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Old 01-15-2010, 12:12 AM   #1
lovey
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 4
xeloda/tykerb for early stagers?

hi everyone,
I, 36 year old, was diagnosed with stage 2B, ER/PR-, her2+ with 2/12 nodes positive in august 2009. I had 2 dose densed Ac, but was stopped due to heart side-effects . My chemo was switched to TCH, but only can complete 2 cycles before i developed interstitial pneumonia, ? drug induced lung toxicity. My pulmonologist advised not to reintroduced same drugs since my respiratory fuction test left me with 33% normal function. my oncologist started me for xeloda for 4 cycles and tykerb for 1 year. I know this combo drugs has been approved for stage 4 patients with promising results. Anybody on board has this combo but not stage 4 and what is the result of the effectiveness? I'm worried and sad that i cannot complete standard treatment especially herceptin. I know many women had good results with herceptin....i,m so worried that my cancer is under treated and afraid of recurrence...but what can I do if my lungs fail me....Thank you for responding.
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Old 01-15-2010, 01:57 AM   #2
vlcarr
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Posts: 343
Re: xeloda/tykerb for early stagers?

Hi Lovey,

I've never taken xeloda but did take Herceptin/Tykerb as part of a clinical trail for newly diagnosed women. I had my 5th TCH treatment last week-one more to go.

So sorry I could not answer your question about the xeloda but I'm sure someone will be able to share their experiences with you.

Take care of yourself.
__________________
Vicky
Age 47, TN, Diagnosed 05/09
Her2+, ER/PR-, Stage III, 2 tumors = 1 8cm tumor
Grade 3
Sentinel Node Biopsy-speck present in 1 node
Completed 3 month clinical trial of weekly Herceptin and 1000mg Tykerb daily
Tumor no longer present
Right mastectomy and lymph node removal 09/25/09
No cancer present at time of surgery, none in lymph nodes
Start TCH 10/15, every 3 weeks for 4 months followed by radiation
Finished chemo 01/28/10-YEAH!
Herceptin every 3 wks until end of June
Radiation begins 03/01, 6 1/2 weeks
Radiation complete--Yeah!!
Developed lymphedema after radiation
In hospital for 4 days with pneumonia:(
Herceptin done! 06/24/10
Port Removed 07/08/10
Still in PT for lymphedema and mobility issues
DIEP Reconstruction 05/11
I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it~~Maya Angelou
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Old 01-15-2010, 09:21 PM   #3
bejuce
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Posts: 510
Re: xeloda/tykerb for early stagers?

Dear lovey,

I was diagnosed in February '09 at 38 (see signature) with ER+/PR-/HER-2+ breast cancer, with a huge tumor showing on the MRI. I did 4 cycles of dose-dense AC, followed by 4 cycles of Taxotere, during which I took Tykerb daily. This was part of a clinical trial at Stanford. I then one cycle of Herceptin and had a bilateral mastectomy which showed that my 10x12 cm tumor disappeared completely. I had, however, small deposits of viable cells in about 11/13 nodes, with the largest focus being of 8 mm.

Because of the leftover cells after my mastectomy, my oncologist added Xeloda (albeit at a low dose) during radiation. I had no side effects from the Xeloda, but the Tykerb gave me a skin rash (like a sunburn on my face) and some diarrhea (mild). Both were very easy to tolerate.

Good luck and all the best to you!
__________________
ER+ (30%)/PR-/HER-2+, stage 3

Diagnosed on 02/18/09 at 38 with a huge 12x10 cm tumor, after a 6 month delay. Told I was too young and had no risk factors. Found swollen node during breastfeeding.
March-August 09: neo-adjuvant chemo, part of a trial at Stanford (4 DD A/C, 4 Taxotere with daily Tykerb), loading dose of Herceptin
08/12/09 - bye bye boobies (bilateral mastectomy)
08/24/09 - path report shows 100 % success in breast tissue (no cancer there, yay!), 98 % success in lymphatic invasion, and even though 11/13 nodes were still positive, > 95 % of the tumor in them was killed. Hoping for the best!
September-October 09: rads with daily Xeloda
02/25/10 - Cholecystectomy
05/27/10 - Bone scan clear
06/14/10 - CT scan clear, ovarian cyst found
07/27/10 - Done with Herceptin!
02/15/11 - MVA-BN HER-2 vaccine trial
03/15/11 - First CA 15-3: 12.7 and normal, yay!
10/01/11 - Bone scan and CT scan clear, fatty liver found
now on Tamoxifen and Aspirin


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Old 01-16-2010, 06:01 AM   #4
lovey
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 4
Re: xeloda/tykerb for early stagers?

Thanks vlcarr and bejuce, at least I know I still have hope... It might work for me..
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