Femara and herceptin

Common Questions and Answers about Femara and herceptin

femara

Avatar n tn I have been diagnosed with HER 2 and estrogen positive breast cancer and been treated with chemotherapy and Herceptin. My oncologist has recommended a five-year treatment of Femara; however, I have high blood pressure (norvasc), osteopena (sp) and high cholesteral (pravachol). I really don't want to take fossamax or any more drugs than necessary, but also do not want a recurrence of breast cancer.
1030058 tn?1252253572 What are my risks if I choose to just stop the Arimidex and not continue with a change to Femara...My oncologist thinks the risk is there because of the Her2neu but she herself says she is extremely conservative. Also I did not receive any herceptin, I was 18month to 2 years post diagnosis when that was cleared and my previous oncologist (in California) felt the risk outweighed the benefits for me. I would like some advice to help me make an informed choice.
Avatar n tn At the present though, two drugs already target the overexpressed protein. These drugs are Herceptin and Lapatinib and has been shown to improve outcomes in breast cancer patients. The benefit of hormonal treatment beyond 5 years is only demonstrated with the drug Femara (MA17 study) and I'm not aware of similar trials involving Novladex. Regards and God bless.
Avatar n tn Oncologist have suggested chemo (FEC 6 shots) over 18 weeks together with Herceptin, then femara or something else after teh chemo finishes. The RT will start after the chemo sessions and the i will be put Herceptin for a year. My question is , could I skip the chemo? If I do all that he orders except the chemo, how would the odds change? i.e how would the survival/ recurrence figures be different?
Avatar n tn Oncologist have suggested chemo (FEC 6 shots) over 18 weeks together with Herceptin, then femara or something else after teh chemo finishes. The RT will start after the chemo sessions and the i will be put Herceptin for a year. My question is , could I skip the chemo? If I do all that he orders except the chemo, how would the odds change? i.e how would the survival/ recurrence figures be different?
Avatar n tn My dream is to put all this behind and carry on with my life but unfortunately the impact of the side effects of Femara on my life are too great and I am finding it is too hard to find a balance and acceptance that life is not any more like it was. I also feel lonely I don't know in which direction to turn, should I try alternative therapies or not? Any way thank you for your reply.
Avatar f tn I began TCH (taxotere, carboplatin and herceptin) on Dec. 29 and took 4 doses 3 weeks apart. I was very ill (nausea, diahrrea, etc.) but managed to go to work every day full-time. We did not finish the 6 planned doses because I was so ill and because I have had much neuropathy in my hands, feet and face. The facial numbness cleared up within 5-6 weeks after stopping the TC component of chemo. I am still working with hands and feet, but it is not so bad.
Avatar f tn Now receiving Herceptin iv every 3wks and tamoxifen only. How safe is this and what are the risk statistics for recovery?
Avatar f tn Imagine the receptor as a keyhole and Herceptin as the key. Without a keyhole, the Heceptin cannot work. Unfortunately, the methods for predicting potential response to Herceptin (Daco/IHC, FISH etc) are imperfect. The landmark studies that support the use of Hercepin in your situation chose women with Her-2 positive tumors as defined by Dako 3+ or FISH positive (greater than 2.2). We are learning that some women with discordant results in Her-2 testing still benefit from Herceptin.
Avatar f tn My sister had chemotherapy and herceptin treatment before and after she had a radical mastectomy last year. She has been experiencing severe joint pain since that time. She lived in South Carolina at the time and has since moved to Texas. Her Oncologist in South Carolina had her on Fentanyl patches after lots of other medications didn’t work. Her new Oncologist insists the joint pain has nothing to do with her cancer or treatments and wants her off the Fentanyl.
Avatar f tn I am on Herceptin until the end of the year. I am a forty year-old woman and I have experienced a cessation in my menstrual cycle. Intercourse is very painful, even though I am using Replens. I am still very susceptible to urinary track infections too. My doctor suggested Lubrin, but I have been unable to find Replens or Lubrin in stores around my area. I have no children, but I always thought I might have them. What are my chances that my menstrual cycle might come back?
Avatar f tn I chose chemo and had taxotere, carboplatin and herceptin to cut my chances of recurrance. It was not pleasant, but I am nearly back to my normal self since the end of the taxotere and carboplatin part of the treatment in early March. I worked throughout and have enough hair back to go without a scarf or wig. I am continuing herceptin for a full year and taking tamoxifen for 5 years.
Avatar n tn Any insights on the pros and cons of taking herceptin? What is the best time to start herceptin treatment? What if we decide to not use herceptin?
Avatar f tn I had a recurrence, same breast same area and had a bilateral and another year on Herceptin. Still have a healthy heart and I am so happy to have lived during a time of this great drug.
Avatar n tn I have gone through a bilateral mastectomy and 6 months of chemo (5fu andmethotrexate) and now my oncologist suggest herceptin. This is goning to be tough for me to get to since the hospital is an hour away and my job is changing in January. This will mean a half day away from work every three weeks. I was BRCA negative, not genetically caused, had a small cancer removed from my left breast and one lymph node with cancer removed. I am 52 and relatively healthy otherwise.
469905 tn?1214169181 I had a rash on my back after the first Herceptin which was given along with cytoxan and taxotere. Has anyone else had this type of reaction to the Herceptin?
Avatar n tn Hi - after I finished chemo and starting rads in 2003 I was prescribed tamoxifen, took it for 2 months and my Oncologist changed me to Arimidex (one of the aromatose inhibitors) which I think has a 50% better prognosis for non recurrence than the old "gold standard" tamoxifen. I was thrilled, as it had just come on to the market here in England. However, 4 yrs down the line, I stopped it 4 weeks ago, due to severe bone pain (hips, hands and feet) and the pain has gone!
Avatar f tn If your mother is HEr2 positive, then it is better for her to receive Herceptin as this has proven to result in lesser disease recurrence and longer survival. However, if Her2 negative, Herceptin is not warranted (as this would not have an effect on these Her2 negative tumors). I suggest you discuss this with your oncologist, especially Her2Neu testing. Regards and God bless...
Avatar m tn Hi, I am so sorry that you have a breast cancer recurrence :( If this new cancer is a local recurrence or a second cancer, it can often be treated similarly to the original cancer, with surgery,radiation , chemotherapy ( if recommended by you Oncologist) and hormonal therapy.
Avatar m tn With any Her2+ breast cancer, herceptin is recommended as it is highly aggressive, even in stage 1 and small tumors (less than 1 cm.) There have been a couple of studies that have found the recurrence rate (even when tumor is small) can be as high as 23% when chemo and herceptin is not given. With chemo alone, I think the recurrence rate was about 12-13% Herceptin use cuts that down even more to about 7%.
Avatar f tn I have heart complications related to chemo--A/C, Taxol, and Herceptin. My LVEF changed from 67% prior to treatment, to 60% to 50%. I am on beta blockers (Carvedilol) and have suspended Herceptin. I want to be pro-active restoring what I can of my heart capacity. What are the excercise recommendations under these conditions. I've been doing strength and resistence training 3 days a week for the last 4 months (to regain muscle strength, etc. lost during cancer treatment).
144100 tn?1283522567 Also, I have read that Clomid can lead to endo coming back quicker. Is this true and is it also true of Femara? I am very worried that then endo will come back, and I would really like the Femara to work well!! Thank You!
Avatar f tn I used Clomid for one cycle and it worked. Did you ovulate on Femara? Some women with PCOS have better luck with Femara than they had with Clomid.
Avatar m tn s cancer is HER2 positive then the administration of Herceptin will certainly give her the very best chance for survival and lessen the chance of recurrance. Perhaps the Her2 test was not completed when only Chemotherapy was recommended. I don't see why the Her2 test done would be in error. Regards....
Avatar n tn I was treated with cytoxin and taxotere and now receiving Herceptin. I have had five treatments with Herceptin. My MUGA scan pre chemo and herceptin showed 77.7%. Now after these treatments I have dropped to 61%. I am not overweight, but do have some cardio risk factors, i.e smoking, high blood presure and high cholesteral, also a family history (father) of heart disease. Should I continue the Herceptin? Have frequent MUGA tests? See a cardiologist?
Avatar f tn 3, but if the ejection fraction goes below 50-55, or the value goes down about 10-20% from the baseline, then herceptin should be discontinued, and the cardiac status monitored. Regards and God bless.