HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post

Lolly · 01-26-2008, 01:14 PM

Adriana,

I've had axilla lymph node and skin mets for some time now and we've treated it with systemic treatmens all this time. However, a little over a year ago we decided to try radiation to the axilla and chest(hadn't had it to that side yet) and although it did shrink the tumors and abate symptoms for several months, eventually the tumors started growing again. We're back to systemic treatments but the problem now is that the scarring from the radiation has made that problamatic as there's not as much blood circulation. One of the reason's I'm now on Avastin with chemo, as Avastin, in addition to destroying the tumors blood vessel network, then causes new blood vessel growth which allows the chemo to get in and destroy the cancer.
So my advice would be to really ask questions regarding the possibility of scarring in the lung tissue, as in my experience that would be a problem down the road if the rads don't get all the tumor and you have recurrence.

<3 Lolly

01-26-2008, 01:14 PM	#11
Lolly Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,756	Adriana, I've had axilla lymph node and skin mets for some time now and we've treated it with systemic treatmens all this time. However, a little over a year ago we decided to try radiation to the axilla and chest(hadn't had it to that side yet) and although it did shrink the tumors and abate symptoms for several months, eventually the tumors started growing again. We're back to systemic treatments but the problem now is that the scarring from the radiation has made that problamatic as there's not as much blood circulation. One of the reason's I'm now on Avastin with chemo, as Avastin, in addition to destroying the tumors blood vessel network, then causes new blood vessel growth which allows the chemo to get in and destroy the cancer. So my advice would be to really ask questions regarding the possibility of scarring in the lung tissue, as in my experience that would be a problem down the road if the rads don't get all the tumor and you have recurrence. <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.