When Even the Experts Disagree…Who Benefits from Adjuvant Chemotherapy

Kevin Knopf, MD Health Professional Medical Oncologist Dr. Knopf is currently a medical oncologist in private practice in... Send Message Subscribe: Kevin Knopf, MD

Wednesday, March 18, 2009
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Data presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium show that basically all women with HER2+ breast cancers benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy/Herceptin due to their worse prognosis. In my mind, however, there is no more controversial area in breast cancer than in which patients truly benefit f...

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Phyllis Johnson
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at 06:51 PM

Thanks for explaining how complicated all of these decisions are. Is Herceptin ever given for HER2+ cancers without chemo?

It's scary, but true...
PJ Hamel
Thursday, March 19, 2009 at 05:46 PM

We like to think doctors are all of one mind when it comes to something as serious as cancer treatment. But as Dr. Knopf points out, it's somewhat akin to the current economic crisis: poll all the economists, and no one can say for sure what the cure is. I think each woman needs to go with her gut when it comes to chemo. Are YOU going to feel better, emotionally, if you do adjuvant therapy that may help you... or may not make any difference at all? It's your body, your life, and it's up to YOU. Good luck one and all, with this difficult decision. PJH

who benefits
Diane
Monday, April 27, 2009 at 04:26 PM

So what do you suggest for Her2+ patients. I have been on Herceptin, Xeloda, Abraxane, tykerb and a couple more. Now suggesting A/C. I was looking at

Xeloda/Ixempra. What's a patient to do?

Thank you so much for your openness and your willingness to
Anonymous
Monday, September 14, 2009 at 07:50 AM

I went through treatment for post-menopausal breast cancer in 2007. When I tried to dialogue with doctors I consulted regarding research that had been done at MD Anderson regarding the relative effectiveness of chemotherapy for ER+ HER- breast cacner I was told "if you want hormone therapy you'll have to go to Europe.!"

Thank you so much for acknowledging that this issue is not black and white, open and shut. It seems to me pretty clear that active involvement of the patient in her own treatment may be the single best shot at a positive prognosis around.

Baylah