Has anyone been on Herceptin + Carboplatin?

[BrownPaperandString]

My mum has been on herceptin for a year or so and then xeloda too, which is no longer working. The Dr is suggesting herceptin + taxol but mentioned Carboplatin with herceptin instead of the taxol.

Has anyone any experince or thoughts on carboplatin?

I might be wrong, but I'm certain the use of carboplatin for breast cancer is currently in the trial phase so has she been offered it as part of a trial? If so, she should be given fairly robust advice about the pros and cons of trial treatment etc.

By itself, carboplatin tends to be fairly well tolerated, certainly more tolerable than the xeloda. The usual immunity, nausea, fatigue etc - not hair loss though. It doea lower the platelets though (blood clotting) so you can be more at risk from bruising and bleeding. Less commonly (quite rare tbh), it can cause numbness and tingling in hands and feet due to nerve damage.

I don't think that she has been offered it as part of a trial - I think it might be 'just out' or something. The consultant was favouring taxol because he knows more about it's efficacy but did mention the other one as food for thought. Do you know if taxol is better tolerated than xeloda? She got very toxic on the xeloda with black hands and feet and nausea and tiredness and basically everything going i think.

The only thing with taxol is that we understand that permanent neuropathy is likely.

Xeloda has such nasty side effects! Apart from the neuropathy from taxol, alot of people complain of feeling much more fatigued than with other chemo drugs. You can also get joint and muscle pains - achy legs, that sort of thing. Oh, and hair loss!
Like I said, I've not come across carboplatin for breast cancer, so can see the drs reasoning for taxol in that way.
BTW, I'm an oncology nurse - if I think on, I can ask around at work tomorrow about the carboplatin if that would help? Speak to the chemo and research teams?

There is a bit more info [http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/forum/carboplatin-p430585.html here], tho it is message board type of chat rather than 'medical'.

oops here

oh thank you - if you do happen to think of it and it's easy to ask tomorrow then that would be great. only if it's easy for you though. Do people struggle more on taxol than xeloda? I am a bit confused by your reply. Mum's consultant also said at the beginning that xeloda is very well tolerated with no side effects which clearly isn't true. She's been on just herceptin for the past month while her toxicity levels fall before starting the next thing and she's so much better in herself. It's a shame she has to start something else but it is important she does, we know that.

Sorry about the confusion! I meant to say that taxol can be quite a rough experience, but more from the fatigue and joint/muscle pain.
However, although many people sail through Xeloda, those who have side effects can be really poorly. I think it's sold as 'just tablets', but I've seen more life threatening hospital admissions from people on xeloda than most other chemo drugs.
So, generally more people on taxol will have side effects, but they tend not to be as severe as those who have a bad time on xeloda.