HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Stage IV

StephN · 04-21-2007, 12:56 PM

To answer some of your questions and concerns. First of all, Dad turned a small corner yesterday so we are more hopeful.

In my case markers have always been a good indicator of my disease path. They draw both the CA27-29 and CEA each 3 weeks and they have been well into normal range and steady as a rock for years now.
The 27-29 may move a point one way, but then is back the next time. CEA is unchanging and very low.

The HER2 serum has been run on me twice and with good result. I will have it again in a month or so. We did it just prior to my break along with a PET/CT. Based on literally YEARS of data on me, my decision was made with med onc's blessing.

I noticed in another post that Dr. Slamon is now saying that a 6-7 years remission or complete response on Herceptin may be considered a CURE! Manna from heaven - those words! This is the idea/direction that I and my med onc are perhaps toying with at this point.
Go for it Ginger Empy and Christine who are past that time frame! And Kim and a few others of us stage IV long remission types getting there.

04-21-2007, 12:56 PM	#11
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Markers, etc. To answer some of your questions and concerns. First of all, Dad turned a small corner yesterday so we are more hopeful. In my case markers have always been a good indicator of my disease path. They draw both the CA27-29 and CEA each 3 weeks and they have been well into normal range and steady as a rock for years now. The 27-29 may move a point one way, but then is back the next time. CEA is unchanging and very low. The HER2 serum has been run on me twice and with good result. I will have it again in a month or so. We did it just prior to my break along with a PET/CT. Based on literally YEARS of data on me, my decision was made with med onc's blessing. I noticed in another post that Dr. Slamon is now saying that a 6-7 years remission or complete response on Herceptin may be considered a CURE! Manna from heaven - those words! This is the idea/direction that I and my med onc are perhaps toying with at this point. Go for it Ginger Empy and Christine who are past that time frame! And Kim and a few others of us stage IV long remission types getting there. __________________ "When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau Live in the moment. MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~ Found suspicious lump 9/2000 Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR - Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds 36 rads - very little burning 3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED! 2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18 All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?) 2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava 2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec. Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011 STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer 7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED 2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED. Same news for 2016 and all of 2017. Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018.