andrew_van

Hi,

Considering that we want to have a baby, is it worth it to add Goserelin(Zoladex) to Tamoxifen for a young early breast cancer patient?

I heard that goserelin, a LHRH agonist,  do a good job at proctecting the ovaries. 

Thanks. 

Hi,

I read that Zoledronic(Zometa) reduces early breast cancer recurrence.

Article : http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/zoledronic-acid0608 

Video : http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=Zn2EQsXm1r8 

My wife just finished her chemo and we would like to know if Zoledronic is worth it or not. 

I need your opinion. 

Thanks 

Hi,

On the last treatment (FEC x 6), the oncologist decided to reduce the dose of the E(Eperubicin) from 75 to 50 because of elevated liver enzymes.(AST= 57, ALT = 79).

Have you experienced the same issue and what did the onclogist do?

Thanks for your answers!

 She told me she would like me to stay but she will a lot more worry if I get sick. My own health gets up and down. I went to the doctor 3 times since I am here. Of course my problems are little compares to her own but how miserable we will feel if I get a real decease. I will try to stay for her 5th treatment depending on my health. Her family would like me to go back because in their culture, man has to work and take care of money.

I will like to bring her back Canada now but that is not recommended during a treatment. She has a really good doctor here.  She is coming to join me after in Canada.

It is still fighting in my head rather to stay or not until the end of chemo. It is becoming a stress source by itself.

I love her and hope I will do the right thing.

Hi,

I am a Canadian and my wife is Asian. She is 32 and got an early breast cancer (stage 2A).

I took a absence from work. We moved temporary in her Country so she get surrounded by her family while having treatment.

She is at her 4th cycle of FEC. We fight often recently because I did not get good sleep for 4 months. My body is not used to tropical weather so my health is not good.

We talked about it and she thinks that I should go back Canada to work. That makes her really sad still but she thinks that is better for both of us. She wants me to be healthy so I can help her better in the future.

I want her to have the best chance to cure. I am afraid that leaving her for a few months could be a bad thing. The relation with her family is ok. But they are not as clean as I am when it is time to cook and that makes her worry a little bit.

I don't know what to decide so I am asking for opinions here.

How would you feel as a breast cancer patient if you were in the same situation as her?

Thanks,
Andrew

Hi,

I got the same problem. He said that 3rd regimen would be overkill so she got CEF x 6.

But I heard that for example that FEC x 3 follow but D x 3 is a third regimen and is better than CEF.

Also less long term side-effects because there is two group (FEC and D).

Chemo is complecated and I guess this is why oncologist as their own guide sometimes. They would go crazy if they start analysing every possibities.

Hi PrettyPink100,

We did not get a second opinion because we have a good relation with him. He is a surgeon/oncologist specialized in breast cancer only. He spent a lot of time to answer our questions. My questions are just more specific now.

I got it wrong me too the first time: 

CEF = 6 cycles x 2 treatments.

2 x 60mg =120mg/cycle and 2 x fluorouracil 500mg= 1000mg

1 cycle (28 days) = injection on Day 1, another injection 7 days later, and 2 weeks break.

cyclophosphamide is given by pills from day 1 to day 14. So she has nausea quite often.

This is why CEF is stronger! It last for 6 months. I have worries about Toxicity.

 
Andrew

Thanks Nanegge for the good explanation.

Her tumour size was 2.5cm and grade 3. The surgeon was surprised that none of her nodes were positive. He removed 42 of them! According to what you say, it makes even more sense that she gets chemo.

I also asked my wife:" Think about it... if you don't go through chemo, how would you feel if there is recurrence?". We realise that we cannot play that game of ....let's see what happens if you don't get chemo. Yes, I heard before about microscopic cancer cells that could have traveled. We won't to beat them now. Like some people say, we might not get a second chance.

The oncologist told us also about Tomoxifen. He will also test the efficiency of Tamoxifen on her for the first 2 months. Depending on the result, he might recommend Zoladex to suppress temporarily the ovaries.

Thank you for your time,

Andrew

Awsome info! Thank you!!

I will check to see if it is covered by my benefits plan. I doesn't look like it is covered presently in British Columbia MSP according to the website.

It looks like that most of you get shot every 3 months.

Some people are talking about monthly injection...is it more efficient?

Is it a painful shot? 

Do any of you take Tamoxifen at the same time? 

Andrew

Hi everybody,

The oncologist recommends Zoladex (Goserelin) to be injected in her body once a month on the top of Tamoxifen to shutdown the ovaries. He said It reduces significantly the recurrence because she is under 50 years old and ER+.

Considering that she has to go for this injection once a month and the side effects, is it worth it?

We are out of the Country now, do you know if Zoladex covered in Canada?

Thanks