Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
Taxol failed. How can we know Taxotere will not fail also?
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
Taxol failed. How can we know Taxotere will not fail also?
by idon'thaveanickname, May 22, 2006 12:00AM
There are several questions in this one communication that I hope you can answer, please. I was 48 and pre-menopausal when diagnosed with Stage II/B IGC. A pathology report showed "debris" on one of three removed nodes); a four-round regimen of AC shrank a Her2neg, estrogen and progesteron positive tumor. (We don't yet know the grade of the tumor or anything about the margins.) After one round of Taxol, a sonogram showed the tumor grew. A lumpectomy was successful in removing the tumor. Four rounds of Taxotere are planned, as is radiation. Is there any study or reference that shows the efficacy of Taxotere in people for whom Taxol had no effect? Is there a way to measure Taxotere's efficacy during use in the absence of a tumor? Any suggestions for making a decision about enduring the risks/side-effects vs. unmeasurable, possible, but not probable benefits of Taxotere? And, is there a study/reference that compares/contrasts immediate and long-term benefits/risks of Tamoxifen vs. removing the ovaries? Could you please cite the best studies that further address estrogen's role in breast cancer beyond those promoting the use of yet another drug with lots of side effects? Thank you for your time and consideration.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-JS, May 23, 2006 12:00AM
Dear Idonthaveanickname: Decisions regarding chemotherapy regimens are based on several factors in the individual situation such as tumor characteristics, staging, prior treatment, overall health of the patient, as well as what is the goal of treatment; for example is this neoadjuvant treatment (treatment given prior to surgery to shrink a tumor) adjuvant treatment (treatment given after surgery to treat microscopic tumor cells that may grow to produce a tumor) or recurrent disease. Taxol and Taxotere have similar mechanisms of action but may be used for different situations in the same person. There are many studies over the years that address the role of estrogen suppression as treatment of estrogen receptor positive breast cancer. Removal of a person's ovaries would stop the bodies main source of estrogen production in a pre-menopausal woman, tamoxifen's mechanism of action is to block estrogen at certain sites in the body - particularly in the breasts.
Your questions are best discussed with a medical oncologist who can put the information into context of your individual situation. They can also discuss with you the risks/benefits of each particular treatment in your individual situation. If after discussion of your questions you still are concerned you may want to obtain a second opinion.
Your questions are best discussed with a medical oncologist who can put the information into context of your individual situation. They can also discuss with you the risks/benefits of each particular treatment in your individual situation. If after discussion of your questions you still are concerned you may want to obtain a second opinion.
