have invasive ductal carcinoma stage 1 grade 3.her2 not final yet-
got two treatment regimens one as above a/c every 2 weeks plus taxol weekly for 12 weeks with herceptin if neede..the other only a/c every 3 weks times 4
the first regiment was supported by 2 oncologists
cant decide
That's a real tough call. since we're not medical professionals. Though keep in mind that certain chemo drugs can only be used once. This is something I am figuring out as a 2-peater.
My 1st time around with Stage 11a Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, grade 3, her2 negative - I was given an A/C combo every other week for 4 total sessions. Now 3 years later with a recurrence in my chest wall, I was given 31 sessions of radiation and will follow up with a Taxol based chemo regimen for 4 sessions (likely 1 every other week.) The docs beleive that my cancer returned caused the Femara failed to keep the estrogen from binding to the one tiny little missed cancer cell that was left behind - so it just grew over the course of 3 years.....even though I had a mastectomy and chemo. If I had done radiation then, they beleive that it would not have returned as radiation is a localized therapy that kills calls at the source and chemo is a systematic therapy that kills rouge cells wondering the body or that has spread.
If you choose to do A/C & Taxol, I understand that it will potentially mess up your options if the cancer were to ever return, which is something to discuss with your doctor. Our advice should not replace that of a doctor's - but please consider all options and discuss them thoroughly. Everyone's cancer, as well as their treatment is different, so you need to do what is best for you.
Good luck!
Angi
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Shosh, Angi's right - we're not medical professionals. Your doctor's advice should supercede ours. However, if you're looking for an opinion, I believe the first regimen, with the taxol, would be more aggressive; with probably more side effects. You need to weigh the less aggressive/less side effects approach vs. more aggressive/more side effects treatment. Tough decision, but only you can make it. Ask your doctor if the Oncotype-DX test would be appropriate for you - it helps women understand just how effective chemo is likely to be for them. Best of luck - PJH
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Can invasive ductal carcinoma, stage 1, grade 3, ER negative be cured with Herceptive/Taxol treatments?
thanks
- Thank you for your input
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PJ Hamel
Monday, June 15, 2009 at 09:41 PM
Understand Your Pathology Report
Get past the jargon and know the facts about your diagnosis.
Breast cancer of any kind (except non-invasive) really can't be cured. But it can be put into remission, for sure. If your cancer is HER2-neu receptive, then Herceptin would be the long-term drug of choice, with perhaps taxol given as chemo during the active treatment phase. Stage 1 is the lowest (least aggressive) stage for cancer, so hold onto that thought... Good luck with treatment. PJH