steelfalcon15
Member
10 messages
joined Jan 2009
I have a question regarding my mother—she’s 53 years old. Her most recent oncology reports from the breast cancer team, dated January 14, 2009, state:
Diagnosis: Metastatic breast cancer. Supraclavicular and bone metastases present.
Surgical History (date, type): In 2003, she had an inflamed tumor in her left breast, clinically staged as T4 N2 M0. She underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy following the FEC protocol for 6 cycles, followed by surgery—a mastectomy and likely axillary dissection (back in 2004).
Pathology: Grade II invasive ductal carcinoma, involving the entire breast. Axillary nodes: 5/9.
ER 100%, PR+, HER2+++
Received regional radiation therapy.
Following that, she was on hormone therapy—Tamoxifen from May 2004 until May 2007, at which point Tamoxifen was switched to Tamoxifen (due to endometrial hyperplasia).
In November 2007, imaging showed lymph node involvement on the right side.
Per the medical team's decision, she received 12 weeks of Paclitaxel combined with Herceptin.
Since May 2008, she has been taking Xeloda along with Herceptin. She completed 6 cycles of Xeloda.
In September 2008, she developed back pain, and an MRI revealed metastatic changes in the bones.
She received palliative radiation at TH9, 10, and 11, and was also given Aredia.
There was also progression in the right supraclavicular lymph nodes, along with rising levels in the CEA and Ca 15.3 tumor markers.
Xeloda treatment was discontinued, and Cisplatin was added to the regimen; she completed one cycle.
Starting in October 2008, she was on a two-month therapy regimen, receiving IV cycles (the last one being December 5, 2008).
By late December, the right breast began swelling again, showing progression in the right supraclavicular area and a conglomerate of lymph nodes in the right axilla.
Fine needle aspiration confirmed metastatic adenocarcinoma in the axilla. The breast biopsy itself was negative.
TREATMENT PLAN:
- Chemotherapy following the AC protocol, with cardiac monitoring via ultrasound.
Follow-up required: Chest X-ray, lab work, and tumor marker levels.
-- end of medical report --
I am looking for some advice or perhaps just a little guidance—from what I can gather, the report recommends chemotherapy using the "AC" cocktail, which I believe consists of Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide along with Paclitaxel (at least, that's what I've read online). Apparently, these carry pretty heavy side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, hair loss, hand-foot syndrome, and even potential heart issues—heart failure being a serious concern... 😲 😲 (again, this is just what I found through my own searching). My mother is already struggling quite a bit with these treatments—she’s been on various cytostatics and hormones since 2004, and frankly, the results seem to be getting weaker as time goes on, especially now that we're seeing new nodules and progressing metastases.
I AM EXTREMELY WORRIED! Does anyone have any advice? Perhaps tips on how to make the therapy more tolerable, or if there might be alternative treatments that yield better outcomes? Thank you!
