I'm feeling devastated. I was recently diagnosed with an ultra fast growing grade 3, triple negative, stage IIIB breast cancer.
I've been on weekly Paclitaxel 80mg/m2 as a first line treatment. There has been adequate response so far.
Recently my Oncologist warned my that my Cancer may be unresectable due to the large original size.
I have some questions / concerns which I was hoping someone might be able to answer:
- I was told I was on the Palliative dose of Paclitaxel. Is this correct? Is this because the Onc thinks the tumour will be unresectable / terminal cancer or could it be anything to do with me having a Paraneoplastic Syndrome (pneumonia type symptoms) resulting in a WHO Performance Status score of 3?
- I believe Paclitaxel is normally used as a second line treatment?? If so, is it possible I've been prescribed it as a first line treatment because I need the good skin penetration abilities of the drug? This is what I was told, but could there be other reasons too?
- I was told I could not "tolerate" FEC-T. Is this because of Paraneoplastic Syndrome/ poor WHO performance score, or is this a quality of life decision to not put me through more suffering with no hope of cure?
- I have been reading promising studies about Carboplatin in triple negative BC. AFAIK Carboplatin is not licensed for breast cancer but some Trusts will give it as a third line therapy for breast cancer or as part of a clinical trial. Is this correct? If so, is there any way I could get it as a combination first line therapy on the NHS outside of a clinical trial?
Any other info or advice gratefully received.
I have been trying to get hold of my Oncologist to ask her, but she has not yet returned my email and currently is not at work. I really hope I hear from her soon! Also, often when I do have appointments I feel as though I am being rushed and not being given time to think and ask questions, which is why I did not ask these things when I last saw her - the whole thing felt too rushed and I was flustered.