Let's Talk About Chemotherapy - Didn't have 100% response to chemo

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Didn't have 100% response to chemo

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Category: TNBC Forums
Forum Name: Let's Talk About Chemotherapy
Forum Description: A place to discuss Chemotherapy
URL: http://forum.tnbcfoundation.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=13185
Printed Date: Mar 26 2026 at 10:13pm
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Topic: Didn't have 100% response to chemo

Posted By: gwendolen
Subject: Didn't have 100% response to chemo
Date Posted: Aug 12 2017 at 8:59pm

Hi ladies,

My last round of chemo was June 7th. I did 4 ac and 12 taxol. When I had my surgery my tumor showed that I had a 70% response to chemo. My oncologist called me yesterday and thinks I should do a pill form of chemo just to be on the safe side and ithe will hopefully help with recurrence. Has anyone else done this? If so did it help? Any input is much appreciated

Replies:

Posted By: gordon15
Date Posted: Aug 14 2017 at 9:19pm

My wife had about 25% tumor still not killed by chemo, which she had BEFORE surgery, it's called a partial response, not a Pathological Complete Response, (pCR) I think is the abbreviation)...I think that only happens in about 25% of patients, maybe it's 33%, anyway...

after my wife's single mastectomy, the oncologist recommended Taxol chemo, and it's been about a year and she hasn't had a recurrence

She had a large (4-5 centimeters) tumor and 4- lymph nodes involved, and the chemo she had BEFORE surgery killed the cancer in the lymph nodes (that chemo was Carboplatin-Gemzar)

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wife: IDC/Lobular Stage2B 2008 lumpectomy/TAC+rads
TNBC Stage 3A/w/metaplastic/squamous Nov2015 Carboplatin-Gemzar chemo/masectomy Taxolchemo+rads 4-16
PET scan stable 9-2016/ 1-2017

Posted By: gwendolen
Date Posted: Aug 14 2017 at 9:40pm

Thank you for your response gordon15. I did 12 rounds of taxol before surgery. I'm not sure what chemo pill my oncologist is going to recommend I just pray it works!

Posted By: gordon15
Date Posted: Aug 15 2017 at 9:10am

It might be Xeloda (Capecitabine) you can use the "search" at top right of page to see posts regarding it.

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wife: IDC/Lobular Stage2B 2008 lumpectomy/TAC+rads
TNBC Stage 3A/w/metaplastic/squamous Nov2015 Carboplatin-Gemzar chemo/masectomy Taxolchemo+rads 4-16
PET scan stable 9-2016/ 1-2017

Posted By: Alive2day
Date Posted: Sep 17 2017 at 8:40pm

I could have written that post. same chemo. same results. before surgery. Last chemo was 6/30. Surgery last week. Haven't seen oncologist yet. However, prior to surgery, she discussion the option of having to take an oral chemo for the remainder of my life.

Posted By: 123Donna
Date Posted: Sep 18 2017 at 7:55am

Please read this thread about Xeloda for situations where a pCR wasn't achieved.

Xeloda improves survival for some breast cancer patients who do not achieve a pathological complete response to chemotherapy

A drug called Xeloda can extend the lives of some women whose http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/health/diseases-illnesses/breast-cancer-HEDAI0000012-topic.html" rel="nofollow - breast cancer is not wiped out by standard treatment, a new clinical trial finds.

Oncologists said the results are "practice-changing."

http://forum.tnbcfoundation.org/xeloda-after-neoadjuvant-chemotherapy-and-surgery_topic13153.html" rel="nofollow - http://forum.tnbcfoundation.org/xeloda-after-neoadjuvant-chemotherapy-and-surgery_topic13153.html

Donna

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DX IDC TNBC 6/09 age 49, Stage 1,Grade 3, 1.5cm,0/5Nodes,KI-67 48%,BRCA-,6/09bi-mx, recon, T/C X4(9/09)
11/10 Recur IM node, Gem,Carb,Iniparib 12/10,MRI NED 2/11,IMRT Radsx40,CT NED11/13,MRI NED3/15

Posted By: Tenley
Date Posted: Nov 12 2017 at 9:20pm

Good evening,

I am going to pretty much pose the same question, but with a slightly different spin...

Has anyone's Oncologist given you the option to 1) do nothing after neoadjuvant chemo and surgery based on path reports (only 3mm of cancer remaining, went from Stage 2b to Stage 1a, no lymph nodes, clear margins), 2) take Xeloda x 6 months, 3) enroll in a clinical trial: placebo vs. PARP inhibitor (for those w/ BRCA 1 mutation)? My husband and I are at a crossroads....what did you do if/when given these options?

Thank you,

Posted By: 123Donna
Date Posted: Nov 13 2017 at 7:32am

Hi Tenley,

You might want to consider getting a second opinion. I found it could help when making a decision on how to proceed in your treatment plan. Were you tested for the BRCA gene?

There was another thread talking about Xeloda for those who didn't achieve a complete pcr. The information might be helpful to you in making your decision.

Donna

Posted By: Tenley
Date Posted: Nov 13 2017 at 6:54pm

Hello there,

Yes, I was tested and am BRCA1 positive. I am really leaning towards getting a second opinion. Hopefully, it will be helpful and not overwhelm me more!

Posted By: 123Donna
Date Posted: Nov 14 2017 at 8:09am

Tenley,

When I had my recurrence, I got a second opinion from another top doc at an NCCN cancer facility. He supported the clinical trial my onc wanted me to try, but also told me about a couple of other options. I ended up getting three opinions regarding radiation therapy, even traveling to MD Anderson. The two other opinions concurred with the planned treatment areas so it gave me comfort that I was making the best decision for me.