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09-27-2006, 02:45 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Savannah, Georgia
Posts: 301
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question on Taxol treatments
I have a question about Taxol. My oncologist opted for 12 weekly taxol treatments at the last minute instead of 4 (one every two weeks). Having a hard time understanding why exactly. Has anyone else had this treatment or does anyone know of the benefits/disadvantages of this? Is it any more or less effective?
KellyA
dx 05/06
stage 2b er/pr - her2+
3 positive nodes
double masectomy
4 AC (dose dense) and 12 weekly Taxols
Herceptin weekly x 1 year
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09-28-2006, 05:21 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 62
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I also had 12 weekly taxol/herceptin treatments. I was told by my onc that it is more effective and also that the risk of nueropathy is less when you are given 12 smaller doses instead of 4 larger ones.
Laurie
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09-28-2006, 05:25 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Michigan
Posts: 230
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Kelly,
I had the same diagnosis as you and was schedule for 4 Taxol dose dense after the 2nd dose the nueropathy was not going away so the final 2 doses was split in 3rd and was much better for the nueropathy. I would recommend the smaller doses to avoid the potential side effect.
Best of Luck.
Mary
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09-28-2006, 08:22 PM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 12
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I had dose dense chemo - 4 Taxol w/herceptin. Taxol ended in February but I am still on herceptin. I was left with significant neuropathy in my hands and feet. My doctor said it can take up to a year to go away but a friend told me effects can stay forever. It is awful. Go for the smaller doses if this works! I just did as I was told to beat the cancer but if I could have done that, it would have been so much better now. Good luck, Kelly.
EllaD
__________________
DX 9/6/05
Lumpectomy 9/28/05
Wider margins 10/10/05
Right Mastectomy 10/17/05
Stage IIb,4/5 positive nodes
HER2+3 positive
ER- PR+
3.7 cm tumor
CX/Adrimiacin 4 over 8wks
Taxol/herceptin for 8 wks
Radiation 30 treatments
Currently on herceptin - every 3 wks.
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09-28-2006, 08:31 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: IOWA
Posts: 243
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I had the 12 weekly Taxols with Herceptin. My chemo nurse said that the side effects are generally much less with the weekly doses.
__________________
Andi
-- ------------------------
Stage IIIC, 17 of 20 Nodes +, E+, Her2+++
Diagnosed 6/30/05
Lumpectomy 7/13/05
Dose Dense A/C x 4
Weekly Taxol + Herceptin x 12
Remainder of year Herceptin Every 3 weeks (completes 9/13/06)
Radiation completed 2/28/06
Currently on Tamoxifen
Dec 06 - Pleural effusion treated with pleurodesis
Now er/pr-, her2++
1/07 started weekly Navelbine plus Herceptin
Discontinued Tamoxifen
4/27/07 CTshowed progression
5/01/07 Began Tykerb/Xeloda + Zometa
5/22/07 Stopped treatment due to great progression
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10-01-2006, 07:28 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Savannah, Georgia
Posts: 301
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Thank you very much for your responses- I was worried about the treatment being as effective. Funny though, didn't lose my eyelashes or brows on adriamycin and they are GONE with the low Taxol- yet my hair is growing. My close friend has EXACTLY the same diagnosis as me, we both had our masectomies 1 week apart, started chemo the same day, same doctors- oncologist too, and he chose to do one of us with 4 doses of Taxol (bi-weekly), and one with 12 weekly doses. I know that you are not supposed to compare, but it makes you paranoid about why he chose the way he did.
Anyways, thank you again !
Kelly
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10-02-2006, 06:36 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Wilmington, Del.
Posts: 1,126
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Eyebrows and lashes --- I felt worse losing them than losing my hair. I kid you not. I had long lashes. Happy to say everything grew back and lashes are just as long.
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10-02-2006, 01:35 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Central Coast, CA
Posts: 3,207
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I also had weekly taxol+. My doctors felt it was easier from a toxicity standpoint and also that it might be more effective as it was more of a constant level, to kill off more cancer cells before they got going.
It is a reasonable treatment choice.
__________________
Chris in Scotts Valley
June 2002 extensive hi grade DCIS (pre-cancer-stage 0, clean sentinal node) Mastectomy/implant - no chemo, rads. "cured?"
9/2004 Diag: Stage IV extensive liver mets (!) ER/PR- Her2+++
10/04-3/05 Weekly Taxol/Carboplatin/Herceptin , complete response!
04/05 - 4/07 Herception every 3 wks, Continue NED
04/07 - recurrence to liver - 2 spots, starting tykerb/avastin trial
06/07 8/07 10/07 Scans show stable, continue on Tykerb/Avastin
01/08 Progression in liver
02/08 Begin (TDM1) trial
08/08 NED! It's Working! Continue on TDM1
02/09 Continue NED
02/10 Continue NED. 5/10 9/10 Scans NED 10/10 Scans NED
12/10 Scans not clear....4/11 Scans suggest progression 6/11 progression confirmed in liver
07/11 - 11/11 Herceptin/Xeloda -not working:(
12/11 Begin MM302 Phase I trial - bust:(
03/12 3rd times the charm? AKT trial
5/12 Scan shows reduction! 7/12 More reduction!!!!
8/12 Whoops...progression...trying for Perjeta/Herceptin (plus some more nasty chemo!)
9/12 Start Perjeta/Herceptin, chemo on hold due to infection/wound in leg, added on cycle 2 &3
11/12 Poops! progression in liver, Stop Perjeta/Taxo/Herc
11/12 Navelbine/Herce[ptin - try for a 3 cycles, no go.
2/13 Gemzar/Carbo/Herceptin - no go.
3/13 TACE procedure
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10-02-2006, 02:27 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,778
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MJo
did your lashes grow back before or after Herceptin treatment? Just curious!
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10-02-2006, 08:33 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 1,055
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Hi, Weekly T & H. No nueropathy. Lost lashes, brows and top of head hair resisted growing back. Still on H, have hair back, so taxol must selectively eliminate hair in a wierd way. BB
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