How long before we know if Abraxane and Atezulizumab are working?

[Winner123]

Hello all! My wife is about to go for her second injection of Abraxane today, then one more next week of Abraxane and Atezulizumab next week to conclude this cycle. She has triple neg breast cancer in her lungs. She has a bad cough and trouble breathing which of course is making life difficult. She is 38, we have two children aged 3 and 6. I just wanted to know from your group collective experience (I really do rely on this group!), If the above treatment is going to work, how long an average will it take? Thank you all in advance, Leo, Susie Albert and Edith. X ❤️

[stardust1965]

Hi Leo, I see you have not had a response to your post. This may be because no one has experience of these drugs (I had to Google them). The board has also been quiet recently. It could be the quest to get out and enjoy the last of the summer. I hope you have easy access to Susie’s medical team which may be the best way to find out. I know we don’t always get a clear answer as every patient responds differently to treatment. You could also try talking to Macmillan or Breastcancernow. When I couldn’t reach anyone at my hospital they were incredibly helpful, even at the weekend.

Thinking of you and your family.

Vicki

[Bestbird]

Although I don't have an answer to your question, you may want to chat with the medical team about the fact that Atezolizumab has been pulled from the US market. cancernetwork.com/view/atez...

The rationale is admittedly vague, and it's a bit difficult to comprehend because the clinical trial results had been encouraging.

[Wildcat1]

I am on abraxene only and ER+ but my onc will be doing scans after 3 months. I hope your wife is feeling better. Sorry I don’t have anymore info. I just started it myself.

[Winner123 in reply to Wildcat1]

Thank you very much. We have only done two injections ATM. Susie seems to be tolerating it well, tired but that could be the breathlessness also. No hair loss but she's doing cold cap too. How are you doing? We are looking for the loss of the bloody constant and horrible cough to see if it's reduced the tumor more than the scan. Fingers crossed (my god I say that a lot ATM!)

[Cureforever in reply to Wildcat1]

Hi. I just got a bad pet ct it spread yo 6 spurs in the liver. Plus lymph nodes in pancreas. I am switched to iv chemo. Abraxane. Please share where your Mets are and how you are or were doing on abraxane. Thanks BestMarina

[Winner123 in reply to Cureforever]

Hi. We only had two infusions of Abraxane in the end, Susie just didn't respond to it. We then had a few months of success with oral Capecitabine but that had also stopped working. She has had very progressive disease and had to have a tumor debulking process to clear an airway to keep her breathing, radio therapy on her chest for the same reason, SRS on 19 leisions on her brain. We are showing some stability now but she's not on any active treatment, just recovering from all the treatment. She's on oxygen at home, we've had a stair lift fitted at home to allow her to use the stairs. We are about to start Troldevy and see if that18 helps control the disease systematically but average disease control is 5.5m with that, that's assuming it works at all. We've been very positive throughout this journey but we are well aware the position we are in. Susie is getting too unwell to "keep trying" different chemos. It may be that we soon stop treatment and just make susie as comfortable as possible. We said she wants to be very ill when the time comes at home, we have set up Palliative care teams, District nurses, all that area ready. It's been 18 months of fighting, pushing, trying, it's been very hard. I feel things will get worse with this horrible disease as we suspect it will be the lung mets that cause the final issues. Sorry I can't be of more positive help, I wish, hope and pray your treatment works brilliantly and for a long long time with all my heart. XXX ❤️

[Cureforever in reply to Winner123]

Thank you for your reply. I wish the miracle will happen. Best,

Marina

[Wildcat1]

I don’t have it in my lungs but I do have a cough. It states cough is a common side effect. Check w your dr to see what you can do for it. Honestly what helps me is I put my mask on. For some reason the moist air calms it down.

[Winner123 in reply to Wildcat1]

Ah, Susie's cough is the tumor is big and in her upper hillar, it's causing a dreadful cough, it's just the tumor I'm afraid. If we can shrink it, it should calm down.

[Winner123]

Thank you so much for that article and your response! Does this treatment fall into the "Oligometastais" as referenced in your book? I hadn't heard of Oligometastais until I read it in your book (thank you so much for that) and it led us to a place in the UK that does SBRT privately. They said we needed to do some systemic chemo first (hence our current treatment) and then we could look at it. I will share this article with them. I really must thank you again, this is so useful! Please keep helping me out, you will never understand the gratitude my little family and I have for this help. If I can ever help in return, I'm here for you all. XXX ♥️ Leo, Susie Albert and Edith.