Treatment for ER-/PR-/Her2(3+) please help us

Agnes777

Hello everyone,

My grandma was first diagnosed breast cancer ER-, PR-, HER-2(3+) in Oct. 2016. She then had her left breast removed together with the two tumors (one in the breast, the other in armpit) due to the doctor's suggestion. After the sugery, she took both chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Chemotherapy medication included Doxorubicin, Paclitaxel and Herceptin. The treatment lasted almost one year and my grandma suffered a lot from the side effects. Last month we took a re-examination and the doctor told us the cancer has growed to her lung and caused pleural effusion. Now my grandma started to take oral chemotherapy drugs Lapatinib and Xeloda. So far there's no any side effects yet maybe because it's still not long from her first day on it. 

Is there anyone who knows Lapatinib? Is it really useful? Would they cause severe side effects? Or if there is anyone who knows any better treatment for my grandma? Please can anyone help me since I couldn't get any other useful information in my country...

Thank you for your kindness in advance

Agnes

 

JLK32

Lapatinib

Hi Agnes

I can’t tell you if it will help in your grandmother’s case, but I am on lapatinib for Her2+ breast cancer with a met to the brain, and have been on it for about six years now. I think it is mainly precautionary at this point, but my oncologist would rather keep me on it since I am having minimal side effects. The only real side effect in my case is diarrhea, which I have found that to be very manageable by taking one Lomotil with the lapatinib.

Agnes777

JLK32 said:

Lapatinib

Hi Agnes

I can’t tell you if it will help in your grandmother’s case, but I am on lapatinib for Her2+ breast cancer with a met to the brain, and have been on it for about six years now. I think it is mainly precautionary at this point, but my oncologist would rather keep me on it since I am having minimal side effects. The only real side effect in my case is diarrhea, which I have found that to be very manageable by taking one Lomotil with the lapatinib.

Hi JLK32,

Hi JLK32,

Thank you so much for your reply which helps us feeling better, I really appreciate it... So I guess this would be a longtime treatment for my grandma as well... Glad to know that you are doing well and wish you all the best of luck!

1surfermom

Lapatinib /Tykerb

I was prescribed Lapatinib (Tykerb) as part of a clinical study in 2009. I took it daily and  also had monthly Herceptin. Other than the diarrhea, I did not have any noticiable side effects. I did however have a weird side effect in that the drug thinned out the skin on my fingertips and because of that it is really hard to get my fingerprints.  Love surf

 

1surfermom

1surfermom said:

Lapatinib /Tykerb

I was prescribed Lapatinib (Tykerb) as part of a clinical study in 2009. I took it daily and  also had monthly Herceptin. Other than the diarrhea, I did not have any noticiable side effects. I did however have a weird side effect in that the drug thinned out the skin on my fingertips and because of that it is really hard to get my fingerprints.  Love surf

 

PS I didn't commit a crime

I found out that I was hard to fingerprint when I was required to, to be able to volunteer at my son's school. I wish I was a woman of intrigue!! Love Surf

Agnes777

1surfermom said:

Lapatinib /Tykerb

I was prescribed Lapatinib (Tykerb) as part of a clinical study in 2009. I took it daily and  also had monthly Herceptin. Other than the diarrhea, I did not have any noticiable side effects. I did however have a weird side effect in that the drug thinned out the skin on my fingertips and because of that it is really hard to get my fingerprints.  Love surf

 

Dear Surf, thank you for your

Dear Surf, thank you for your reply. Did you take the Lapatinib solely or with any other chemotherapy drugs besides Herceptin? My grandma has chapped skin on her fingertips and toes as well and we are guessing it might be the side effect of Xeloda. May I know what's your stage and type of BC back to that time? Thank you so much and wish you all the best!