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01-22-2008, 08:29 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 57
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Gemzar/Herceptin vs. Abraxane/Lapatinib, hard decision
Hi fellow her2 friends,
Hope you are managing through the treatments and the winter! After a good 2 yrs run with Herceptin/Xeloda, I tried Navelbine/Herceptin which was not helpful at all-progression afte 2 cycles. Now, I must decide on another treatment either Gemzar/Herceptin or Abraxane/Lapatinib. I have had Taxanes, Xeloda, and Navelbine in the past. I was told Gemzar is a new chemo to me and may be effective and then was told it may not be effective because Navelbine was not. I have had Taxanes in my past 2yrs ago, and twice earlier in my long 8 yr. mets journey. The Taxanes were quite effective for me, but I had to get off the last Taxol due to mixed results. So, I have been told I usually do well on Taxanes and Lapatinib is new., so Abraxane/Lapatinib is a good combo, but I did have Taxane exposures in the past. I am having a hard time with making this decision, and I need to know soon. I would appreciate your thoughts on Gemzar and Abraxane. Lida
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01-23-2008, 02:16 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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The only thing I can tell you is that I've had great results with the Taxanes.
__________________
Kate
Stage IIIC Diagnosed Oct 25, 2005 (age 58)
ER/PR-, HER2+++, grade 3, Ploidy/DNA index: Aneuploid/1.61, S-phase: 24.2%
Neoadjunct chemo: 4 A/C; 4 Taxatore
Bilateral mastectomy June 8, 2006
14 of 26 nodes positive
Herceptin June 22, 2006 - April 20, 2007
Radiation (X35) July 24-September 11, 2006
BRCA1/BRCA2 negative
Stage IV lung mets July 13, 2007 - TCH
Single brain met - August 6, 2007 -CyberKnife
Oct 2007 - clear brain MRI and lung mets shrinking.
March 2008 lung met progression, brain still clear - begin Tykerb/Xeloda/Ixempra
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01-23-2008, 08:55 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: I live in Christmas, MI - located on the shores of Lake Superior.
Posts: 606
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I have also had fabulous results with Abraxane. Good luck making your decision. May you make the right one and see wonderful results too!
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Barb
10/03 Radical Mastectomy 3 cm tumor - 1/17 Nodes Stage II B, Her 2 +++ ER-/PR- 11/03 4 AC 4 Taxol 12/05 Stage IV - Lung met , Bone mets - Carbo, Taxotere, Herceptin 9/06 - 2 cm brain tumor 10/06 - Tumor removal surgery - Herceptin Halted 12/06 gamma knife tumor base.1/07 Navelbine/Herceptin 4/07 Rads to R femur 5/07 Stereotactic - new 2 cm brain tumor 4/07 Start Xeloda 5/07 Tykerb added 7/07 Brain MRI clean 10/07 .055 cm brain met found. 12/07 Stereotactic -1 cm brain tumor Start Tykerb 11/07 Abraxane/Herceptin 5/08 Cisplatin, Gemcitabine/Herceptin 6/08 Stereotactic to 1cm 9/08 Stereotactic repeat (growth). 11/08 Pet Scan Good but new tiny met on L lung/dead Brain surgery (no cancer cells found/scar tissue) 1/09 Chemo restarted 2/09 Pet Scan Bad - R larger very active/active L active lymph nodes both sides of chest MRI- mets slight increase 2/09 Start Doxil/Tykerb Treatment
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01-26-2008, 10:56 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,756
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Hi Lida;
Gemzar/Herceptin was hard on my counts, or rather Gemzar was. I was scheduled for 3 weekly tx with one week off but could never get even 2 weeks in a row due to low counts. Finally switched to Abraxane/Tykerb and had four good months with that combo. Abraxane was not hard on me at all, most of my side effects were due to Tykerb.
<3 Lolly
__________________
Sept.'99 - Dx.Stage IIIB, IDC ER/PR-, HER2+++ by IHC, confirmed '04 by FISH. Left MRM, AC x's 4, Taxol x's 4, 33 Rads, finishing Tx May 2000. Jan.'01 - local/regional recurrence, Stage IV. Herceptin/Navelbine weekly till NED August 2001, then maintenance Herceptin. Right Mast. April 2002. Local/Regional recurrence April '04, Herceptin plus/minus chemo until May '07. Gemzar added from Feb.'07-April '07; Tykerb/Abraxane until August '07, back on Herceptin plus Taxotere and Xeloda Sept. '07. Stopped T/X Nov. '07, stopped Herceptin Dec. '07, started Avastin/Taxol/Carboplatin Dec. '07. Progression in chest skin, stopped TAC March '03, started radiation.
Herceptin has served as the "Backbone" of my treatment strategy for over 6 years, giving me great quality of life. In 2005, I was privileged to participate in the University of Washington/Seattle HER2 Vaccine Trial.
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01-27-2008, 11:17 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 57
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Gemzar/Herceptin vs. Abraxane/Lapatinib Lolly
Dear Lolly and group,
Lolly, thanks for your reply. People in the medical community are always saying Tykerb (Lapatinib) is easy to tolerate, but I am not so sure. What kind of side effects did you get from Tykerb? Lida
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01-27-2008, 12:32 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,756
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Lida, I had "the rash" which was raised red itchy spots on my face, shoulders and upper arms. Additionally, the spots on my face were pimply. There was diarreah, not as bad as some have reported. Easily controlled for me with a couple of doses of Immodium when it got annoying. Tiredness, some stomach ache, but really it wasn't too bad.
<3 Lolly
__________________
Sept.'99 - Dx.Stage IIIB, IDC ER/PR-, HER2+++ by IHC, confirmed '04 by FISH. Left MRM, AC x's 4, Taxol x's 4, 33 Rads, finishing Tx May 2000. Jan.'01 - local/regional recurrence, Stage IV. Herceptin/Navelbine weekly till NED August 2001, then maintenance Herceptin. Right Mast. April 2002. Local/Regional recurrence April '04, Herceptin plus/minus chemo until May '07. Gemzar added from Feb.'07-April '07; Tykerb/Abraxane until August '07, back on Herceptin plus Taxotere and Xeloda Sept. '07. Stopped T/X Nov. '07, stopped Herceptin Dec. '07, started Avastin/Taxol/Carboplatin Dec. '07. Progression in chest skin, stopped TAC March '03, started radiation.
Herceptin has served as the "Backbone" of my treatment strategy for over 6 years, giving me great quality of life. In 2005, I was privileged to participate in the University of Washington/Seattle HER2 Vaccine Trial.
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