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Andrea Barnett Budin · 09-16-2007, 10:26 AM

Pink Girl and Mary Ann, I totally agree. ABSOLUTELY NOT A DUMB QUESTION. My oncs said to stay on H longterm in '99, when I could no longer take Taxotere. I have not gotten any flack from my insur co on this THANK GOD. I have rechecked w/my 5 oncs and they still concur. Let's not try and fix what isn't broken. Dr. Pegram (when he was at UCLA, told me in Feb '06 that as long as I could handle it physically, psychologically and financially -- I should go for it). I do the ECHO annually now, as per Pegram, as he says if I were going to have a problem, it'd have occurred by now. I do ev 6 mnth CT scans, as per my oncs and ev 6 mnth transvaginal pelv sonos (to make sure my ovaries are beautiful, etc.). I do bone density tests ev 2 yrs, just had one and I got "your bones look beautiful". I asked my Boca rock star onc re brain mets. He says if they haven't shown up by now, he's not concerned.

Please read the LONGTERM HERCEPTIN thread from today for more. And please let me know how you fare in your battles re this, ladies! I see it as insulin for a diabetic, keeping the misbehaving gene in line and mets at bay. A totally sane concept. I would not stop taking my bld pressure meds cause I'm in the normal range. We all know it'll go up w/o the meds.

I wish you success. Do not give up. Get an onc that is in agreement w/this plan and who'll stand behind you! I am with you 100%!!!!! Sending you loving energy and prayers for your continued WELLNESS! Keep us all posted on this. It is key to living a long life and seeing our grandchildren married and having babies...
Andi

09-16-2007, 10:26 AM	#3
Andrea Barnett Budin Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: LAND OF YES! w/home in Boca Raton, Florida Orig from L.I., N.Y. Ever hovering IN THE NOW... Posts: 1,904	Herceptin Forever. I Can Live With That!! Pink Girl and Mary Ann, I totally agree. ABSOLUTELY NOT A DUMB QUESTION. My oncs said to stay on H longterm in '99, when I could no longer take Taxotere. I have not gotten any flack from my insur co on this THANK GOD. I have rechecked w/my 5 oncs and they still concur. Let's not try and fix what isn't broken. Dr. Pegram (when he was at UCLA, told me in Feb '06 that as long as I could handle it physically, psychologically and financially -- I should go for it). I do the ECHO annually now, as per Pegram, as he says if I were going to have a problem, it'd have occurred by now. I do ev 6 mnth CT scans, as per my oncs and ev 6 mnth transvaginal pelv sonos (to make sure my ovaries are beautiful, etc.). I do bone density tests ev 2 yrs, just had one and I got "your bones look beautiful". I asked my Boca rock star onc re brain mets. He says if they haven't shown up by now, he's not concerned. Please read the LONGTERM HERCEPTIN thread from today for more. And please let me know how you fare in your battles re this, ladies! I see it as insulin for a diabetic, keeping the misbehaving gene in line and mets at bay. A totally sane concept. I would not stop taking my bld pressure meds cause I'm in the normal range. We all know it'll go up w/o the meds. I wish you success. Do not give up. Get an onc that is in agreement w/this plan and who'll stand behind you! I am with you 100%!!!!! Sending you loving energy and prayers for your continued WELLNESS! Keep us all posted on this. It is key to living a long life and seeing our grandchildren married and having babies... Andi __________________ Andi BB '95 post-meno dx Invasive LOBULAR w/9cm tumor! YIKES + 2/21 nodes. Clear mammo 10 mnths earlier. Mastec/tram flap reconst/PORT/8 mnths chemo (4Adria/8CMF). Borderline ER/PR. Tamoxifen 2 yrs. Felt BLESSED. I could walk and talk, feed and bathe myself! I KNEW I would survive... '98 -- multiple mets to liver. HER2+ 80%. ER/PR- Raging, highly aggressive tumors spreading fast. New PORT. 9 mnths Taxotere Fought fire w/fire! Pronounced in cautious remission 5/99. Taxotere weekly for 6 wks, 2 wks off -- for 9 mnths. TALK ABOUT GRUELING! (I believe they've altered that protocol since those days -- sure hope so!!) + good old Vit H wkly for 1st 3 yrs, then triple dosage ev 3 wks for 7 yrs more... The "easy" chemo, right?! Not a walk in the park, but not a freight train coming at 'ya either... Added Herceptin Nov '98 (6 wks after FDA fast-tracked it for met bc). Stayed w/Vit H till July '08! Now I AM FREE! Humbly and eternally grateful for this life-saving drug! NED since '99 and planning on keeping it that way. To hell w/poor prognosis and nasty stats! STOPPED VIT H JULY '08...! REMAIN STABLE... Eternally grateful...Yes is a world & in this world of yes live (skillfully curled) all worlds ... (e e cummings) EVERY DAY I BEAT MY PREVIOUS RECORD FOR # OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS I'VE STAYED ALIVE. Smile KNOWING you too can be a miracle. Up to me and God now...