Oral chemotherapy as a preventative measure?

Hi Dani,

Is it a trial they are wanting you to enter? Have you done the prediction analysis?

Hope all goes well,

   Yvie

No I don’t believe so. My bcn said this was normal, just find it strange that it had never been mentioned to me before?

Sorry, what is the prediction analysis?

Thanks

Danie

Hi Dani3ll3

I am wondering if you will be offered Kadclya? This is a new treatment for Her2+ cancer and , although it is prolonging your treatment, it is another weapon in the armoury to prevent a return , Macmillan have a page on this drug https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/treatments-and-drugs/trastuzumab-emtansine. It looks like it significantly improves the long term prognosis when set against Herceptin alone - it wasn’t around when I was diagnosed 5 years ago, treatments for Her2+ have come on so much in that time.

Jo x

Another lady has posted and seems to be on same treatment plan

community.macmillan.org.uk/.../1570788

Thank you Jo! Yes I’m sure now she did say Kadcyla. I think my mind went blank once I heard more chemo but that definitely rings a bell. Thank you for the info.

I am very lucky to be benefiting from the advancements in Her2+ treatment. I think having just finished chemo 2 months ago, I wasn’t expecting to be doing it again so soon. 

dani 

Hi Dani3113 

I am Her+  so a bit different to you. Had 6 rounds of chemo then lumpectomy and lymph nodes removed, was supposed to have a year of herseptin injections and radiotherapy then a few years of tamoxifen. Went for my results after lumpectomy was told they had got the whole lump out with the cancer and that it had not spread to lymph nodes which was a good result but there were a few cancer cells left in the area .

I was told I will have to have 14 rounds of kadcyla which is a chemo drug this really made me feel down as I thought I had made it through chemo.

Going back into the chemo unit for the first time was horrible as I thought I was done with it .

Don't be down though if you are on kadcyla it's not like the other chemo no side effects for me I felt a bit tired but I am having radiotherapy at the moment so that might be part of the tiredness

I have my second kadcyla next week and am feeling more positive 

Hope the rest of your treatment goes well any questions please feel free to ask x

Carolyn 

Thank you so much for your reply Carolyn. This sounds very much like my situation too.
I am gutted at the thought of more chemo. More sad about losing the little hair that I have! Although that didn’t even bother me the first time. But you have put my mind at rest a lot.

I think I’m getting used to the idea now, now that I’m over the shock of it. Definitely feeling a bit more positive.

thank you again, I hope your treatment continues to go well too. xx

Hi Dani3113

I was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer last September.  After eight rounds of Chemo and an operation to remove the rest of the tumour and 2 lymph nodes there was still some cancer left in one of the lymph nodes my surgeon took so my onologist decided to put me on Chemo tablets to prevent it from coming back.  I'll also be having radiotherapy to make doubly sure that it won't come back.  I will be taking Capecitabine Accord.

Best of luck with the rest of your treatment.

Daisy53

Hi Dani,

Your experience sounds similar to mine. I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal BC in October 2020. After 6 rounds of chemo, I had a mastectomy. The tumour was completely removed and there was no spread to lymph glands. 

I thought the next stage for me was possible radiotherapy and Herceptin injections. Radiotherapy wasn't needed and I have now had my second Herceptin injection.

My oncologist now wants to take me off Herceptin and put me on Kadcyla. Like you, my heart sank at the thought of going back into the chemo unit another 14 times! 

However, the nurse who comes to the house to give me my Herceptin has made me see things differently. He's made me realise how fortunate I am to be offered Kadcyla. It's a new treatment and much more effective than Herceptin at killing any stray cancer cells which may have got into my system. 

Apparently, in very simple terms, Herceptin breaks off the antennae of any stray cancer cells, but Kadcyla breaks off the antennae and then enters the cancer cell and kills it. Clearly the outcome is going to be better with Kadcyla. 

He knows of no ill effects with Kadcyla and treatment is around 30 minutes after the first treatment. I'm certainly going to give it a go, knowing that I can always switch back to Herceptin, if it gets too much.

I'm talking to my oncologist further this Wednesday and will need to tell her my decision then. I know that if I don't give it a go, and cancer returns sooner rather than later, I will be filled with regret. If I've at least tried everything offered and it returns, that's a different situation. 

Keep us posted on how you get on. Kadcyla is so new and there are a few of us hunting for info and experiences about this new treatment. Best wishes JigJog x

Hi  Jig Jog 

I'm due my second round of kadcyla next week . Had no side effects. My first round I was in the unit about 4 hrs the next round will be half hour infusion and half hour observation so a lot less time.

Dani3113 

according to my oncologist loss of hair is not a side effect growth may slow down a bit but you should not  lose any . I will keep this group updated as to how I am getting on.

carolyn