HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Weekly Taxol and Herceptin vs. Dose Dense Taxol and Herceptin

mts · 05-03-2007, 05:34 AM

Hi-

I was given DD AC+T +H and I am ER+ 10% and PR-. I was also Stage I. 41 yrs old at time of Dx.
I consulted with 4 onc's.
Because Herceptin at that time (2004) was not provided to Stage I's, I believe the oncs felt that DD was better. Now a days, with Herceptin, onc's may feel that DD is not as necessary ???

I still feel that DD was good for me and that even if Herceptin were readily available then as it is today, I would still have done the DD.

Everyone is different- I tolerated DD quite well. Of course there were days where I could not get out of bed, but thankfully I got through it. I know that many onc's look at the age of the patient, family setting and add many "opinion" factors into the mix in order to come up with the best treatment plan. For example- the treatment for a 60 yr old woman vs a 40 yr old. Not that any group is allowed to feel that they have more to live for than any other... but I think that onc's take age of children, overall health etc in the mix. I would think that 48 is pretty young... and that it is up to the patient to pick and choose whatever tx she wants and that the onc is there to provide good science.

Keep in mind that AC+T every three weeks ain't "chemo light" either... the one thing you don't want to do is hunt around for someone else to give you an opinion on which you have already decided upon... tic toc.

Either way, you still have to sign a release form !!!

Best of luck to your sister-- keep us posted on her decision.

MTS

05-03-2007, 05:34 AM	#6
mts Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Central Florida Posts: 503	Hi- I was given DD AC+T +H and I am ER+ 10% and PR-. I was also Stage I. 41 yrs old at time of Dx. I consulted with 4 onc's. Because Herceptin at that time (2004) was not provided to Stage I's, I believe the oncs felt that DD was better. Now a days, with Herceptin, onc's may feel that DD is not as necessary ??? I still feel that DD was good for me and that even if Herceptin were readily available then as it is today, I would still have done the DD. Everyone is different- I tolerated DD quite well. Of course there were days where I could not get out of bed, but thankfully I got through it. I know that many onc's look at the age of the patient, family setting and add many "opinion" factors into the mix in order to come up with the best treatment plan. For example- the treatment for a 60 yr old woman vs a 40 yr old. Not that any group is allowed to feel that they have more to live for than any other... but I think that onc's take age of children, overall health etc in the mix. I would think that 48 is pretty young... and that it is up to the patient to pick and choose whatever tx she wants and that the onc is there to provide good science. Keep in mind that AC+T every three weeks ain't "chemo light" either... the one thing you don't want to do is hunt around for someone else to give you an opinion on which you have already decided upon... tic toc. Either way, you still have to sign a release form !!! Best of luck to your sister-- keep us posted on her decision. MTS