Does the success of first line treatment determine the success of subsequent treatments?

Living with secondary breast cancer Supporting each other and sharing experiences
1

Hi everyone, 

I’m not having much success on my other topic thread, so thought I would try a different angle.

Has anyone had better success with their 2nd, 3rd or subsequent treatments than with their first? Other ladies who have been living with SBC for a long while seem to have had long periods of stability with their first treatments.

My mum has lasted only 14 months on letrozole and ribo before progression in her spine. I was really hoping she would have been on this combo for 2years + and i’m very concerned maybe her cancer will not respond to medications for long stints. 

If anyone could share their experiences I would be very grateful. Thank you!! Xx

2

Hello, 

I think the short answer is not necessarily. I have been on Herceptin for fourteen months but will shortly move to Kadcyla. I was hoping to get about two years from Herceptin and Perjeta, (now the wonderful Phesgo injection; my  onsultant had said she thought I would get a ‘bit longer’ than the eighteen month avarage) but… wasn’t to be.

I have a friend who managed eighteen months on Herceptin, but then went on to do five years on Kadcyla, (only recently changing to Enhertu.) Must be some sort of record, surely? If you look on this Forum you will see women still alive on ten years plus of first line Herceptin but they tend to be women with small disease in the bones only and are lucky with stability. 

I am sure someone will reply with something to say on ER/PR+. I am HER2+ which is a bit more niche.

Hope this helps anyway.

Angel Eyes 

3

My onc told me that the average time for this combo to work was 18 months. So 14 months is not a bad result. Hope this gives you some reassurance.

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I started on various treatments along with letrozole from March 2019 the first was palciclebib I was on that for quite a few months. I have been having scans every 3 months. Secondary BC in my sternum and spine. 
But as soon as they are not working they are stopped. I have had 4 some targeted ones like palbociclib and oestrogen receptive medications all stopped as soon as not working. 
Now I’m on an intravenous chemotherapy currently Abraxine. 
I don’t quite know where I go after if it stops working, possibly a trial. Having said that I’ve had all these different medications I have heard of people who are on them for long periods. As long as they are effective I think they are happy to continue. 
I don’t know if any of this is helpful, I’ve come to the conclusion is everyone is different. There’s no one rule. X