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chrisy · 08-18-2011, 08:44 AM

Hi Alex
Here's my thoughts, remember I am not a doctor just a patient

1. Biopsy or not? This would not be a standard recommendation I think. Yes tumor biology CAN change but it is not all that common and the procedure is not without cost or risk. Your onc may be taking the "proof is in the pudding" approach which is what mine did. Assume the her2 status is unchanged and monitor effect of the treatment.
2. That said, the procedure has a quick recovery time so won't delay treatment. I started xeloda the next day and could have had the biopsy while on treatment.
3. Tykerb and herceptin are the only targeted therapies currently approved in the US. Others are in the pipeline but would only be available on a clinical trial. Nothing wrong with using the tried and true first.

08-18-2011, 08:44 AM	#3
chrisy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Central Coast, CA Posts: 3,207	Re: Herceptin or Tykerb ? Hi Alex Here's my thoughts, remember I am not a doctor just a patient 1. Biopsy or not? This would not be a standard recommendation I think. Yes tumor biology CAN change but it is not all that common and the procedure is not without cost or risk. Your onc may be taking the "proof is in the pudding" approach which is what mine did. Assume the her2 status is unchanged and monitor effect of the treatment. 2. That said, the procedure has a quick recovery time so won't delay treatment. I started xeloda the next day and could have had the biopsy while on treatment. 3. Tykerb and herceptin are the only targeted therapies currently approved in the US. Others are in the pipeline but would only be available on a clinical trial. Nothing wrong with using the tried and true first. __________________ Chris in Scotts Valley June 2002 extensive hi grade DCIS (pre-cancer-stage 0, clean sentinal node) Mastectomy/implant - no chemo, rads. "cured?" 9/2004 Diag: Stage IV extensive liver mets (!) ER/PR- Her2+++ 10/04-3/05 Weekly Taxol/Carboplatin/Herceptin , complete response! 04/05 - 4/07 Herception every 3 wks, Continue NED 04/07 - recurrence to liver - 2 spots, starting tykerb/avastin trial 06/07 8/07 10/07 Scans show stable, continue on Tykerb/Avastin 01/08 Progression in liver 02/08 Begin (TDM1) trial 08/08 NED! It's Working! Continue on TDM1 02/09 Continue NED 02/10 Continue NED. 5/10 9/10 Scans NED 10/10 Scans NED 12/10 Scans not clear....4/11 Scans suggest progression 6/11 progression confirmed in liver 07/11 - 11/11 Herceptin/Xeloda -not working:( 12/11 Begin MM302 Phase I trial - bust:( 03/12 3rd times the charm? AKT trial 5/12 Scan shows reduction! 7/12 More reduction!!!! 8/12 Whoops...progression...trying for Perjeta/Herceptin (plus some more nasty chemo!) 9/12 Start Perjeta/Herceptin, chemo on hold due to infection/wound in leg, added on cycle 2 &3 11/12 Poops! progression in liver, Stop Perjeta/Taxo/Herc 11/12 Navelbine/Herce[ptin - try for a 3 cycles, no go. 2/13 Gemzar/Carbo/Herceptin - no go. 3/13 TACE procedure