Post-Chemo. Concerned Son

Hi All,

Thanks for this fantastic site. I am very concerned about my mom. My mother (age 67 years, ethnicity: Indian) has stage 3A Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma, and is ER-negative, PR-negative and HER-2/NERU protein negative.

She had mastectomy done, and some lymph nodes were also removed (both in India)
about a month ago. She is currently in India undergoing Anthracycline Chemotherapy. Since she is ER, PR and HER negative, the typical hormone therapy regimen may not work for her.

Question 1: What should we do under these circumstances for her treatment after
chemo?

Question 2: What is the prognosis after chemo?

Question 3: Should I consider bringing my mother to America for experimental drugs that are being developed for women who are 'triple hormone-receptor negative'?

Question 4: Are there any other commercially available drugs beyond chemo for 'triple negative' women? How much do they cost? Are they available only in the US?

Question 5: If we do opt for experimental drugs, is Boston a good place to be? Which hospitals? Will we have to pay for the drugs, and any associated care?

Thanks,
VG

Dear VG,

I personally believe that your mother would be best off at a major cancer center...in the UK or US where they are more familiar with triple-negative-breast-cancer.

Some places that come to mind are Memorial Sloan Kettering in NY, NYU in NY, Dana Farber in Boston, UCLA in Los Angeles

Question 1: What should we do under these circumstances for her treatment after
chemo? answer...see a medical oncologist who is an expert in triple-negative-breast cancer..

Question 2: What is the prognosis after chemo?..answer..unanswerable
in my unprofessional opinion

Question 3: Should I consider bringing my mother to America for experimental drugs that are being developed for women who are 'triple hormone-receptor negative'?...answer-yes but only with guidance from a medical oncologist..you also have to check the criteria on some of the clinical trials..your mother may not qualify..a good place to look is clincialtrials.gov..also she may benefit from an appproved drug

Question 4: Are there any other commercially available drugs beyond chemo for 'triple negative' women? How much do they cost? Are they available only in the US? answer...I think some of the drugs are available overseas but again you need a TNBC specialist to advise you. If you have to pay for the drugs on your own you normally need to have a lot of money.

Question 5: If we do opt for experimental drugs, is Boston a good place to be? Which hospitals? Will we have to pay for the drugs, and any associated care?. answer..Dana Farber(part of Harvard)..Dr. Judy Garber is very experienced as is Dr. Winer..if your mother qualifies normally drugs are free but often associated CT scans etc are not...varies trial by trial..

VG, in my view you need to have your mother speak to an expert in TNBC and that will probably entail you getting on a plane with her..it is also possible that some doctors will see you without your mother being present on a consultancy basis...but only some..

if you find a trial that your TNBC expert oncologist recommends please see if it is offered in the UK...it may be less expensive there? and again the oncologist may recommend a chemo already in the market..rarely is AC, solely, effective for TNBC, in my unprofessional opinion..and additional chemo plus radiation therapy may be indicated as mentioned above..

good luck to you and your mother. I think it is wonderful that you are trying to help.

all the best,

Steve

please feel to PM me. I don't know that I can help you in a meaningful way but I will try..