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StephN · 01-08-2007, 01:27 PM

What a blow for your family to have two family members in this **darn** situation. Have missed your posts, but figured you must be doing well and getting on with your "new normal."

Well, having a sister diagnosed is NOT generally part of that. Was wondering if you have her full path report. Some med oncs are now ordering further or more complete testing now. They may have included other assays such as p53, etc.

Being checked for TOPOII would be a good idea. As both Christine and I did not respond well to Adriamyin. Neither of us have ever had our tumor tissue retested for this, but assume we are low in that marker since our disease progressed quickly. You can look up Dr. Slamon's presentation from last year's San Antonio symposium.

If a patient is found to perhaps have a lower chance of responding to Adriamycin, why take the chance of heart damage from this drug, when she WILL get Herceptin for sure and can take that concurrently with the other drugs? Take advantage of the newer information.

I have two sisters and no other cancer of any kind in our family. There are some new genetic markers that are being worked on and may relate to something going on in your family as time goes by.

P.S. Have you noticed the thread here about the MOUSE VIRUS?? Have you and your sister been exposed to house mice?

01-08-2007, 01:27 PM	#4
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	OH! Sorry, Kristen! What a blow for your family to have two family members in this darn situation. Have missed your posts, but figured you must be doing well and getting on with your "new normal." Well, having a sister diagnosed is NOT generally part of that. Was wondering if you have her full path report. Some med oncs are now ordering further or more complete testing now. They may have included other assays such as p53, etc. Being checked for TOPOII would be a good idea. As both Christine and I did not respond well to Adriamyin. Neither of us have ever had our tumor tissue retested for this, but assume we are low in that marker since our disease progressed quickly. You can look up Dr. Slamon's presentation from last year's San Antonio symposium. If a patient is found to perhaps have a lower chance of responding to Adriamycin, why take the chance of heart damage from this drug, when she WILL get Herceptin for sure and can take that concurrently with the other drugs? Take advantage of the newer information. I have two sisters and no other cancer of any kind in our family. There are some new genetic markers that are being worked on and may relate to something going on in your family as time goes by. P.S. Have you noticed the thread here about the MOUSE VIRUS?? Have you and your sister been exposed to house mice? __________________ "When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau Live in the moment. MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~ Found suspicious lump 9/2000 Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR - Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds 36 rads - very little burning 3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED! 2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18 All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?) 2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava 2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec. Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011 STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer 7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED 2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED. Same news for 2016 and all of 2017. Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018.