has anyone had neoadjuvant chemo?

Alice · 10-26-2005, 11:18 AM

I had neoadjuvant chemo 4 dose dense A/C 3 carbo-taxol-herceptin before surgery. I was diagnosed in april with IDC multifocal stage 2 grade 3 er/pr neg her2+++. Had mastectomy oct 7 no cancer cells left on pathology report!
I go to see my onc on tuesday to discuss adjuvant chemo and or radiation.I would like to know if anyone else has had chemo before sx and any advice anyone can give me. I hate the thought of more chemo but if it will help against a recurrance I'll do what it takes.
Thanks, Alice

Val Pfeiffer · 10-26-2005, 12:28 PM

hi Alice--
I had neoadjuvant chemo and adjuvant chemo--Herceptin, Taxol & Carboplatin. Neo-adj was December, January and February, mastectomy first week of March, then three more months of chemo, followed by radiation. I was Her2+, ER/PR-, and had node involvement...5/8+....although in my case many of the cancer cells were already dead as well.

I have also chosen to get Herceptin weekly after everything, since Tamoxifen, etc. doesn't work with ER/PR- cancer cells.

I hate to give advice without knowing more, but the odds are so strong in these cases of a recurrence that I would definitely take the adjuvant chemo too. How large was your tumor?

Val

Alice · 10-26-2005, 12:41 PM

Hi Val,

I had a total of 4 tumors largest was 2.2 cm 2 at 2 cm and one at .5 cm for a total of 6.7 cm. The staging is their best guess concidering sx was after chemo.
I had a pet/ct and MRI prior to chemo that showed node involvement. Also the primary site was in the axillary area.I want to be prepared on tuesday to ask the right questions.
Thanks, Alice

Val Pfeiffer · 10-26-2005, 12:55 PM

What does your oncologist advise? I can't imagine that he or she would not recommend more chemo in your situation. Recurrence is such a strong possibility--I would go for it.

I have a friend who had a stage 1 cancer 13 years ago who just had a recurrence of Her2 bc. She would probably say the same--do everything you can now to reduce the chances of the recurrence. Especially since there isn't a medication like tamoxifen for ER/PR- cases that you can take after treatment.

If you need more details from me please ask :-)
Good luck with everything!!

Val

Julie2 · 10-26-2005, 02:39 PM

I had neoadjuvant dose dense AC+Taxol which got rid of my entire tumor leaving only DCIS and micromets to the auxillary nodes. Wish I had Herceptin with Taxol which would have resulted in a pathological response like you. After mastectomy I had xeloda+Herceptin+radiation all at the same time and now on a year of Herceptin till March 06.

Julie

Alice · 10-26-2005, 03:39 PM

My surgeon is going to take my case infront of the medical board at the cancer center for recomendation and I'll find out on tuesday what they recomend.

Thanks, Alice

wendywidder · 10-27-2005, 03:07 PM

Hi Alice, your dx seems really similar to mine: IDC, multi-focal, NP, ER-PR-, HER2+++, stage 2 or 3, mastectomy with clean path report. I am presently taking herceptin for one year. I'll be interested in what they recommend for you and what others in similar situations have done with what results.

Thanks, Wendy

Kim in DC · 10-27-2005, 07:12 PM

I had neoadjuvant taxotere and Herceptin. Then I had Navelbine and Herceptin. Now I am just on Herceptin. The Navelbine and Herceptin were easy for me and my hair even started going back. At the very least, you should be on more Herceptin for at least a year.

Patty H · 10-28-2005, 04:37 PM

I had chemo then surgery but because I had 3 bad nodes they put me back on chemo after. The Dr. said it was because of the positive nodes that I had to have more chemo. Patty H