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Kim in CA · 11-15-2012, 10:25 AM

Hi All,

Had 2nd Taxotere yesterday, and so far feeling really good. Just a little fatigue, but not bad.

Still waiting to get MRI of liver area and 6 month brain MRI scheduled, but I'm feeling very positive right now.

Got the tumor marker and Her2 Serum results from last week, taken just before my 1st taxotere infusion. They both had actually come back down 10% from the month before, and this was before any taxotere. So, I have to believe that my immune system is trying hard (with the help of the Herceptin) to get after it.

We will run markers again next week to see where things are. My doc innitially didn't want to run them for a month, but we compromised and will do them every 2 weeks for now. What can I say, I like to watch the numbers!

And Kim, as far as getting a biopsy, I guess we'll have to see what the MRI reveals. If there is definite activity in the liver, I'm not sure how invasive of a procedure a liver biopsy would be. Maybe just easier to zap it with the CyberKnife? Lots to think on for sure.

The main thing is that we're staying on top of things. And it really sounds like you've got a top notch doc in your corner. Wishing you good luck on Tues.

Kim

11-15-2012, 10:25 AM	#11
Kim in CA Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: California's Gold Country Posts: 404	Re: Scan Results and 1st Taxotere Hi All, Had 2nd Taxotere yesterday, and so far feeling really good. Just a little fatigue, but not bad. Still waiting to get MRI of liver area and 6 month brain MRI scheduled, but I'm feeling very positive right now. Got the tumor marker and Her2 Serum results from last week, taken just before my 1st taxotere infusion. They both had actually come back down 10% from the month before, and this was before any taxotere. So, I have to believe that my immune system is trying hard (with the help of the Herceptin) to get after it. We will run markers again next week to see where things are. My doc innitially didn't want to run them for a month, but we compromised and will do them every 2 weeks for now. What can I say, I like to watch the numbers! And Kim, as far as getting a biopsy, I guess we'll have to see what the MRI reveals. If there is definite activity in the liver, I'm not sure how invasive of a procedure a liver biopsy would be. Maybe just easier to zap it with the CyberKnife? Lots to think on for sure. The main thing is that we're staying on top of things. And it really sounds like you've got a top notch doc in your corner. Wishing you good luck on Tues. Kim __________________ Diag. Feb 1997 4.5cm IDC <10%ER+, PR-. 5 out of 36 nodes +. Mastectomy followed by 3 rounds Adriamycin/Cytoxin. 5/1997 Hi Dose Chemo w/ Stem cell rescue. Spent 4 weeks in isolation ward. Then 6 weeks radiation. 9/2001 widespread mets to liver. 8 mos Taxotere/Herceptin brought me almost to NED. Stop Taxotere & add Femara . 11/2002 liver resection to remove spot that turned out to be necrosis. Officially NED! 7/2003 Tumor markers rising add Xeloda Disastrous reaction, 8 days hospital, but tumor markers came back to normal! June -Dec 2004 UW Vaccine Trial. 7/2005 MRI single 11mm brain met 8/2005 Gamma Knife. Brain MRI @3 months NED! 2006-2011 brain/body still NED 8/04/11 Taking Herceptin break, will monitor with tumor markers. 6/20/12 Tumor markers begin to rise. CA15-3 is 31.3 and Her2 Serum is at 17.1 Decide to repeat in one month. 7/23/12 CA15-3 now 49.3 Her2 Serum 26.8 8/6/12 Back on Herceptin CA15-3 now 76 Her2 Serum now 49 11/7/12 Add weekly Taxotere for 4 cycles 2/2013 Stopped Taxotere added Perjeta. MRI shows approx. 50% reduction liver mets. CA15-3 still elevated @ 55. Will continue on just Herceptin & Perjeta. November 2014 Continuing on Herceptin, Perjeta, and Femara indefinitely. Guess I'm NED again, but watching those tumor markers carefully! Dec. 2015 PET scan reveals mass in perirectal area of abdomen.biopsy confirms. Still Her2+, but no longer ER+. Bye bye Femara Jan 2016 Begin Kadcyla March 2016 PET scan shows tumor now barely visible, still NED everywhere else. 2016/2017 continue Kadcyla November 2017 brain MRI reveals small focus of T2 hyperintensity with possible 4mm enhancing nodule. Short term follow up MRI suggested. Stay tuned...