Pulmonary metastasis after chemotherapy

[mamtaj]

My mother had a mastectomy done last year of left breast. her biopsy reports say there were 20 lumps positive out of 31 and 6 axillary lymphnodes were also positive. her her2neu is positive as well. she's taken 8 cycles of chemotherapy consisiting of combination of epirubicin and cyclophosphamide and 5 F.U. her last chemo was on 13th june 09. she had a local recurrence of 2 nodules in nov 09 which were removed by a biopsy. after that ct-scan and pet-scan were done and these reports reveal of pulmonary metastasis. now her doc has suggested of chemotherapy which comprises of lapatinib tabs and capacintabine tab for 21 days. another doc suggests of chemo of paclitaxel and herceptine. she has a history of ulcerative colitis for last 27 years and is on medications like salazapyrin and vibact and folic acid and has diabetes for which she takes glynase mf. now please suggest which chemo whether the intravenous one or the oral one should she go for?

[mamtaj]

Thanks for the wishes and the advice!

[bluebutterfly2222]

Hi,

You have posted in the BC Support Community where answers are provided by BC survivors and other volunteers. It would not be appropriate for us to try to provide specific advice over the Internet about which medications should be used, when she has doctors who have been treating her and know all the details of her case.

I would suggest that your mother discuss the pros and cons of the two chemo protocols with her doctors, and perhaps ask as well about a recent study that showed encouraging results in very advanced breast cancer from a new treatment option, combing Herception and Tykerb. You might also want to post your question in the Chemotherapy Expert Forum.

Best wishes to you and your mother...