I'm losing Caryn :(
 

My heart is breaking as I'm writing this but Caryn is not doing well at all. Her liver has not recovered as hoped and since she hasn't been able to have any treatment the cancer has now taken the problem to a whole new level. She's been in the hospital since Tuesday so they could manage the pain and horrible bloating. She's disoriented from the drugs and her liver failure and I'm having a hard time not continuing the fight. I know her liver can't handle any chemo but I wonder if there's another targeted drug that could possibly offer a miracle that we so desperately need. They told me once before that the fight was over but we continued anyway and to their surprise, she's still here four months later.
Honestly, I'm torn...do I look again for a miracle or are we so far gone that I just accept that there is battle is over and lost????
I HATE the idea of losing her. She's the center of my kids universe and for 20+ years she's been my universe.
She's an amazing person and I can't bear the thought of her not being around. This SUCKS!!!!!!!

Praying
 

Oh Eric, I've no medical advice to offer, (though I have no doubt that someone in this amazing group does), but I will offer up my prayers for Caryn and for you. What a wonderful, supportive husband you are to your precious Caryn.

I'm so sorry but have faith that our God can do anything!

Lisa

Praying too, from Caryn to Caryn
 

Eric, I can only offer my prayers and hopes for Caryn, you and your family.

all the best
caya (Caryn)

Hang in there Eric. Remember that no matter what or where the eventual outcome, she needs you now more than ever. You have to continue to be her strength, even when it seems she has none. This is why you have been there all along, and why you must be there now. I am praying for you and Caryn.


Tom

My heart goes out to you and I only hope for a
miracle. Maybe someone knows of a treatment.
My prayers are with you.
patb

Dear Eric,

I can feel your sadness - it really is so cruel. I am praying as hard as I can for Caryn and wishing hard for another miracle.

Prayers continue.
shobha

Eric - I am at a loss for words. I am so very sorry. I send you both love and prayers.

I ask myself why???? Why can't a cure be found. God bless Eric.

Kim

Oh, Eric, I'm so very sorry that Caryn is doing so badly. My heart breaks for all that you and your family endure right now. It is so frustrating that so many answers are so unclear and so painful. I send my best wishes and prayers for your miracle. ma

Hang in there Eric. Remember that no matter what or where the eventual outcome, she needs you now more than ever. You have to continue to be her strength, even when it seems she has none. This is why you have been there all along, and why you must be there now. I am praying for you and Caryn.


Tom

Eric, I am so sorry I have no answers. Tom, and you, have said it all. It sucks, and your job is to love and support Caryn while your heart is breaking. I'm praying for you both, too.

Much love
Chris

Eric

I'm thinking and praying for Caryn, your children and you. You have been a gallant fighter for your family throughout this horrible ordeal. My heart aches for you at this difficult time.

Oh Eric,

I can feel your profound sadness at the thought of losing your precious Caryn. I am saying prayers for strength to get you and your family through this difficult time. Treasure every moment. Stay strong.

Much love,

Eric I am so very, very sorry that read that Caryn is declining more and more. I can offer prayers during this most difficult time.

Dear Eric,

I am so very sorry to read that your dear Caryn is not doing well. Please know that I am sure right now, that you and the children are her best medicine. You are an awesome husband. I am still praying that Caryn may turn around and regain normal liver function.

Please send her gentle hugs and prayers,
Lexi

I'm losing Caryn :(
 

Eric,
I am so sorry to read your e-mail. There must be a cancer/liver specialist somewhere who knows about cancer medicines that do not affect the liver. There are cancer medicines that do not affect the liver. None of the cancer medicines I took affected my liver, but then again that might be because I have taken milk thistle daily which protects the liver for over 10 years. I never had liver mets either. Are there any integrative medicine docs (docs who practice conventional and complementary medicine) in your area who might be able to suggest something.
In the meantime I am sending positive vibes and saying a prayer for you and Caryn and your family. Hang in there Eric. You are Caryn's strength when she doesn't seem to have any.

Eric, I wish had some words or advice to give comfort but I can only keep you both in my thoughts and prayer's..stay strong.

Eric, I feel your anguish and the sense of powerlessness. I have no medical suggestions but I will add my prayers. God bless.

Eric,

My heart hurts for you and your family. I will continue to pray for a miracle.

Tonya

Praying for you & your children, but most of all for Caryn.
What a horribly frightening time for all of you. I so hope that
you are able to find some intervention that brings peace & comfort.
Stay strong for Caryn, Ed.
And when you can't, lean hard.
We are all here to support you.

Keep the Faith~

Jessica

Eric I am so pained to read your message about Caryn. I pray for a miracle and more time and for strength and peace for you all.

Oh dear sweet Eric...my heart is hurting so badly for you now and I type this with tears in my eyes. I so wish I could do something or say something to make the pain all go away.

I can and will pray for you and Caryn all day......asking for that miracle.......and then leaving it with the One who knows our tomorrows and promises to never leave us or forsake us.

Gentle hugs to you Eric.....my prayers surround you and Caryn.

Peace

Mary Jo

Thoughts with you and your family
 

Hi Eric,
You have fought so hard for Caryn and I have been so impressed with your posts and how they reflected your loving care for her and your children. My heart goes out to you and your family. Please know that all of you are continually in my thoughts.
Barbara H.

Dear Eric ~

Your battle certainly has not been lost. You and Caryn have fought with the dignity and grace of legends past. Cancer didn't win, the battle isn't lost -- but perhaps it is time for Caryn to move on to her life of peace and wait for you.

Her pain ends but her peace begins. Your pain becomes deeper but your life has been richer for the loving and the fighting together.

Eric, I echo the words of Abbydawg. I have no miracle cure or great words of wisdom. I just offer my prayers to you and your family and Caryn. You are truly a blessing to her.

Please add my prayers to the list.. Please , also take care of yourself..Charlotte

Eric,

I am holding Caryn, you and your family in my heart and prayers. May God give you comfort, strength, peace and understanding.

Dear Eric -

I know how hard you have fought to hold Caryn up and help her keep going. She has done so much already, but the cancer inches forward anyway.

If it were my case, I would leave it up to Caryn whether there is anything more she wants to try. If she is in the hospital, it seems that no study drug could be adminstered there, unless it is actually a cancer center.

My prayers are fervent that she is comfortable and comforted. That goes for you and the children. Words just can't describe the heartache you all have, and the sorrow we feel is only a penny's worth.

I am thinking of you and yours. Ceesun

Public Wyeth Drug Announcement This Month
 

Eric,

I saw Joe's mention of a new drug called neratinib on this thread, and I found an article about it online. Wyeth is a drug company here in PA. It looked promising in it's trials so far. It seems that it acts on intracellular end of the receptors of the HER2 cell, whereas Herceptin acts on the extracellular end. I don't know if Caryn would qualify for their upcoming Phase III trial. Here's the link:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152211.php

Tom

Eric...
 

no medical advise, but LOTS of prayers:( Take care and God bless.

Eric,

Your love for Caryn is an incredible gift. We all share your pain in this terribly difficult time. I will add my prayers to the rest for a miracle for your family. That God will send the right person with the expertise to give your Caryn another chance.

'lizbeth

I AM SO SORRY TO HEAR OF THIS. I pray that Caryn is at peace and comfortable., You are all im my prayers.

Eric,

A love like the two of you share, transcends all time and space.

I will pray for a miracle for Caryn.

Eric,

I am praying for you both. Hang in there and do not let God´s hand go.

Paty

Praying for you both, Eric

Wyeth Phase III Clinical Trial for Neratinib
 

Eric,

Here is the link and full text of Wyeth's Phase III study that is now enrolling patients all over the country. Make sure to click on the link further down the webpage that says "Show 111 Study Locations", to find the site nearest to you.

http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00777101


http://her2support.org/ct2/html/imag...e/triangle.gif Purpose This is a study of an experimental drug (neratinib) versus a combination of drugs (lapatinib and capecitabine) in women who have erbB-2 (HER-2) positive metastatic or locally advanced breast cancer. The goal of this study is to compare the two regimens in shrinking tumors and extending the lives of women with erbB2 (HER2) positive breast cancer. The study will also compare the safety of the two regimens and to compare quality of life of patients taking the two regimens.




Study Type:InterventionalStudy Design:Treatment, Randomized, Open Label, Parallel Assignment, Safety/Efficacy StudyOfficial Title:A Phase 3 Randomized Open-Label Study of Neratinib Versus Lapatinib Plus Capecitabine for the Treatment of ErbB-2 Positive Locally Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer
Resource links provided by NLM:

Genetics Home Reference related topics: breast cancer
MedlinePlus related topics: Breast Cancer Cancer
Drug Information available for: Capecitabine Lapatinib Lapatinib Ditosylate HKI-272
U.S. FDA Resources


Further study details as provided by Wyeth:


Primary Outcome Measures:

• Progression Free Survival [ Time Frame: 16 Week ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Secondary Outcome Measures:

• Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events [CTCAE] V3 [ Time Frame: Subject's duration on active portion of the study. ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]

Estimated Enrollment:1000Study Start Date:November 2008Estimated Study Completion Date:November 2013Estimated Primary Completion Date:November 2013 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)



http://her2support.org/ct2/html/imag...e/triangle.gif Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years and olderGenders Eligible for Study: FemaleAccepts Healthy Volunteers: NoCriteria

Potential subjects should have/be:

• Stage IIIB, IIIC, or IV erbB2 (HER2) positive breast cancer
• Prior use of Herceptin (trastuzumab), an anthracycline, and a taxane
• Adequate cardiac and renal function

Potential subjects should not have:

• More than 2 prior Herceptin (trastuzumab) regimens or prior use of Xeloda (capecitabine) and / or Tykerb (lapatinib) [Tyverb]
• Bone or skin as the only site of disease
• Active central nervous system metastases (subjects should be stable and off anticonvulsants and steroids)
• Sigificant gastrointestinal disorder with diarrhea as major symptom

Eric,

I am so sorry to hear about Karen. I will be praying for her, you, and your children.

Amelia

Praying for you both...
Marcia

Eric, I cry as I write to you tonight and I feel no words I say could bring you comfort. We too have searched for options as our circumstances greatly resemble the place you are at. We too are in a race against time and all I can say is I feel so deeply for Caryn and your family. I do have recent research but Caryn has been too sick to continue with what treatment she was on.

As a spouse of a breast cancer Warrior myself I can only say this. I will never accept that the battle is over; but I must accept the fact that he is slowly slipping away and when his body cannot withstand treatment anymore....when his quality of life becomes more hindered, painful or unsatisfying.....he has one more time to ask himself if he can continue. Even if he can continue, is there something that can help? It is the sadest and toughest things I have ever had to live through. I have been told by Warriors whom I have since lost, that you know when your body is telling you those things. Even when we know, sometimes we chose not to listen. I have promised I would listen to what he needs and what his body is telling him. How can I not, he knows best what his body is saying and how far he can push it.

In my eyes Eric, Caryn will have never lost her battle. The cancer just became bigger than her! She has been so courageous and fought with grace and dignity. Caryn has taught me so much about living and fighting. Her journey has been that of a true Warrior, a battle that has been difficult, but a battle I will never say she lost.

I pray for a miracle for her, I pray for her comfort. I am speechless as the emotions you are feeling are the same I try to make sense out of myself. From where I sit, I am not so sure there are any right answers. I do know that I trust my heart and when my mind cannot answer these questions, I will look deep into my heart for the answers.

I am thinking about your entire family as I still cry and hurt along with you....as I still know none of my words can express how I feel. I hold your hand Eric for it is all I can do. Lots of love.>>Believe51