Is There a State Of The Art Treatment for the Newly Diagnosed?
 

Friends,

I was recently contacted by a woman who was newly diagnosed with Her2+ B/C. She had a lumpectomy, clear margins and no nodes involved. She is scheduled to meet her onc. for the first time next week. Given that the chemo landscape is ever-changing (and is quite different than when I was diagnosed just three years ago), I am wondering if there is a current state of the art treatment for early stage, Her2+ B/C patients. Is it A/C, + Taxol, + Herceptin? Is Taxotere ever used in place of Taxol these days? Your input would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Cynthia

Cynthia,

I am early stage (stage 2). I finished my treatment in Nov. I received AC & then taxotere with Herceptin, then continued my Herceptin until my muga dropped too much. Hopefully I will go back on Herceptin soon.

I also am stage 2 and finished Feb.I had a/c and Taxol weekly with Herceptin but I had 3 affected nodes and I think if the nodes are clear they skip the Taxol.
Tricia

Cynthia
I was stage one, diagnosed 11/2004, 9 mm ER/PR neg. Her2+++. I refused A/C, as recommended by two oncs, had radiation then 9 months after diagnois, Taxotere and Herceptin--now finishing off one year of Herceptin. I don't know what they would do if I were newly diagnosed today, but yes, lots of people do Taxotere instead of Taxol.
HTH
Janet

Hi Cynthia, for stage 2 and lumpectomy, I did 4 AC every 3 wks, 12 taxol and herceptin weekly, continuing herceptin every 3 weeks for rest of 1 year. Rads while on herceptin. Beginning tamoxifen after rads. I asked about taxotere, and was told they were similiar but she thought taxol to be better. It does seem geographic. From reading posts, it looks like taxotere is more often used on West coast. Best wishes, Bev

Hi Cynthia,

I'm not sure there is a 'state of the art' therapy for Her2+ disease-- obviously including Herceptin is the key now for early stage patients. There seem to be some alternative 'cocktails' out there, although they've not been tested head to head. In other words, A/C +Taxol & Herceptin has not been tested against A/C + Taxotere & Herceptin. (As far as I know)

Some cancer centers use dose dense therapy as their 'standard of care', but the early stage Herceptin studies that were announced last year used the standard three week chemo schedule. It is my understanding that Taxol is used in the dose dense protocal, so that is why some of us received Taxol instead of Taxotere.

There's also been data released on Carboplatnium+Taxol+Herceptin-- it appears to be as effective as A/C +T & Herceptin (standard 3 week dosing schedule) but less damaging to the heart.

However, there may be an increase in efficacy for the A/C + Taxol & Herceptin when administered on a dose dense schedule. That isn't known because the studies haven't been done yet, but it may be reasonable to assume given that dose dense has been shown to be more effective in Her2+ disease.

I hope this helps.

Good luck to your friend.

Jen

Thanks to all of you who responded.

Cynthia

I am stage III, ER/PR-, HER2+++, node positive going through neoadjunct chemo. Received 4 rounds A/C and 4 rounds Taxatore. After surgery will have radiation followed by 1 year of herception.