HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post

DeenaH · 08-21-2011, 02:40 PM

I haven't posted in a while, but June 3rd I had a lung wedge resection and did chemosensitivity testing with the whole live tumors. I was progressing at the time, and there was a 7 week gap between my last PET/CT and my first new treatment. I have to assume I continued to progress during that time. I had 5 treatments with my new combo (navelbine/herceptin/tykerb) before my latest scan. I was hoping for either only slight progression or stability (due to the 7 weeks virtually untreated). Instead I had pretty substantial regression! I never thought I would be able to use that word! I have "numerous" lung mets, so they didn't count and measure all of them, but on average they have shrunk by 1/3 to 1/2!! And the metabolic activity is reduced. Also, no new sites. This is the best news I have ever had on a scan. Finally some good news! I am so happy I did the testing. I would have wasted precious time and added toxicity without it. Now let's hope my cancer doesn't get smart and become resistant!

08-21-2011, 02:40 PM	#1
DeenaH Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 129	Update on latest scan results I haven't posted in a while, but June 3rd I had a lung wedge resection and did chemosensitivity testing with the whole live tumors. I was progressing at the time, and there was a 7 week gap between my last PET/CT and my first new treatment. I have to assume I continued to progress during that time. I had 5 treatments with my new combo (navelbine/herceptin/tykerb) before my latest scan. I was hoping for either only slight progression or stability (due to the 7 weeks virtually untreated). Instead I had pretty substantial regression! I never thought I would be able to use that word! I have "numerous" lung mets, so they didn't count and measure all of them, but on average they have shrunk by 1/3 to 1/2!! And the metabolic activity is reduced. Also, no new sites. This is the best news I have ever had on a scan. Finally some good news! I am so happy I did the testing. I would have wasted precious time and added toxicity without it. Now let's hope my cancer doesn't get smart and become resistant! __________________ March 2010: Diagnosed with Stage IIIC IDC with axillary, mammary and suplaclavicular node involvement. ER/PR -, HER2+++. 7cm tumor in right breast. April 2010: Started neoadjuvent chemo. 4 DD A/C every 2 weeks, 4 DD Taxotere every 3 weeks with Herceptin weekly. August 2010: Finished chemo! August 20, 2010: PET/CT showed no cancer in any nodes, and only a little uptake to the breast. September 9, 2010: Bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction with implants and Alloderm. September 16, 2010: Pathology report showed 18/51 positive axillary nodes, 3.2cm tumor. Granual sized cancer found in the fatty tissue between levels 1 and 2. October 19, 2010: CT showed several spots on lungs and 1 spot on liver. Liver spot is 2mm, lung spots range from 2mm to 4mm. We don't know if they are cancer or not. 12/15/10: Brain MRI clear 1/7/11: PET/CT 1/13/11: Recurrence in lungs. Start Tykerb 5/13/11: Progression in lungs 6/3/11: Lung surgery to get tumors for chemosensitivity testing.