Holistic approach success story please
Hi everyone I recently started my battle against HER2+ breast cancer in the left breast and I have had a very difficult time with chemo as I have found out the very hard way that I am now allergic to ...
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hi @Steph198615
I am really very sorry to read about your rocky experience so far- that is no fun at all.
I am really very sorry to read about your rocky experience so far- that is no fun at all.
However it is great that you and your oncologist can discuss different ways to proceed.
I’m a person who’s been treated for HER2+ left breast cancer, I finished my last dose about 10 months ago.
I’m a person who’s been treated for HER2+ left breast cancer, I finished my last dose about 10 months ago.
Apologies I didn’t take the “holistic” approach… but as my oncologist tweaked my treatment to address a few ups and downs I am happy to share my experience. Hope it helps.
My reaction was to the chemo drug called DoceTaxel common in HER2+ treatment. I had “burns” to the skin on my feet, hands and face, neuropathy and a few others discomforts and temperatures that saw me in Emergency a couple of times on Saturday nights. So mine were not really in the same category of “allergic” reaction as those people whose heart, or other vital functions, have been seriously affected by HER2+ treatments.
My reaction was to the chemo drug called DoceTaxel common in HER2+ treatment. I had “burns” to the skin on my feet, hands and face, neuropathy and a few others discomforts and temperatures that saw me in Emergency a couple of times on Saturday nights. So mine were not really in the same category of “allergic” reaction as those people whose heart, or other vital functions, have been seriously affected by HER2+ treatments.
I agree with @a@arpie - it’s worth asking the question in the Triple Positive specific discussion group https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/group/31-triple-positive-breast-cancer-tpbc
When I had issues after two treatments the TCHP (DoceTaxel, Traztuzumab (aka Herceptin), Carboplatin, Pertuzumab (aka Perjeta)) dose was reduced by 10% and later, after the fourth treatment, I was offered a switch to smaller weekly doses of TCHP (instead of one big dose every three weeks). I stayed with the big dose every three weeks, I felt like I knew what to expect and because I only had two doses to go the “end” was in sight for that type of chemo.
After surgery I had radiation therapy.
I was hoping to have Herceptin only (the immunotherapy) for the last 11 doses after surgery but in my case I was recommended to have a chemo/Herceptin compound (a much more manageable chemo).
Everyone is different, I am conscious I had unwelcome reactions, but they were not toxic or “allergic”. I placed a lot of weight on wanting to beat down any elusive cancer cells repeatedly, as much as I could tolerate, with chemo and radiation therapy during the “active” treatment. Even though there’s no guarantees, I thought it could reduce the likelihood of recurrence and having to repeat the process in a few years. I’m also hormone receptor positive, so like many people on the network I am also now taking aromatase inhibitors to reduce the likelihood of hormone related recurrence.
After surgery I had radiation therapy.
I was hoping to have Herceptin only (the immunotherapy) for the last 11 doses after surgery but in my case I was recommended to have a chemo/Herceptin compound (a much more manageable chemo).
Everyone is different, I am conscious I had unwelcome reactions, but they were not toxic or “allergic”. I placed a lot of weight on wanting to beat down any elusive cancer cells repeatedly, as much as I could tolerate, with chemo and radiation therapy during the “active” treatment. Even though there’s no guarantees, I thought it could reduce the likelihood of recurrence and having to repeat the process in a few years. I’m also hormone receptor positive, so like many people on the network I am also now taking aromatase inhibitors to reduce the likelihood of hormone related recurrence.
I feel very grateful to all the people involved in drug trials that have helped give us a better understanding of the benefits (or not), because now that my very tailored and targeted treatment is behind me, my recovery and effort to restore after treatment has, so far been very positive.
Sending you lots of positive energy and vibes in solidarity- I know these decisions weigh heavily - wishing you the calm space that helps us all with our choices and good on you for thinking things through and putting the question out there.