HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - feeling less and less like I'll be here much longer

Rolepaul · 04-09-2014, 02:19 PM

Debsing,
Sorry. I have been kind of busy for the past six to eight months. Nina had Intrathecal Herceptin with excellent results. Have they looked at this for you? Ommaya reservoirs are used commonly for Brain Primary cancer, so it was not a big jump to think about them for Her+ brain mets. Herceptin works for many Breast cancers not in the brain or spine. I was able to convince doctors to use this concept. Started at 40 mgs and increased to 80 mgs on a 62 kg body weight. High dose is needed due to the quick change out of the drug in the spinal fluid. 26 months since start of treatment. There is a spot that has been around for four years that is a little bit of a concern. The question is whether it is due to Radiation, return of disease, or from the Herceptin attacking the cells. Other options are triple the IV dose of Herceptin to overcome the blood brain barrier; disrupt the BBB with other means; or play whack a mole using SRS (Gamma knife).
Keep positive. This is an area that many realize is impotrtant.

Paul

04-09-2014, 02:19 PM	#28
Rolepaul Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Boulder Colorado as of January 2013 Posts: 391	Re: feeling less and less like I'll be here much longer Debsing, Sorry. I have been kind of busy for the past six to eight months. Nina had Intrathecal Herceptin with excellent results. Have they looked at this for you? Ommaya reservoirs are used commonly for Brain Primary cancer, so it was not a big jump to think about them for Her+ brain mets. Herceptin works for many Breast cancers not in the brain or spine. I was able to convince doctors to use this concept. Started at 40 mgs and increased to 80 mgs on a 62 kg body weight. High dose is needed due to the quick change out of the drug in the spinal fluid. 26 months since start of treatment. There is a spot that has been around for four years that is a little bit of a concern. The question is whether it is due to Radiation, return of disease, or from the Herceptin attacking the cells. Other options are triple the IV dose of Herceptin to overcome the blood brain barrier; disrupt the BBB with other means; or play whack a mole using SRS (Gamma knife). Keep positive. This is an area that many realize is impotrtant. Paul