Hi there I have been on Docetaxol for 5 cycles with the 6 one approaching. I was just told that because it is working very well for my liver secondaries I should consider having 8 cycles not 6. I am just afraid that it may cause more harm than good. Does anyone know any studies when people with less cycles survival rate is compared to the ones with more cycles. I do not have major side effects apart from nerve damaging but still I do not want anything to happen
Hi avrelia
Whenyou posted I realise we hadn’t heard from you for a while. I’m glad docetaxel is working well for you but understand your concerns. I was in the same position a few years back when I was on it and ‘offered’ 2 more cycles, when I had expected only 6. I was suffering a bit with side effects and general fatigue etc so it was agreed that I stop at 6. I was then due to have continuing treatment which kept things stable for over 14 months. I would ask what the follow on treatment is and has there been a marked improvement in the scan results from the initial 3 cycles to what will be seen on the ‘final’ one presumably after 6 cycles. I don’t know if you have had scans, or are having scans, at these intervals but it is quite usual to have them halfway and at the perceived end of treatment. My recent visit for a second opinion at The Marsden, brought this upas they do look at the benefits of having more cycles based on how your cancer has responded both initially and then later in the treatment cycle. It seems if the changes are slowing down you may not get the benefits versus the side effects.
Hope this helps.
Nicky x
I am not any medical. I understand 8 cycles is the maximum by reading the protocol summary created by BC cancer agency of Canada Provincial health authorities website,
ps. I was offered the maximum 8 cycles at beginning based on my primary treatment history (what my onco said)
BC Cancer Protocol Summary for Palliative Therapy for Metastatic
Breast Cancer using DOCEtaxel
Hi
I’m just at the start of all this. My initial diagnosis was secondary breast cancer with lymph node involvements and at least 3 mets in my liver. I’ve just had my first lot of pertuzumab, Herceptin and Docetaxel. The Doce is truly horrible isn’t it; I ended up back in hosp with a high temp and very low white cell count last week for a few days.
I’m interested to read that some of you have been offered 8 cycles as my breast surgeon initially suggested 6-8 cycles. Now I’ve had the first, I’m keen to keep it to 6 if I possibly can. But we’ll see how I progress. They were talking about doing another whole body CT scan after my second cycle to be sure my liver is responding well so I guess I’ll know more after that.
Joy x