HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post

08-23-2005, 09:48 AM

Hello Athena,

A lot of onc's, despite their aggressive approach to cancer treatment, would not throw all of the chemo's at once at the beginning of the game, only because they would want to 'save' for later on, in case of need.

Unfortunately, our bodies are made to play it smart, when it comes to becoming drug-resistent. Sometimes, chemo's DO work on usin the 2nd round, or 3th, or even 4th, especially with good lengthy time breaks in between.

Like you, I was diagnosed stage 3c at age 35, but I was neo-adjuvant. ER+ 40%, PR+ 20%, Her2 3+. So, I had 4x dose-dense A/C, then 12x weekly Taxol, in conjunction with weekly Herceptin for its 1st year. I recurred to a brain met (and then supraclavicular nodes) the following year, so I have come to be remaining on Herceptin indefinitely. Then I had a mastectomy surgery, which revealed my primary tumor (6cm) was completely gone, however 17/18 nodes positive (I think the smallest -- just one node -- at 1.5cm, the rest microscopic mets).

Currently, I was spotted with a suspicious nodule & some pleural effusion on the opposite sides of my lungs, so we are going through a battery of tests before deciding on my treatment plan. Right now, I am just on Herceptin, Aromasin & Zoladex.

If you still wanted to add another chemo agent to your original regime, you may want to check into some clinical trials. I believe that there are some ladies on the boards -- for their breast cancer -- that have had Taxol (or Taxotere), A/C, and Carbo.

Sorry that you had to join our club, but you just found the right place! Feel free to ask any questions or make comments here.

Good luck! :-)

PS: I think that your FISH score indicates that your Her2+ falls into the 'medium' range. The higher you go, the more Her2 you have. I believe a 3 (or 4?) is the highest we could go.

08-23-2005, 09:48 AM	#2
jojo Guest Posts: n/a	Hello Athena, A lot of onc's, despite their aggressive approach to cancer treatment, would not throw all of the chemo's at once at the beginning of the game, only because they would want to 'save' for later on, in case of need. Unfortunately, our bodies are made to play it smart, when it comes to becoming drug-resistent. Sometimes, chemo's DO work on usin the 2nd round, or 3th, or even 4th, especially with good lengthy time breaks in between. Like you, I was diagnosed stage 3c at age 35, but I was neo-adjuvant. ER+ 40%, PR+ 20%, Her2 3+. So, I had 4x dose-dense A/C, then 12x weekly Taxol, in conjunction with weekly Herceptin for its 1st year. I recurred to a brain met (and then supraclavicular nodes) the following year, so I have come to be remaining on Herceptin indefinitely. Then I had a mastectomy surgery, which revealed my primary tumor (6cm) was completely gone, however 17/18 nodes positive (I think the smallest -- just one node -- at 1.5cm, the rest microscopic mets). Currently, I was spotted with a suspicious nodule & some pleural effusion on the opposite sides of my lungs, so we are going through a battery of tests before deciding on my treatment plan. Right now, I am just on Herceptin, Aromasin & Zoladex. If you still wanted to add another chemo agent to your original regime, you may want to check into some clinical trials. I believe that there are some ladies on the boards -- for their breast cancer -- that have had Taxol (or Taxotere), A/C, and Carbo. Sorry that you had to join our club, but you just found the right place! Feel free to ask any questions or make comments here. Good luck! :-) PS: I think that your FISH score indicates that your Her2+ falls into the 'medium' range. The higher you go, the more Her2 you have. I believe a 3 (or 4?) is the highest we could go.