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NO node, is GOOD node!

Hi Friends~
Just wanted to share some good, great, wonderful news...!
4 weeks ago my PET scans showed that after only 18 weeks on Halaven + Herceptin, the combo had stopped working, and my disease was progressing again - with a lesion in my R lung firing up and a large supraclavicular node growing by 50%, and I was starting to have GI symptoms again from the 2 lesions in my colon.
So we switched to oral Cytoxan + Methotrexate.
I could feel that the supraclav node was shrinking & the pinch in my lung disappear and some of my other symptoms lessen & resolve, but today we have confirmation!
I went in for an US guided biopsy of the supraclav node, just to check that the receptor status hasn't changed, etc, and after 30mins of searching for the node via Ultrasound, they couldn't find anything!
This once visible, easily palpable hard node has melted away!
This is so, so, so encouraging because this response in the supraclav node must be an indication of how my disease is responding in the rest of my body.
Oh what a relief! Now to try and get as much response out of this combo as possible for as loooong as possible!
And ofcourse for the WBR to do it's job on the 8 spots in my brain. 13 down, 2 to go.
I'll finish on Valentine's Day;)

Successful treatment for anyone of us is a VICTORY for all of us!

Keep the Faith~

Jessica

Dx-5/17/02 - 33 yo; Stage IV
L IDC w/single liver met
1) Herceptin + Navelbine x 8 weeks - No response; progress to innumerable,immeasureable liver mets
2) ISIS 2504 + Herceptin - 6 mos, partial response
3) Taxol + Herceptin x 13 weeks to NED!
NED for 1 year
9/04 - Single liver lesion recurrence
Taxol + Herceptin - on/off to beat back lesion
12/05 - R Hepatectomy; Liver NED until 2009
3/06- Local recurrence - Left breast, IDC & DCIS, but holding treatment while continue to heal from Hepatectomy.
12/06 - L mastectomy + reconstruction through 8/07
10/07 - Recurrence - supraclav nodes
4) Gemzar + Herceptin - on/off controlling nodes thru
9/08 - 7wks Rads to supraclav nodes
10/08 - Acute Renal Failure - nodes in belly stricturing kidneys. placed permanent ureteral stents
Back on Gemzar + Herceptin, but no longer responding.
5) 05/09 - Tykerb + Xeloda - partial response x 5 mos
6) 10/09 - Xeloda + Herceptin - no response, disease progresses
7) 2/10- Ixempra + Herceptin - partial response x 12 wks.
Discovered single brain lesion x 4mm & liver lesions growing while screening for TDM1 + PI3Kinase study.
6/10 - Novalis to treat brain met - SUCCESSFUL!
8) 6/10 - Chemo-embo w/Adriamyacin to de-bulk liver lesion.
9) 8/10 - Screened & Started TDM1 EAP
Immediate response, disease in belly responds dramatically.
2/11- questionable progression of lung nodules
Discontinue TDM1
10) 3/11 - PI3Kinase + Herceptin - intial good response in 1st 6 weeks but LFT's elevated.
11) 7/11-Discontinue PI3Kinase + Herceptin study;
Disease progression - 2 small lesions in colon – docs have never seen this before in BC
11) 8/11 –Start new combo Halaven+Herceptin
10/14/11 -Completed 3 cycles (9 wks)Halaven+Herceptin...
10/18/11 - Scanxiety time -1st scans since starting this regimen
Good interval response, continue on H+H!
10/25/11 – new 2mm questionable spot in brain? Due to Novalis or new disease?
Re-scan in 8 weeks.
1/3/12- Disease progression; 50%increase size & SUV-R lung, middle lobe 6cm lesion.
R supraclav node multiple, miscellaneous nodes in belly. Colon lesions fired up.
12)Herceptin+ metronomic Cytoxan + Methotrexate.
…on a hope & a prayer. Only chemo I haven’t been on is Taxotere.
Hurry up Pertuzumab & TDM1!
Follow Up Brain Scan on 1/18/12…pleasepleaseplease be okay. I can’t take much more.
1/18/2012- 8 new spots in 8 weeks since last Brain MRI
one 2cm spot in brain stem, one 2cm spot in R temporal lobe.
No symptoms. Suggested tx – WBR x 15 rounds
1/25/12 – Start WBR
2/10/12 - Treatment is working! US guided bx of supraclav node can't find it anymore!