HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Brain Mets came back -- Help Needed

GracePang · 12-24-2010, 06:43 PM

Thank you, sisters, for your encouragements. Mary, I think you are right and I will push hard for what I want on Jan. 3rd and have it updated here.

My onc's philosophy is to use drugs unless it is necessary. His logic is that I may run out of options fast if I use them up front. For example, what if Xeloda/Tykerb/Herceptin combo doesn't work? I then have no other choses. If Xeloda/Tykerb combo works, then we don't need Herceptin; if doesn't, we can add Herceptin as another option. I don't know how to interprete this opinion. He said he would use one drug until it stops working, like what he did with Taxotere. When my brain mets were found in July, I asked him to switch to X/T, but he said WBR would deal with brain mets, he would not give up Taxotere, since it was working for my lungs and liver. Until it stoped working for lungs in November, he switched me to Xeloda. Now, brain mets progressed, he may add Tykerb.

Do you see his philosophy? Do anybody else's doctors use this philosophy?

12-24-2010, 06:43 PM	#12
GracePang Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 42	Re: Brain Mets came back -- Help Needed Thank you, sisters, for your encouragements. Mary, I think you are right and I will push hard for what I want on Jan. 3rd and have it updated here. My onc's philosophy is to use drugs unless it is necessary. His logic is that I may run out of options fast if I use them up front. For example, what if Xeloda/Tykerb/Herceptin combo doesn't work? I then have no other choses. If Xeloda/Tykerb combo works, then we don't need Herceptin; if doesn't, we can add Herceptin as another option. I don't know how to interprete this opinion. He said he would use one drug until it stops working, like what he did with Taxotere. When my brain mets were found in July, I asked him to switch to X/T, but he said WBR would deal with brain mets, he would not give up Taxotere, since it was working for my lungs and liver. Until it stoped working for lungs in November, he switched me to Xeloda. Now, brain mets progressed, he may add Tykerb. Do you see his philosophy? Do anybody else's doctors use this philosophy?