how many chemos are available for TN

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1

Hi everyone
I am currently on Taxol (week 11) - great reduction on boob lump but questionable about lumps in neck.
My Onc wants us to continue with Taxol as he is reluctant to ‘abandon’ a chemo too early, however he tells me we have plenty more chemos to try.

My question is this - how many chemos are available for TN ladies?
If I ask my Onc I’m sure he’ll just tell me plenty and that I don’t need to worry about these things
Hugs to you all

Linda
x

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hi linda, i would love to know that too can never get straight answer for instance i had recurrence on fec and tax so surely that rules out 4 for me , its so scary x

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I’d like to no that 2 I am on taxol / carboplatin am it’s working was told there are loads by my new onc but my old one sd wasn’t loads in the end will run out so god nos be interesting wat we can ask don’t wanna live on chemo for ever but wat our option any ideas be great laura

4

Hi All
I was told lots of options too and am on paclitaxol weekly after EC which worked but fast recurrence. I know is carboplatin I think and capecitabin, not sure if gemcapecitabine and some people are on eribulin I think it is. If you look at states they are using others too so we have to just hang in there. I too dread chemo after chemo but pray that a non chemo comes out. I read that TNBC rapidy divides so think maybe will respond to blood cancer type drugs. Is a lot of research so hope for us all it comes to something quickly as these chemos have such se.

Has anyone tried to see holistic/complementary or alternative Dr for treatment. I am keen on one who supports chemo ( seems little alt for TNBC as goes crazy in short time ) and would worry me but wonder if I couldnt take more or do more. I do take supplements but still got recurrence and am vegan apart from fish ?
Love jo x

5

I had 4xfec and 4xtaxotere and was told that was best available for primary bc but that there were options if it came back[carboplatin and avastin were mentioned at the time-4.6 years ago].
Vx

6

I had 6 fec, but my onc registar said if it came back in other breast lots to try, but if it comes in same breast palliative care only! So seeing this thread is hopeful

7

Hi. Im on weekly taxol with fortnightly avastin (secondary bc in bones nd lungs). Tax for primary bc 18mths ago. Nice to see a long list of different options on this thread. I just wonder how they work out which one is right for who? Weekly chemo is exhausting but i know it is working for me so Ill stick with it…

Hugs to all tnbc wonderful ladies nd thx for thread linda, good question!

Sadie Xx Xx

Ps Linda, well done week 11. Im on 13, getting though!!! Hope you are ok! Xx

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i had epi-cmf for primary TNBC, but this is usually only given for tumours confined to the breast or auxillary nodes.

Lx

9

Just realised, I never said thank you to everyone that replied. I sent off the same question to Dr Susan Love website - unfortunately the answer was vague - maybe there just isn’t a definitive answer - maybe thats better!

Hope you’re all doing Ok

Linda
x

10

Hi linda 999 I don’t think they really know we all know there is not a micracle out there just hope what they have works and gives us a lot of time hopefully in our long yrs something will come out for us tn ladies there are more of us now so hopefully will push them on tc Laura

11

What is palliative care? I am tn, so if i get it again its really bad, i had stage 3 with 2 nodes involved. clear margins, chemo cos of stage and node but told not spread and chemo preventative…so should i worry if comes back, really worry i mean that terminal, or am i getting confused? Shar xx

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I cld be wrong but wat I was told told it’s where they can’t cure u just prolong your life with treatment think it norm applies with stage 4 plp I’m sure someone with confirm more I was told this but not by onc tc Laura

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I wasnt going to post again but I need to this time.Palliative care is for metastases-it means the cancer has spread ouside the breast into liver,lungs,brain,bones etc.If the term palliative care is used that means that ALL chemo options have been tried and failed.
Cancer coming back in either breast is nowhere near this stage[4].Many people with stage 4 live for many years with treatments available.Cancer in the same breast could be a recurrence of the original bc or a new primary but whichever it is it is treatable and potentially curable by surgery,chemo,rads just like the initial dx.I cannot believe that any doctor/nurse would say otherwise.
Valx

14

According to my onc, all stage 4 treatments are classed as palliative because tgey cannot be seen as curative. I’ve gota admit I was more than a little upset to see the ‘p’ word on my chemo notes :frowning: but apparently all treatments are palliative as the goal is to extend life rather than cure once cancer is systemic…
Linda fingers crossed they get u on a more effective chemo very soon xx

15

just to say that my response was to bluedragonfly’s post re recurrence of tnbc in same breast as original dx
Vx

16

hi every one can any body help i keep hearing different stories i was diagnosed with tnbc 1.7mm and 1 node
grade 3 stage2 i think more nodes would have been infected if surgery wasnt brought forward ive had chemo radio and another op to remove all nodes ive been given the all clear but worried about its return ive heard tnbc there is a higher risk of its return? if i was to get cancer come back what do it mean treatment is limited? ive been tested for bracca1/bracca2 the bracca2 was clear but bracca1 was varient unknown [there a gene problem)but they cant say if it related to my cancer im due to have my overies removed to help reduce my risks any advise welcome xx

17

Hi, Has anybody had Gemcitabine/carboplatin and how did you get on?. I’ve had DoceTaxel twice which I managed but did feel horrid on it as time went on. It worked for a while but now onc wants to try Gem/car. Just wondering how diificult this treatment is going to be and how successful it has been.

18

Hi Annette, I’m currently on the TNT trial and nearing the end of a course of Carboplatin (no Gemzar) I’ve found it to be ok, with minimum effects and no hair loss. Most importantly, the scans show it’s working!
Moondog x

19

I had TN originally in just my left breast May 2010(no lymph node involvement,no vascular invasion) and was treated with 6 FEC,WLE and radiotherapy…umfortunately in January this year they found TN cancer in my lymph nodes…it was in 2 /7 then I was given a scan to see if it had spread and they found it in my sub pectoral muscle…after much tooing and frooing they were going to treat me with rads but the crossover of fields was too much(they cancelled my rads the day before I was due to start) so after another couple of weeks they have now decided to start chemo this wednesday…TAXOL/AVASTIN weekly
Seems they don’t know quite what to do with us as they see so few TN ladies…my onc told me he only has 1 other lady that is T/N and she’s doing well on this regime

20

Are there any TN ladies with ‘just’ bone mets out there? I was told a while back that chemo wasn’t particularly effective for bones, and I’m wondering if I’m putting myself thru hell for nothing - currently on Cap but bone scan next month so it will be another one if the oncs have their way if thats showing no effect.
Nina