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06-16-2007, 01:00 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 27
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Need advice re taxotere
I had DCIS and IDC in Dec. of 2006. Had a lumpectomy, .9 cm tumor, no lymph node involvement. I am er+, pr+, and her2 positive. Went through radiation first, as my onc didn't think I would need chemo. Did the oncotype DX test, and it came back showing I had a high rate of recurrence, so he recommended four doses of A/C. Just finished that on May 23rd. Got a second opinion, as my first onc wasn't sure I needed herceptin, and I definitely felt I did. He has agreed to give that to me, along with femarra or arimidex.
The question is, the second onc said I could take four doses of taxol to increase my odds. My onc said he would use taxotere instead of taxol. So, I am trying to decide if I should do that. I would appreciate any input anyone can give.
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06-16-2007, 04:30 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Thornhill, Ontario
Canada
Posts: 2,320
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Taxotere
Sheryl,
I just completed 3 rounds for FEC ( a common chemo cocktail used here in Canada, the UK and Australia), followed by 3 rounds of Taxotere. I asked my onc. for the strongest chemo out there to kill the beast, and this is what he recommended. He is one of the top oncologists in Canada, and so this is what I did. I recommend searching on breastcancer.org - type in taxotere in the "search" tab and there are many articles saying how taxotere combined with chemo and herceptin greatly reduce recurrence.
Some of the side effects are not pleasant, I will be honest with you. But I just kept telling myself that I wanted to do everything possible to lower my odds for recurrence, and you have to strike the first time (hopefully the only time) out. I had my last Taxotere on May 10, 2007, and had my loading dose of Herceptin on June 7th, 4 weeks later.
Good luck and all the best to you,
Caya
__________________
ER90%+/PR 50%+/HER 2+
1.7 cm and 1.0 cm.
Stage 1, grade 2, Node Negative (16 nodes tested)
MRM Dec.18/06
3 x FEC, 3 x Taxotere
Herceptin - every 3 weeks for a year, finished May 8/08
Tamoxifen - 2 1/2 years
Femara - Jan. 1, 2010 - July 18, 2012
BRCA1/BRCA2 Negative
Dignosed 10/16/06, age 48 , premenopausal
Mild lymphedema diagnosed June 2009 - breast surgeon and lymph. therapist think it's completely reversible - hope so.
Reclast infusion January 2012
Oopherectomy October 2013
15 Years NED!!
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06-16-2007, 06:13 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 312
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My onc thought Taxotere with Herceptin the best combination. There were studies out there that found this the best combo as of July 2005. Perhaps someone can show you where to find the studies, as I can't.
Best to you,
__________________
Janet
Endometrial Cancer 2002
Mammogram 11/2004
Lumpectomy 12/2004
Stage 1, 9mm DCIS, grade 2, Her2+++, ER/PR negative
Refused A/C as recommened by two oncs.
35 treatments of radiation that ended March 4, 2005
Changed oncologists and began
Taxotere/Herceptin August 2005. Finished Herceptin July 2006
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06-16-2007, 04:39 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: London, England
Posts: 96
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Hi Sheryl,
I too had FEC, followed by taxotere x 4 lots, with Herceptin started on the third one. My oncologist here in England is a well-respected consultant in this field, and I felt confident that she would choose the best combination for me. We have the National Health Service here, which provides free health treatment, but I happened to have private health cover as well through my husband's work, so money wasn't an issue in her choosing taxotere.
I can't help with any useful links, but others have I see. Good luck with your treatments. I'm on Arimidex (anastrozole) too.
Best wishes to you
__________________
Caroline
Diag. March 10th 2006, aged 46.
Invasive ductal carcinoma, 2cm + multifocal. Stage 2, Grade 3
HER2+++, ER+/PR+
Right mast. May 2006. 6 of 20 nodes positive
FEC x 4, taxotere x 4; port implanted after 6 cycles
Rads x 25
1 year of Herceptin ended Nov 07.
Arimidex 5 years
Considering reconstruction, maybe soon...
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06-16-2007, 05:38 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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Sheryl,
From what I've read, Taxatore seems to be recommended when there are positive lymph nodes.
__________________
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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06-16-2007, 06:24 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Stockton, NJ
Posts: 4,179
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Either taxane will do a good job. Taxanes (especially when combined with Herceptin) will really give you a great one two punch. Taxol is probably easier than Taxotere but Taxotere is touted as "better" by some oncs and some studies.
__________________
Kind regards
Becky
Found lump via BSE
Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45
1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side)
2 micromets to sentinel node
Stage 2A
left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg
lumpectomies 9/7/04
4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol
Used Leukine instead of Neulasta
35 rads on right side only
4/05 started Tamoxifen
Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to
trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations
Oophorectomy 8/05
Started Arimidex 9/05
Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06
Arimidex Only
Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia
NED 18 years!
Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"
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06-16-2007, 08:16 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: FLORIDA
Posts: 148
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As You Can See From My Signature, My Cancer Did Return. I Did 12 Wkly Taxotere. I Was Tired And With The Last Three Treatments My Eye's Started Watering. That Is The Only Side Effects That I Noticed While Doing Taxotere.
__________________
SHEILA (45)
09/2005--BREAST CANCER/8 POS NODES --A/C, MASTECTOMY,TAXOTERE, RADS, TAMOXIFEN,HERCEPTIN
02/2007--B/C METS TO OVARIES--HYSTERECTOMY, FASLODEX
12/2007--ENLARGING LYMPH NODES IN ABDOMEN--IXEMPRA, THEN TYKERB
08/2008--COLON TUMOR--A/C AGAIN,
12/2008--ABDOMEN TUMOR--AVASTIN/NAVELBINE FEMARA
05/2009--MET TO SPINE (L2) RADS
CURRENT TREATMENT
07/2009- START ZOMETA MONTHLY, XELODA & ABRAXANE......SURVIVING THE BEST I CAN
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06-18-2007, 11:24 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Hilo, Hawaii
Posts: 1,867
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My treatment
I also had IDCIS Nov 2006. Radiation was not an option because I already had radiation from a previous DCIS. I recently complete 6 rounds of taxotere, carboplatin, and herceptin. I am currently now on herceptin only. My oncologist had recommended the TCH and to be sure, I went for a second opinion with Dr. Mark Pegram and he agreed with the recommendation. I am glad I did all 6 rounds and feel I made a very good choice. My ONCOTYPE was low-intermediate.
Both yours and my dx is very similar.
__________________
*** MARYANNE *** aka HARRIECANARIE
1993: right side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads
1999: left side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads, tamoxifen
2006:
BRCA 2 positive
Stage I, invasive DCIS (6mm x 5mm)
Grade: intermediate
sentinal node biopsy: neg
HER2/neu amplified 4.7
ER+/PR+
TOPO II neg
Oncotype dx 20
Bilat mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction
oophorectomy
2007:
6 cycles TCH (taxotere, carboplatin, herceptin)
finished 1 yr herceptin 05/07
Arimidex, stopped after almost 1 yr
Femara
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06-19-2007, 05:10 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Media (Wawa to be exact), PA
Posts: 104
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Hi Sheryl H
Below is a link with information about the benefits of taxotere and herceptin.
http://www.breastcancer.org/research...in_051806.html
http://www.breastcancer.org/research...in_051806.html the next one is a list of all links in www.breastcancer.org site. \
My regiment was TCH... a fairly new regimant that they are using in the States that is IIMH opinion a very doable treatment. The C= carboplatin. I had TCH 6 rounds simultaneouly and will contine herceptin for the remainder of the year.
Hope you find this helpful.
Keep the faith
MElinda
__________________
DX BC 12/06
tumor .9
Lumpectomy 1/8
Mammosite radiation completed 2/10
Stage1/Grade 1
clear Margins /Nodes Neg
ER+
IHC +2 Fish +
ONCO 23
Started TCH on 3/2 for 6 rounds of TC once every three weels and a year of Herceptin every 3 weeks -
Finished everything and now on Aromasin
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