Have to agree with others- whilst I’m triple positive too, my path may be different from yours depending on size of tumour/ whether you get total regression of tumour with chemo at surgery and a few other factors. So do bear that in mind !
‘Im 62, was diagnosed June 20 - 4 cm tumour. Ductal carcinoma . Was told up front they thought I’d be a ideal candidate for lumpectomy ( and radiation) or mastectomy . Chemo advised as first treatment .had 4 x AC chemo , then 12 rounds of taxcel and herceptin every week. Got 2nd grade Peripheral neuropathy from taxcel so,last 3 treatments on reduced dose taxcel. I did get cardiac issues as found on routine echocardiograms but am on cardiac meds so feel ok and that side effect will resolve once herceptin ceases. Decided to go with lumpectomy surgery ( If I get any recurrences in future I’ll go with mastectomy , it’s always in the back of your mind I find .I opted for lumpectomy so I’d have less surgery and drs really said it was as good as mastectomy , ( and avoid need for reconstruction surgery ). Deciding on your surgery option was hardest I thought - my first reaction was to get rid of the offending boob and I still hope I made the right call.
Surgery went well in jan 21 , nothing found in lymph nodes . At pathology I did not achieve full regression of tumour -altho it was close. This can be important pathological finding I believe for your oncologist . I knew Id continue the herceptin after surgery ( and I found that herceptin infusion fairly easy to tolerate once on cardiac tabs).
After surgery my oncologist proposed a further 14 cycles of T-DMI /kadcyla chemo , which has herceptin and a chemo drug in it. Up until,recently it’s a regime they only used with metastatic breast cancer but KATHERINE study in recent years has shown it also gives a HER2 positive early breast cancer patient a better chance of beating recurrences down the track. I was given the impression that if the tumour had totally regressed herceptin only may have been my treatment . I wasn’t expecting that and it really threw me but then I had to see it as a best approach to the HER2+ ——-if I opted only for herceptin as it was easily tolerated and then in years to come the cancer recurs I’d be thinking why didn’t I give myself best chance of beating it .
‘there’s a few side effects with T-DMI and kadcyla but oncologist will be monitoring for them and as she said , if they should occur and become intolerable we stop. I’ve spoken to,two,ladies now who,are on this regime and they’re saying it’s been tolerable - yes some tiredness, some aches/pains in joints but not as hard to tolerate as the AC chemo and my hair should not fall out again .I consider that a bonus .
They checked bone density and found I have osteoporosis so I’m now on calcium tabs, and will get zometa infusion every 6 months over next 12 months. I’ve also started on AI / femara - too early to report on that other than I have noticed hot flushes. I’ll be on these for years
Hope all goes well for you . Lots of people here to give you info and support , just reach out
