened to me with Taxotere. Doc reduced to 60% and gave me Neu shots to keep white blood cells up. Good luck with next set of scans. Mine are next week.
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11-02-2007, 06:52 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 624
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Hi Kate,
Carboplatin seems to be a really hard core chemo. Of course, I am no expert, but it sounds like you made the right decision to just reduce the dosage. Here is to a better quality of life.
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11-02-2007, 08:07 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Thornhill, Ontario
Canada
Posts: 2,320
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Kate,
I am praying that the new chemo regime works well and does give you a better QOL. Hang in there Kate, you are such an inspiration to me and I am sure many others on this board.
all the best
caya
__________________
ER90%+/PR 50%+/HER 2+
1.7 cm and 1.0 cm.
Stage 1, grade 2, Node Negative (16 nodes tested)
MRM Dec.18/06
3 x FEC, 3 x Taxotere
Herceptin - every 3 weeks for a year, finished May 8/08
Tamoxifen - 2 1/2 years
Femara - Jan. 1, 2010 - July 18, 2012
BRCA1/BRCA2 Negative
Dignosed 10/16/06, age 48 , premenopausal
Mild lymphedema diagnosed June 2009 - breast surgeon and lymph. therapist think it's completely reversible - hope so.
Reclast infusion January 2012
Oopherectomy October 2013
15 Years NED!!
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11-03-2007, 05:46 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Sheboygan, WI
Posts: 2,582
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Hi Kate,
You truly are a pillar of inspiration here. Thank you for keeping us up to speed on your treatment because we care so much about you. I hope reducing your dose of carboplatin does the trick as far as counts go.
God's Peace,
Mary Jo
__________________
"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
Dx. 6/24/05 age 45 Right Breast IDC ER/PR. Neg., - Her2+++ RB Mast. - 7/28/05 - 4 cm. tumor Margins clear - 1 microscopic cell 1 sent. node No Vasucular Invasion 4 DD A/C - 4 DD Taxol & Herceptin 1 full year of Herceptin received every 3 weeks 28 rads prophylactic Mast. 3/2/06
17 Years NED
<>< Romans 8:28
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11-03-2007, 06:15 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: moved to Lancaster, Pa in June, 2010
Posts: 576
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Kate, you are an inspiration to us all and so knowledgable. I will praying that the lower dose does the trick for you as quality of life is just as important as quanity.
__________________
Debbie in North Carolina
Diag 10/2006-high grade invasive ductal carcinoma- mastectomy L breast
2.5 cm tumor ER/PR pos-Her2+++
4 rounds A/C, 4 rounds Taxol
Herceptin every 3 weeks until Jan. 2008
6/18/07 prophylatic mastectomy R breast
8/2007 started aromasin/stopped arimidex (side effects)
12/07 stopped aromasin due to side effects (now what?)
Finished herceptin 1/8/08
started tamoxifen for 2 years then will switch to femera
allergic to tamoxifen started femera 4/2008
June 20, 2008 portacath removed
Learnig to live life to the fullest!
Stopped Femera due to side effects
July 28, 2008 start trial for breast cancer vaccine
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