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Lolly · 11-26-2007, 10:53 PM

Do not pay any attention to your onc's dire predictions!!!! I was diagnosed Stage IV in 2001, 6 months after finishing surgery/chemo/rads for Stage III, and I'm still very much alive and kicking. We've kept my disease very well contained with a combo of Herceptin and chemo cocktails, so I very much have what is considered a manageable, chronic disease at this point.
Every one's disease is unique to their system, and no one can predict how you will respond to Herceptin, and of course there's now Tykerb also, and in clinical trials many new options for Her2+ cancer. Do not despair.

<3 Lolly

11-26-2007, 10:53 PM	#16
Lolly Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,756	Do not pay any attention to your onc's dire predictions!!!! I was diagnosed Stage IV in 2001, 6 months after finishing surgery/chemo/rads for Stage III, and I'm still very much alive and kicking. We've kept my disease very well contained with a combo of Herceptin and chemo cocktails, so I very much have what is considered a manageable, chronic disease at this point. Every one's disease is unique to their system, and no one can predict how you will respond to Herceptin, and of course there's now Tykerb also, and in clinical trials many new options for Her2+ cancer. Do not despair. <3 Lolly __________________ Sept.'99 - Dx.Stage IIIB, IDC ER/PR-, HER2+++ by IHC, confirmed '04 by FISH. Left MRM, AC x's 4, Taxol x's 4, 33 Rads, finishing Tx May 2000. Jan.'01 - local/regional recurrence, Stage IV. Herceptin/Navelbine weekly till NED August 2001, then maintenance Herceptin. Right Mast. April 2002. Local/Regional recurrence April '04, Herceptin plus/minus chemo until May '07. Gemzar added from Feb.'07-April '07; Tykerb/Abraxane until August '07, back on Herceptin plus Taxotere and Xeloda Sept. '07. Stopped T/X Nov. '07, stopped Herceptin Dec. '07, started Avastin/Taxol/Carboplatin Dec. '07. Progression in chest skin, stopped TAC March '03, started radiation. Herceptin has served as the "Backbone" of my treatment strategy for over 6 years, giving me great quality of life. In 2005, I was privileged to participate in the University of Washington/Seattle HER2 Vaccine Trial.