HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Optimizing Adjuvant Treatment for Patients With HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

CPA · 06-02-2006, 12:37 PM

My wife chose the Carboplatin/Docetaxel + Herceptin adjuvant option because of significant family cardiac history. I was not 100% convinced she should take this approach because she is relatively young (40) and her parents had their cardiac problems later in life.

She is now finished with chemo and had a normal echocardiogram two weeks ago. She is doing well on herceptin every 3 wks. We are waiting for the next round of scans later this year - hopefully NED.

I agree that it will be probably difficult to identify a sub-group who should routinely be given this type of treatment. From the data I have seen, the risk of significant cardiac events is small but real with the anthracycline/herceptin regimens.

This will probably be one of those options that oncologists hate - decrease one risk, but possibly increase the risk of relapse. Either way, they run the risk of getting a lawyer involved somewhere down the line.

I'll bet there is already a lawyer waiting to file a case on behalf of those "injured" by Herceptin. Just look at Vioxx.

06-02-2006, 12:37 PM	#2
CPA Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 93	Third Arm My wife chose the Carboplatin/Docetaxel + Herceptin adjuvant option because of significant family cardiac history. I was not 100% convinced she should take this approach because she is relatively young (40) and her parents had their cardiac problems later in life. She is now finished with chemo and had a normal echocardiogram two weeks ago. She is doing well on herceptin every 3 wks. We are waiting for the next round of scans later this year - hopefully NED. I agree that it will be probably difficult to identify a sub-group who should routinely be given this type of treatment. From the data I have seen, the risk of significant cardiac events is small but real with the anthracycline/herceptin regimens. This will probably be one of those options that oncologists hate - decrease one risk, but possibly increase the risk of relapse. Either way, they run the risk of getting a lawyer involved somewhere down the line. I'll bet there is already a lawyer waiting to file a case on behalf of those "injured" by Herceptin. Just look at Vioxx.