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Old 08-11-2006, 01:22 PM   #3
heblaj01
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 543
Julerene.

I do not have a direct identical experience to report to you.
However in a case where treatment was started with Herceptin alone it resulted in a strong response lasting only 2 months, before fast deterioration of blood markers resumed.Then,the onc added Vinorelbine(=Navelbine) . This caused a detectable response after only 2 weekly treatments.
Vinorelbine+Herceptin was selected because of a high response rate in trials (over 60% compared to about 30% for Herceptin alone). An other factor in the selection was the relatively low side effects of the combo which mattered in this case due to the weakened condition of the patient.
An other combo may have an even higher response rate (around 80%) based on phase 2 trials: Doxil+Herceptin. Doxil is a low toxicity version of Taxol with probable higher efficacy & somewhat higher side effects than Vinorelbine+Herceptin.
I don't know if this combo is available outside clinical trials.

But before considering these or other options make sure the diagnostic of the liver recurrence is not a false positive which is possible in the case of small single apparent lesions. Was the scan confirmed by markers or symptoms? Could it be a cyst or a scar? If necessary a PET scan may clear up any doubt.

Last edited by heblaj01; 08-11-2006 at 01:30 PM.. Reason: To remove uncalled "grin"
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