capecitabine (oral chemotherapy) after AC/TAXOL, radiation and surgery

Thanks for your comments! 

I have decided to not have the additional oral chemotherapy. I had a second opinion and was advised by my new oncologist (who is far more up to date with trials and new therapies). She said the Capecitabine showed more benefit for those who had triple negative BC with some residual disease after surgery. There was no data to suggest that it would add additional care for those with hormone positive BC. 

I am happy with my decision. Hoping for the best outcome!

Tilli  

Locksley said:

Hi @tilly I had same type of  bc as you.  I was diagnosed at 52 so I wonder if it is for younger women.  I had lump 52mm.  Had lumpectomy and then 4 nodes removed. Then mastectomy with  9 more nodes removed.  Had 6  months of ac and taxol chemo and then 5 weeks of radiation.  Just gone onto letrozeole for 10 years.

Thanks @Locksley that makes a lot of sense and good riddance to it! 

I originally had a lumpectomy with lump 52mm in size.  They took out 4 lymph nodes as well.  When they did the pathology on these nodes all 4 were cancerous. Breast surgeon said it was bigger than they thought and nastier so mastectomy was advised. They took another 9 nodes out when they did mastectomy.  I had my first mammogram 12 months after diagnosis just the other day.  The technician had my last years mammogram on the screen and I asked if she could show me what the cancer looked like and how big it was. She was happy to show me.  I was shocked by how big it was and how many places it was so this puts me so much more at ease knowing I did the right thing for me even though I was shell shocked when I was first told.

Locksley said:

Mastectomy was 4 weeks after lumpectomy. 

Was that because you didn’t get clear margins? I’ve just had a lumpectomy and wondering whether I should have mastectomy. Luckily my margins were clear but cancer was multifocal so I’m a bit concerned about that.

I agree with Caz1 —the goal at surgery is for the pathology post neoadjuvant chemo to show complete regression of tumour .where there’s some evidence of active tumour they often propose further chemo. In your case capecitabine as per EVIQ site. For me , I’m a early breast cancer patient with nil evidence of disease , but being HER2 positive ,and not achieving complete regression ,  it’s now onto,kadcyla. I could chose to complete herceptin only but recent trials have shown greater success for EBC cases on this regime. You’re almost on the home run now .......good luck with it all.

Hi @Tilli, I am Her-ve but had Capecitabine after surgery for 6 months too. Finished a couple of months ago.  I believe the reason that the Oncologists do this is when the surgical biopsy still shows some live tumour despite having had neo-adjuvant chemo ( ie chemo before surgery)

hope this helps  :)

Also I had a thread on Capecitabine a little while ago...you can access it by typing Capecitabine into your search bar

Cazxx

Mastectomy was 4 weeks after lumpectomy. 

Hi @Tilli

Sorry to see you here, @Tilli - if you put 'capecitabine' in the 'search' area at the top of the Discussions Page, it will pull up all posts that mention 'capecitabine' ....... then you can check them out at your leisure as those taking it may not be online as regularly as others.  If you put a post on any of the threads, that will 'reactivate them' ......

Take care & all the best for your ongoing treatment xx