Posted on: Jun 8, 2012 06:58 PM, edited Jul 14, 2012 07:03 PM by Alicethecat
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 407
Alicethecat wrote:
Hi everyone
I've noticed that the regimen in the US after initial chemo is often TCH - Taxotere, Cisboplatin and Herceptin.
My oncologist has put me on FEC x 4 then Taxotere/Herceptin x 4 with Herceptin to continue for a year.
Anyone else doing the same? (No platinum based treatment at this stage).
Alice
Dx 1/4/2012, IDC, 3cm, Stage IIa, Grade 3, 0/2 nodes, ER-/PR+, HER2+Surgery 02/07/2012 Mastectomy (Right)Chemotherapy 03/12/2012 Cytoxan, Ellence, fluorouracil
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SpecialK
Tampa, FL
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,732
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Jun 8, 2012 07:24 PM SpecialK wrote:
alice - most of us here who are Her2+ get one of two regimens - TCH or AC-TH. The first is Taxotere, Carboplatin (or Cytoxan) and Herceptin. It is the initial chemo - that combo receives Herceptin at the start because Taxotere does not carry the same cardiotoxicity as Adriamycin. For most of us the frequency is 6 cycles of TCH, continuing Herceptin for the year. If the invasive component of the cancer is quite tiny some receive 4 cycles, continuing the Herceptin for the year. The second combo is Adriamycin (essentially your Epirubicin), Cytoxan (Cyclophosphamide), and then once that is done usually Taxol and Herceptin. I believe that the AC combo is given a number of times depending on size and whether neo or adjuvent treatment, then the switch to the TH combo, with the Herceptin continuing for the year. So, it would seem that what you are getting is most comparable to the AC-TH combination.
Dx 9/27/2010, IDC, 2cm, Stage IIb, Grade 3, 2/14 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2+Surgery 11/01/2010 Mastectomy (Both); Reconstruction: Tissue expander placement (Both)Surgery 12/06/2010 Lymph Node Removal: Axillary Lymph Node Dissection (Right)Surgery 12/21/2010 Reconstruction (Left)Surgery 01/07/2011 Reconstruction (Left)Surgery 01/21/2011 Reconstruction (Left)Chemotherapy 02/17/2011 carboplatin, TaxotereTargeted Therapy 02/17/2011 HerceptinSurgery 07/20/2011 Reconstruction: Tissue expander placement (Left)Hormonal Therapy 08/01/2011 FemaraSurgery 02/24/2012 Reconstruction: Breast implants (permanent) (Both)
kayb
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,029
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Jun 8, 2012 07:41 PM kayb wrote:
I think SpecialK explained that well. I did have 4 FEC followed by twelve weekly Taxol + Herceptin (continuing H for a year). I haven't heard of Taxotere being used after FEC but it sounds like you'd be well covered. Have you asked your doctor about this? I'd be interested to know what s/he says.
Diagnosed: May 20, 2010: IDC Left, 2cm, Stage I, Grade 2, 0/2 nodes; DCIS R, 0/3 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2+
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Jun 8, 2012 10:09 PM melster wrote:
I had 12 weekly Taxols + Herceptin, followed by 4 FEC + Herceptin. Now I'm on Herceptin every 3 weeks til October.
SpecialK
Tampa, FL
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,732
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Jun 8, 2012 10:30 PM SpecialK wrote:
Thanks kayb!
Dx 9/27/2010, IDC, 2cm, Stage IIb, Grade 3, 2/14 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2+Surgery 11/01/2010 Mastectomy (Both); Reconstruction: Tissue expander placement (Both)Surgery 12/06/2010 Lymph Node Removal: Axillary Lymph Node Dissection (Right)Surgery 12/21/2010 Reconstruction (Left)Surgery 01/07/2011 Reconstruction (Left)Surgery 01/21/2011 Reconstruction (Left)Chemotherapy 02/17/2011 carboplatin, TaxotereTargeted Therapy 02/17/2011 HerceptinSurgery 07/20/2011 Reconstruction: Tissue expander placement (Left)Hormonal Therapy 08/01/2011 FemaraSurgery 02/24/2012 Reconstruction: Breast implants (permanent) (Both)
rozem
toronto
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 650
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Jun 8, 2012 10:42 PM rozem wrote:
hi alice
FEC D which is what you are on is a very common canadian protocol (uk,austrialia aswell) it is similar to ACT
i had 3 cycles of fec then i had 3 cycles of taxotere (that is the D) they started the herceptin with the taxotere (docetaxol)
neo chemo 3xfec 3xtax +H, lump, 25 rads, tamox, bmsx 08/12
Dx 8/2011, IDC, 2cm, Stage IIa, Grade 3, 0/2 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2+
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Jun 8, 2012 11:07 PM, edited Jun 8, 2012 11:08 PM
by LouLou40
Alice TCH is a different chemo protocol than FEC-TH
Both have been shown to be effective for treating breast cancer through clinical trials, often it's the Onc personal preference to which chemo combo they recommend, I did AC TH, which is often used as well.
Dx 2/11/2009, IDC, 2cm, Stage II, Grade 3, 2/10 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2+
kayb
Joined: May 2010
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Jun 8, 2012 11:37 PM kayb wrote:
Melster - were you in a trial?
Diagnosed: May 20, 2010: IDC Left, 2cm, Stage I, Grade 2, 0/2 nodes; DCIS R, 0/3 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2+
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Jun 9, 2012 08:58 AM Lutienyc wrote:
Kayb, I am on the same protocol as Melster. It is the MD Anderson protocol. My hospital in NYC adopted it in January. It is showing better results regarding CPR and rates of recurrence, in specific groups of women.
Dx 12/22/2012, DCIS, 5cm, Stage IIIc, Grade 3, ER-/PR-, HER2+
kayb
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Jun 9, 2012 06:18 PM kayb wrote:
Lutienyc - the reason I asked is because I was in the trial! I was randomized to the control arm so that's why I had FEC only, followed by taxol/Herceptin. BUT - drum roll please - I also had pCR! I was quite lucky.
Diagnosed: May 20, 2010: IDC Left, 2cm, Stage I, Grade 2, 0/2 nodes; DCIS R, 0/3 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2+
kayb
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Jun 9, 2012 06:19 PM kayb wrote:
Lutienyc - the reason I asked is because I was in the trial! I was randomized to the control arm so that's why I had FEC only, followed by taxol/Herceptin. BUT - drum roll please - I also had pCR! I was quite lucky.
Diagnosed: May 20, 2010: IDC Left, 2cm, Stage I, Grade 2, 0/2 nodes; DCIS R, 0/3 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2+
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Jun 9, 2012 08:08 PM Lutienyc wrote:
Kayb, what was the trial for?
The protocol I was on, is used for node positive, her2+ advanced stage.
Taxol first to kill any floating cancer cells the FEC afterwards to target the breast cancer cells.
Dx 12/22/2012, DCIS, 5cm, Stage IIIc, Grade 3, ER-/PR-, HER2+
kayb
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,029
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Jun 9, 2012 09:06 PM kayb wrote:
If you look again at melster's post, she said she had taxol/Herceptin followed by FEC/Herceptin .
The trial was checking to see just how tolerable Herceptin was WITH an anthracycline. The epirubicin is slightly less cardio toxic than adryamicin. If its tolerable for most, the opportunity for pCR is very high. In the phase two trial, 67% of patients in that test arm of the trial achieved pCR - that's extremely high. Phase 3 allowed any early stage HER2+ patients, nodes or not.
Diagnosed: May 20, 2010: IDC Left, 2cm, Stage I, Grade 2, 0/2 nodes; DCIS R, 0/3 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2+
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Jun 10, 2012 07:33 PM Lutienyc wrote:
Kayb .I had the same treatment as Meister as I posted above
Dx 12/22/2012, DCIS, 5cm, Stage IIIc, Grade 3, ER-/PR-, HER2+
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Jun 10, 2012 09:27 PM, edited Jun 10, 2012 10:12 PM
by melster
I was not in a trial. I am in Texas and my MO followed the MD Anderson protocol. After chemo, I had my BMX and thankfully also achieved PCR. I had Herceptins with each chemo, Tough, that is correct. I am one of the only people I know who has had this chemo being HER2+, but I'm young (35) and my MO gave me the hardest stuff she could.
kayb
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,029
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Jun 10, 2012 09:43 PM kayb wrote:
Melster - Congrats on pCR! Thats awrsome! The trial was designed by MDA and I saw that the 2012 NCCN guidelines now list it as one of the recommended chemo courses for HER2+ cancer. You'll find there will be more like you in the future!
I only met one other woman at my cancer center on the trial and she was in the study arm. She did have to stop Herceptin because if heart problems but she had other comorbidities. I hope your heart did well!
Diagnosed: May 20, 2010: IDC Left, 2cm, Stage I, Grade 2, 0/2 nodes; DCIS R, 0/3 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2+
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Jun 10, 2012 10:11 PM melster wrote:
My heart has been fine so far...I get echoes every 3 months...and I had my bmx with immediate DIEP and it was a 9 hour sugery after 6 months of chemo and here I am two months later. Very thankful.
kayb
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Jun 10, 2012 10:44 PM kayb wrote:
That's great. I'm so happy for you!
Diagnosed: May 20, 2010: IDC Left, 2cm, Stage I, Grade 2, 0/2 nodes; DCIS R, 0/3 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2+