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hutchibk · 12-17-2007, 11:32 AM

All I know is that I too heard the words "cure" regarding HER2 from the mouths of 2 researchers at talks that I attended last week. I rushed at the end of the last talk where that happened to ask (and was granted!!) permission to hug him. (Dr. Skip Burris to be exact)

I am near Dr. Chang and Dr. Osborne and BCM geographically and I am so very lucky to have them and their current lightning rod research in my back yard. I was on the brink of visiting them about 9 months ago, but with my current exceptional results on lapatinib, I have not rushed anywhere beyond my own brilliant Onc's office because he too is my encouraging hero... However, after last weekend, I feel like taking my doctor with me and sleeping on their doorstep. I guess a hotel would be warmer, but I am just that encouraged! LOL

Cynthia did initiate a conversation with a few of us manning the booth to ask us our opinion about some things she had brewing in her mind as a result of talks she had heard... Just that the two of you were there fronting our cause with your trained eyes and scientific minds makes me unbelieveably more hopeful than ever. It was a very powerful conference for HER2 developments. I feel very lucky right now to be in this subgroup of b/c patients.

I know that I would ABSOLUTELY contribute my time and all the details of my journey to further my chances for a cure and the chances for all of my current HER2 sisters around the world... and those who come after us.

Thank you for all you did to advocate for us at the conference, Lani! I love the benevolent, incognito aspect of your involvement here. It makes me imagine you as the billionaire who hands out million dollar checks to unsuspecting needy folks at Christmas time...

12-17-2007, 11:32 AM	#2
hutchibk Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 3,519	All I know is that I too heard the words "cure" regarding HER2 from the mouths of 2 researchers at talks that I attended last week. I rushed at the end of the last talk where that happened to ask (and was granted!!) permission to hug him. (Dr. Skip Burris to be exact) I am near Dr. Chang and Dr. Osborne and BCM geographically and I am so very lucky to have them and their current lightning rod research in my back yard. I was on the brink of visiting them about 9 months ago, but with my current exceptional results on lapatinib, I have not rushed anywhere beyond my own brilliant Onc's office because he too is my encouraging hero... However, after last weekend, I feel like taking my doctor with me and sleeping on their doorstep. I guess a hotel would be warmer, but I am just that encouraged! LOL Cynthia did initiate a conversation with a few of us manning the booth to ask us our opinion about some things she had brewing in her mind as a result of talks she had heard... Just that the two of you were there fronting our cause with your trained eyes and scientific minds makes me unbelieveably more hopeful than ever. It was a very powerful conference for HER2 developments. I feel very lucky right now to be in this subgroup of b/c patients. I know that I would ABSOLUTELY contribute my time and all the details of my journey to further my chances for a cure and the chances for all of my current HER2 sisters around the world... and those who come after us. Thank you for all you did to advocate for us at the conference, Lani! I love the benevolent, incognito aspect of your involvement here. It makes me imagine you as the billionaire who hands out million dollar checks to unsuspecting needy folks at Christmas time... __________________ Brenda NOV 2012 - 9 yr anniversary JULY 2012 - 7 yr anniversary stage IV (of 50...) Nov'03~ dX stage 2B Dec'03~ Rt side mastectomy, Her2+, ER/PR+, 10 nodes out, one node positive Jan'04~ Taxotere/Adria/Cytoxan x 6, NED, no Rads, Tamox. 1 year, Arimadex 3 mo., NED 14 mo. Sept'05~ micro mets lungs/chest nodes/underarm node, Switched to Aromasin, T/C/H x 7, NED 6 months - Herceptin only Aug'06~ micro mets chest nodes, & bone spot @ C3 neck, Added Taxol to Herceptin Feb'07~ Genetic testing, BRCA 1&2 neg Apr'07~ MRI - two 9mm brain mets & 5 punctates, new left chest met, & small increase of bone spot C3 neck, Stopped Aromasin May'07~ Started Tykerb/Xeloda, no WBR for now June'07~ MRI - stable brain mets, no new mets, 9mm spots less enhanced, CA15.3 down 45.5 to 9.3 in 10 wks, Ty/Xel working magic! Aug'07~ MRI - brain mets shrunk half, NO NEW BRAIN METS!!, TMs stable @ 9.2 Oct'07~ PET/CT & MRI show NED Apr'08~ scans still show NED in the head, small bone spot on right iliac crest (rear pelvic bone) Sept'08~ MRI shows activity in brain mets, completed 5 fractions/5 consecutive days of IMRT to zap the pesky buggers Oct'08~ dropped Xeloda, switched to tri-weekly Herceptin in combo with Tykerb, extend to tri-monthly Zometa infusion Dec'08~ Brain MRI- 4 spots reduced to punctate size, large spot shrunk by 3mm, CT of torso clear/pelvis spot stable June'09~ new 3-4mm left cerrebellar spot zapped with IMRT targeted rads Sept'09~ new 6mm & 1 cm spots in pituitary/optic chiasm area. Rx= 25 days of 3D conformal fractionated targeted IMRT to the tumors. Oct'09~ 25 days of low dose 3D conformal fractionated targeted IMRT to the bone mets spot on rt. iliac crest that have been watching for 2 years. Added daily Aromasin back into treatment regimen. Apr'10~ Brain MRI clear! But, see new small spot on adrenal gland. Change from Aromasin back to Tamoxifen. June'10~ Tumor markers (CA15.3) dropped from 37 to 23 after one month on Tamoxifen. Continue to monitor adrenal gland spot. Remain on Tykerb/Herceptin/Tamoxifen. Nov'10~ Radiate positive mediastinal node that was pressing on recurrent laryngeal nerve, causing paralyzed larynx and a funny voice. Jan'11~ MRI shows possible activity or perhaps just scar tissue/necrotic increase on 3 previously treated brain spots and a pituitary spot. 5 days of IMRT on 4 spots. Feb'11~ Enrolled in T-DM1 EAP in Denver, first treatment March 25, 2011. Mar'11~ Finally started T-DM1 EAP in Denver at Rocky Mountain Cancer Center/Rose on Mar. 25... hallelujah. "I would rather be anecdotally alive than statistically dead."