herceptin and taxotere

[lia]

hi ive only posted on here once before but your replies then really helped so thankyou ! i live in the uk and after 4 x C A F have now had one taxotere. i have changed to private healthcare so i can get herceptin , which my private oncologist agreed to after i was denied on the nhs. However when i went for my first taxotere 11 days ago, expecting to have herceptin aswell my oncologist said that as i d had adriamycin as part of CAF i would have to wait a few months before starting herceptin. I already knew of the potential heart risks with adriamycin but feel i am more at risk of cancer ,as a stage 3 with very strong family history, than heart problems. I agreed to this at the time but now feel i want to argue my case next appointment.Has anyone any advice on this ? My other request is for ideas in coping with the side effects of taxotere, the aches and pains, red inflamed soles of my feet,and strange red rash on my wrist ?? thankyou in advance !!

[sassy]

i was treated with dose dense a/c X 4 then began taxol/herceptin 2 1/2 weeks later. Echocardiogram before a/c, after a/c after 4 herceptin. heart ok--following protocol of clinical trial released in may.

Sassy

[StephN]

Hi -
I also had Adriamycin and Taxotere as adjuvent chemos. This was hard on me, but I only had some peeling skin on my soles of feet and some mild tingling that did not last.

Are you taking L-glutomine?? This is a good supplement against the neuropathy. Also, B6 and folic Acid. These will help keep the nerve sheaths nourished.
Also drink LOTS of water before and after your treatment. I also ate crushed ice during the infusion and this helped with the mouth sores.

It was the bodily aches and pains that were worst for me. Took Neurontin and Aleve for this. Not sure what the UK equivalent would be. Hot baths also helped, with some soaking salts.

I started on Herceptin only 6 months after getting off the original rounds of chemo because of mets. I also got Taxol and Navelbine. My heart was OK at that 6 month time frame, it was not great, but good enough according to the MUGA scan at that time. I have not done worse since. Been on Herceptin without chemo now for over 3 years and my heart feels ok - not as good as before, but WHAT is???

All the best - and I am glad you WILL get Herceptin even if you have to wait just a little while. Ask for a heart test to see where you are with that.

[*_Davlin_*]

I went through treatment with Taxotere two years ago at the Cross Cancer Clinic in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. This was part of an International study comparing standard treatment, Taxotere, and Herceptin. II also have a family history of BC, my mother, my sister had it twice. I would be inclined to say fight for the Herceptin. I had the Adriamycin first, then Taxotere. I didn't get the Herceptin. My experience with it wasn’t good, but at the time I thought it was helping me. Now, I don’t really think it was.

All the best,

Davlin

[Gina]

Hi, Lia,

Yes, I had a very similar situation many years ago. Following surgery for a 5cm right breast tumor with 6 of 14 positive lymph nodes (er/pr neg Her-2 3+), I was given agressive CAF followed by taxotere. At the time, Herceptin was not approved by the FDA in the States. I also took agressive radiation. All that bought me about 5 months, then the cancer mets to my liver...bad situation....Long story short..., I finally started the Herceptin in early 1999 and have been on it ONLY plus careful diet for all these years with SUPERB results...if you want more specific info, feel free to e-mail me at GPopp@Comcast.net. My heart has been A OK, but remember, there was about a year between me taking the Adrianmycin and the Herceptin...hope this is somewhat helpful... There is a lot you can do to protect your heart...magnesium is king and walking really helps...also, onions and beets...tend to strengthen the heart. Best of luck, Gina.

[lia]

thanks for your messages. I still dont really know what to do for the best, i think i will try to get a heart scan, if such a thing exists, and then maybe push for herceptin alongside the taxotere, for the last 2 at least. I only recently discovered how quickly secondaries / recurrences can happen with her2 +++ bc, so dont know how long a break is sensible, not that anyone really knows.