Herceptin Plus a Taxane:To SusanV, Bev, and Karenann

PatS · 09-26-2006, 04:56 AM

I have also read that the taxanes work best for those who are HER2-. However, I had neoadjuvant chemo to shrink my tumor and had A/C followed by Taxotere. For me taxotere seemed to shrink the tumor more than the A/C did.

Pat

Becky · 09-26-2006, 05:45 AM

At ASCO 2006 I personally went to the presentation on the benefit of adding a taxane after 4 dense dose AC treatments.

A taxane is most beneficial to those who are Her2 positive (regardless of hormone status - and this part was stressed over and over again because....) a taxane was shown to be of NO benefit to those who were only hormone positive (and Her2 negative). Adding a taxane was also of great benefit to triple negatives.

If I had a tumor that was Her2+ and over 1cm - even with negative nodes, I would insist on 4 taxol treatments after the AC adding in the Herceptin with the taxol treatments and then Herceptin out to a year. It is that much more beneficial. Check it out under the ASCO 2006 site (when I get home late tonight, I will look it up and let you know the abstract number).

Kindest regards

Becky

SusanV · 09-26-2006, 06:15 AM

Yes Alaska Angel, you hit the nail on the head....

I was asking my onc to add Taxol with my herceptin, instead of just herceptin only. His response was that it provided minimal benefit in my case as I am Her 2+++ ,Srongly ER + 80% and Strongly PR + 90 % (I just inquired about my % yesterday too) For me the jury is still out on my oncoligist. I am just two treatments in, and he & I haven't spent a whole lot of time together. I explained to one of his associates that I want everything available including taxol with my herception. We will see what happens..I still have 2 A/C treatment to do, which will take me to Nov 6th to plea my case. I like all of you ,want to look back later and know that I did all that I could.

I won't give up too easy with my onc, and Becky I will really being looking forward to your next post to do some more reading on the subject.

A million thanks to all of You, and then a million more !

P.S. Sorry if my other post confused anyone