Local Recurrence on Herceptin
 

I have a local recurrence that I noticed during my last month of Herceptin. It's near my mastectomy scar. So far the plan is wide excision then wide radiation to my chest wall, clavicle (sp?) area.

Has anyone else had this happen and also included additional chemo? There doesn't seem to be any good data on adjuvent chemo after radiation. I had AC+Herceptin, was stage 1 node negative. Some oncs. have suggested Taxol, but I've heard it is most effective with Herceptin. Yet my recurrence happened while on Herceptin.

My onc. is not recommending any additional chemo.

- Anna

Anna, Sorry this is happening. I have read other cancer studies, not BC, where taxol sensitizes rogue cancer cells to die from rads. Taxol and H are a good combo. I don't know the answers. Hope someone else has an answer. Bev

A woman in my local support group had the same type of recurrence (she is triple negative). She received 1000mg per day of Xeloda while getting rads (after additional surgery) to help sensitize the cancer cells and ensure better knock down. This is a low dose of Xeloda if you were receiving it as chemo for a systemic relapse.

Hope this helps.

Anna,

I just wanted to say that I am sorry you have a recurrance.
I am sending you a huge hug and all good wishes to hit this
recurrance with anything and everything your dr. advises.

Please keep us posted on your progess.
Will say a very special prayer for you.....

Regards,
Jean

Hi all,

Thanks for the good wishes & info, which I can count on in this group!
It never occurred to me that chemo-type drugs could be given during radiation. I will ask my doctor about xeloda. Is Tykerb usually given with that?

That's also interesting about Taxol helps sensitive rogue cancer cells for radiation. I was looking into getting it after radiation, but this sounds like it should be before. Has anyone received it during radiation?

- Anna

Anna

I have been on Xeloda and Herceptin for a recurrence while on Herceptin....this might be worth a try.

Hi Sheila,

My onc. has been pretty firm that she won't give me chemo without data backing it up. There is plenty of data now for stage iv women getting chemo, but not for women with local recurrence. Maybe if I had already done radiation, then it would be considered.

I will wait to see how my re-excision goes (found a few more spots near my new scar), to decide if I will try for a 2nd opinion.

- Anna

Anna
Xeloda is used in comination with Herceptin for local recurrence, like to the skin, axilla nodes, neck nodes etc. Many onc. seem to get good results with this combo. Navelbine is also used, as well as the taxol family, like abraxane.