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06-18-2006, 03:46 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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Herceptin and Radiation at same time
I would like to know if there are any women on this board who have received Herceptin while undergoing radiation. My oncologist wants to start me on Herceptin this week and I will be starting my radiation July 5th. My last chemo treatment was May 17th and then 3 weeks later I had surgery. I was just starting to feel like an "almost normal" person again. I would personally like to wait until after I'm finished with the radiation to start the Herceptin.
I'm calling my oncologist tomorrow to schedule an appointment to discuss all my options with her before I start the Herceptin. I don't even have the staples removed from my mastectomy yet!
__________________
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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06-18-2006, 03:56 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Michigan
Posts: 98
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Hi Tousled1
I started Herceptin-only treatments on May 5th. I started radiation on May 24th.
I just finished my 3rd week of radiation. Skin is only starting to turn pink and it itches at times. Other than that, I am feeling fine.
I would be concerned too considering you still have your staples in. Talk to your onc and/or your rad dr about your concerns.
Good Luck!
__________________
Dx Oct 2005 IDC
Lumpectomy
1cm / Stage 1 / grade 3
Sentinel node neg
Her2+++
ER+ / PR weakly+
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06-18-2006, 04:00 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 556
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I had radiation while on Herceptin, I didn't have any problem.
Julie
__________________
Diagnosed in Sept 2004 while pregnant with the second child. Stage 3b, tumor 4.5cm, 4 auxillary and supraclav node positive. Her2+++ FISH 9.4 and er-,pr-.
Had dose dense neoadjuvant AC,Taxol then mastectomy,radiation+xeloda+Herceptin.
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06-18-2006, 07:16 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: northshore suburb of chicago
Posts: 1,093
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My onc doesn't want to do rads and herceptin at the same time because with rads there still can be very trace scatter and even though my right breast is the one affected, he doesn't want to throw a double whammy at my heart. So he said rads first then herceptin. Did anyone else get it this way or will be gettng it this way?
__________________
~Rina~
Dx:3/06 had a lumpectomy April 19, 2006
Her2+ er/pr- Stage I Grade 3 tumor size 1.4 cm, node negative
AC 4 dense doses
34 radiation treatments including booster doses
receiving herceptin every 3 weeks since late August 2006 for 12 months
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06-18-2006, 07:19 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Boise, Idaho
Posts: 758
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I had Herceptin & rads at the same time with no ill effects.
Marlys
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06-18-2006, 07:23 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 115
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herceptain and radiation
Absolutely do it at the same time - there is reserach that shows that with Her2 rads don't always work and with herceptain it has a much better chnace. Both my oncologists insisted I do it this way and in fact would not let me go on the once every three weeks until three weeks past the last rad treatment b/c radiation stays in yourbody for about two weeks.
hope this helps
Susanne
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06-18-2006, 10:35 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Southern, CA
Posts: 2,511
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I just did what was suppose to be my last full cycle of chemo barring we see no recurrance. I have an appointment down at my current cancer center with the Rads dept...and one the next day at a well known cancer center.
But where I am currently going my case was already presented to the cancer board and it was decided back in Feb that I WOULD continue having my herceptin while doing rads. (At least that is how I understood it.) My first oncologist said I would do a year of herceptin once done with my chemo. He never once mentioned taking me off herceptin while doing rads.
Plus I know another women that has pretty much the same DX as mine...and she is doing herceptin and rads now as we speak. She is three weeks into it.
So I do know its done. But all these oncologist have their own ways...I don't know whats better....but they do both at the same time for some women.
Chelee
__________________
DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes.
Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs.
Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06
Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07
3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07
9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV.
9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa
9-29-09 Power Port Placement
10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head.
11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed
12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa.
3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed.
4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone.
5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy.
Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time.
7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.
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06-19-2006, 04:51 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Hilton Head Island, SC
Posts: 279
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I started my rads with the hercetin last Dec. 05. My radiololgist was asking me if I knew of any studies that showed it was beneficial. Ha!
I did find one obscure statement somewhere that said it was synergistic... No problems for me in the treatments.
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06-19-2006, 05:49 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Michigan
Posts: 230
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Had Herceptin & rads together on left side no problems.
Mary
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06-19-2006, 07:44 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: IOWA
Posts: 243
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I had radiation last Jan-Feb and continued to take my 3 week herceptin throughout with no problems.
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06-20-2006, 08:18 PM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 21
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research for Kate
Hi Kate....I just found this article that you can present to your oncologist regarding your question about herceptin and heart during radiation. Here is the link:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medi...p?newsid=44608
Here is the beginning paragraph....run a copy of the article and give it to your oncologist!
"Researchers in the North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) have shown that patients who receive trastuzumab at the same time as post-chemotherapy radiation treatments for HER-2 positive breast cancer have no more risk for major side effects or complications than those who do not receive the drug. Mayo Clinic's Michele Halyard, M.D., presented these findings today, June 5, at the 2006 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Atlanta.
This study resulted from NCCTG clinical trial N9831, from which breakthrough treatment findings were presented at ASCO 2005. "The original N9831 study showed that trastuzumab reduced the recurrence of HER-2 positive breast cancer about 50 percent," says Dr. Halyard, a radiation oncologist at Mayo Clinic Arizona and lead author of today's study. "We hoped also to show that trastuzumab did not add complications to radiation treatment, and the current study has certainly proven that, providing good news for many women."
Good luck girl! You need to get herceptin at the same time, according to this article!!!!
----SandyR
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06-20-2006, 08:20 PM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 21
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my experience too....
Kate, I also had herceptin during radiation with no adverse side effects....
you go now and educate your oncologist!!!!
-SandyR
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06-21-2006, 02:27 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: IOWA
Posts: 243
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I was in Phoenix last winter during the time I was due my radiation and Dr. Halyard was my radiologist.
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06-21-2006, 05:42 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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Sandy,
Thanks for the article. I have an appointment with the radiology doc on Friday when I'll get my markers put on a simulation done. I start the actual radiation July 5th.
Today I get my staples out and must admit I can't wait! Imagine actually looking forward to a doctor's appointment! I start my Herceptin tomorrow and will receive it alone every 3 weeks for a year.
I guess I was just hoping for a break from treatment. Since Oct 2005 when I was diagnosed, all I do is go to doctors get tests and treatments. I'm just starting to get my strength back and wanted to know what it would feel like to be "normal" again.
__________________
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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06-21-2006, 05:59 AM
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#15
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 15
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radiosensitizers
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...=pubmed_docsum
There is a growing body of medical literature suggesting that herceptin is actually a "radiosensitizer"--that it is that it makes radiation treatments more effective!
My partner Rachel had radiation and herceptin at the same time (and on on the left side) a few years back and it seemed to go fine...
All the best,
Jeff
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06-21-2006, 06:05 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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Thanks Jeff, I'll look that article up as well.
After all the replies I've received here, I'll go with my doc's orders and get the radiation and herceptin simultaneously.
__________________
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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06-21-2006, 07:50 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 290
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Herceptin and Rads
Dear Kate,
Jeff nailed it. I had an inkling it would be a good idea for Mom to get both at the same time, but the onc was saying to take our time and do rads first. I insisted that we get some Herceptin into her, and he finally agreed. Not only was there no problem, but about a month after we started the two together, out came a research study showing that the Herceptin was indeed sensitizing the malignant cells to destruction by radiation, and that there was an appreciable benefit to doing them together. I was happy to have gone with my instincts for a change, and the onc was surprised at the recent findings. My opinion continues to be, if it won't hurt you in some way, always act sooner rather than later when it comes to cancer. Good Luck with treatment.
Tom
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06-21-2006, 08:02 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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Thanks Tom.
I have a great oncologist and should thank my lucky stars. I tried my best to talk her into letting me do rads and then when I was finished with that do the herceptin. She absolutely would not budge!!!!
__________________
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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06-21-2006, 10:29 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: france
Posts: 1,648
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Had Herceptin during radiation.
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06-21-2006, 02:24 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 35
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Had Hercpetin and Rads together with no problems. Onc mentioned the radiosenistising effect they were seeing as well
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