Taxol or no Taxol

[Julie2]

I have posted this before but I didn't get any response may be because it is a personal choice. But I would like to get some opinions from anybody's experience.

I have been on Navelbine for my recurrence to chest lymphnodes and some suspecious nodes in lungs. I got a CT of the chest after three weeks of Navelbine+Herceptin, all the prevous nodes disppeared leaving only a 4mm node in the lung. I am in my 5th week of N+H now. Onc's idea is to continue N+H for 4 more weeks and do a PET/CT of the body and if everything is resolved then stop Navlebine.

Now I am thinking may be I should get one more week of Navelbine and get atleast 3 weeks of Taxol+Herceptin before the scan. How does this idea sound? The reason behind this is that I didn't hear of anybody who took Navelbine as a first course and be on a long remission, I am seeing people on this board who achieved long remission with Taxol or Taxotere.

Any suggestions please

Thanks,
Julie

[Sheila]

Julie
Although I am on Taxol , Herceptin & Avastin for mets to the neck nodes, I have not tried Navelbine. I do have a friend who is on Navelbine Herceptin for the mets to the neck nodes and doing great. She failed on Abraxane, which is a Taxane....each of us is different...I would stick with the Navelbine and if and when you go off and if you do have a recurrence (I hope Not!!), you could then try a Taxane....with the Herceptin....what does your onc. say? The nodes are a pain in the butt to get to NED!

[Bev]

Don't know. Just keeoing it alive. BB

[chrisy]

Hi Julie,
Actually, Kim in Ct had first-line Navelbine+Herceptin for lung mets, it worked wonderfully and she has been NED and in remission (on herceptin) for over 3 years. She posts under the name mamacze (you better check it on the members list, I may have spelled it wrong!

[chrisy]

Hi Julie,
Actually, Kim in Ct had first-line Navelbine+Herceptin for lung mets, it worked wonderfully and she has been NED and in remission (on herceptin) for over 3 years. She posts under the name mamacze (you better check it on the members list, I may have spelled it wrong!

I think everyone responds to treatments differently. Some chemos work great for some, and not at all for others. Seems like the Navelbine is working well for you; which is reason to think it will continue to do so.

Good luck with your decision.

[StephN]

Hi - you can see by my signature that I had progression to mets quickly.
I took the Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin combo and it got me to NED over FIVE years ago. So I would have to say that Navelbine can be a good drug for some of us.

I also have friends who have had at least a couple of years of NED or stable with Navelbine/Herceptin that was easy to tolerate.

I am glad you are doing so well and hope this will work for you as well as for me.