[Rolepaul]

Short term studies that do not look at long term resolutions. TDM-1 systemic did slightly improve the Brain MRI haze, so there is some penetration, but prior to IT Herceptin there was steady progression in Nina. She had survived two years from the initial discovery of a 6 cm diameter by 0.5 cm thick spot. By this study, she was a success. But she would be dead three years ago. Same with many of the women that have had their brain mets not resolved by surgery or Gamma Knife. Tykerb and Xeloda do help, but the side effects are severe and they are not permanent. IT Herceptin may not be permanent either, but it appears to be giving tens of months to years of survival versus five or six months. The number of patients in high dose studies is limited, but the results are pretty promising. And a Traumazamab/Pertuzumab combination IT may be the long term resolution to put the disease into remission.
Right now, I would not change Nina's healthcare treatment from what we did. Excision, then stereotactic radiation, Xeloda/tykerb, and now IT Herceptin. She is not the $6 Million Woman, but she is at least $2 Million Woman. But I wish the oncologist would have done the brain MRI in 2006 or 2007 like we asked, as it may have allowed attacking the lesion when it was smaller.