I saw my oncologist yesterday as I had to stop vinorelbine due to side effects. Since Christmas I’ve lost nearly 2 stone and just want my appetite back! So far with secondaries I’ve had paclitaxel, gemcitabine, capecitabine and vinorelbine. At initial diagnosis, I had 6 cycles of FEC then tamoxifen for 5 years. I had a couple of months on letrozole which didn’t work for me. When I saw my onc yesterday she gave the impression that the only chemo that I could have now would be eirbulin. She has prescribed me faslodex and abemaciclib which I’ll start next week but when I mentioned docetaxel she said there was no point as paclitaxel hadn’t eradicated the cancer in 2017 (it did dry up the effusion had and I had no progression until the following year). She then said that if the faslodex and abemaciclib didn’t work then we may have to have ‘the talk’ about side effects of treatment versus quality of life. To be honest, I was shocked! I thought I had lots of treatment options available? Has anyone else been told they can’t have docetaxel after paclitaxel? Hope everyone is keeping well.
What a shock to be told this, especially as you have probably been told that there are still plenty of options. I’m guessing that your oncologist has said what she has said as both the taxane chemos are pretty much the same as far as I’ve been told (they are in a different liquid suspension seems to be the main difference but please correct me if I’m wrong). If taxol didn’t work effectively ie eradicate your mets then she must assume putting you through taxotere wont be any more effective but would put a strain on your body. As to Eribulin it is a very effective chemo even when it’s used as a 3rd, 4th or further line of chemo, it also has fewer side effects than some other IV chemos. I think it will depend on how you, and your body, cope with fulvestrant plus the other drug (that I can’t spell!) which I hope will be much easier than your previous chemo and should give your body time to recover from the SEs. After that I would consider getting a second opinion if you are unhappy with your current oncologists viewpoint but still consider having Eribulin or insisting on having it.
Not sure if this helps you much but at least you are going to be having continued treatment, which shouldn’t be anywhere near as harsh on your body and give it time to recover which may also make your oncologist reassess.
Just about to start docetaxel after 2 years on capecitabine and herceptin due to "massive spread to bones and liver from ct in july to ct in october. Back to hair loss. I was told if this doesnt work nothing so referred to palliative care for pain relief and to be on their books for the future. Having stronger dose every 3 weeks but can change to weekly if i dont tolerate it well. Research shows 2 years maximum if it works before it becomes ineffective…hard times ahead