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Lolly · 05-18-2007, 08:04 AM

Joy; first of all YEAH!!!! With the drugs coming today and you getting started on them your anxiety level should decrease. We all know that lost feeling when we're in limbo waiting to start a new treatment and knowing the cancer is unchecked. I'm so glad you're getting started, and hopeful you will see improvement. And I'm on a not-so-slow BURN about the problem of access with Tykerb. I also have a huge co-pay, and am preparing letters to go to my insurance, senator and congressman. That our insurances cover Herceptin which is just as expensive as Tykerb, but don't cover Tykerb simply because it's an oral chemo is outrageous. But I've griped enough about that in a previous post.

Secondly, you are doing a LOT of stuff and it's no wonder you're overwhelmed. I know you want to be there for family and community, but maybe you could slow down a little? Take a breather and take some time for YOU.

I'm so sorry about Jasimine. It's just a bummer, and nothing helps ease the pain except knowing that she has the best possible family to ease her passage.

You are in my thoughts and prayers,
<3 Lolly

05-18-2007, 08:04 AM	#8
Lolly Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,756	Joy; first of all YEAH!!!! With the drugs coming today and you getting started on them your anxiety level should decrease. We all know that lost feeling when we're in limbo waiting to start a new treatment and knowing the cancer is unchecked. I'm so glad you're getting started, and hopeful you will see improvement. And I'm on a not-so-slow BURN about the problem of access with Tykerb. I also have a huge co-pay, and am preparing letters to go to my insurance, senator and congressman. That our insurances cover Herceptin which is just as expensive as Tykerb, but don't cover Tykerb simply because it's an oral chemo is outrageous. But I've griped enough about that in a previous post. Secondly, you are doing a LOT of stuff and it's no wonder you're overwhelmed. I know you want to be there for family and community, but maybe you could slow down a little? Take a breather and take some time for YOU. I'm so sorry about Jasimine. It's just a bummer, and nothing helps ease the pain except knowing that she has the best possible family to ease her passage. You are in my thoughts and prayers, <3 Lolly __________________ Sept.'99 - Dx.Stage IIIB, IDC ER/PR-, HER2+++ by IHC, confirmed '04 by FISH. Left MRM, AC x's 4, Taxol x's 4, 33 Rads, finishing Tx May 2000. Jan.'01 - local/regional recurrence, Stage IV. Herceptin/Navelbine weekly till NED August 2001, then maintenance Herceptin. Right Mast. April 2002. Local/Regional recurrence April '04, Herceptin plus/minus chemo until May '07. Gemzar added from Feb.'07-April '07; Tykerb/Abraxane until August '07, back on Herceptin plus Taxotere and Xeloda Sept. '07. Stopped T/X Nov. '07, stopped Herceptin Dec. '07, started Avastin/Taxol/Carboplatin Dec. '07. Progression in chest skin, stopped TAC March '03, started radiation. Herceptin has served as the "Backbone" of my treatment strategy for over 6 years, giving me great quality of life. In 2005, I was privileged to participate in the University of Washington/Seattle HER2 Vaccine Trial.