Hang in There Hope

Paul, here are answers to the questions you asked me.
1. I am HER-2+++ and it was measured by an IHC test twice. Once when I was originally diagnosed on the breast tumor and in November,2003, through a broncscopy, they took tissue from my lung tumor that is growing and did the IHC test on that too. Same Result. I am also ER/PR negative. I have never had a PET only CT scans. My onc. says there is no need for a PET because there is no question of what is happening to my tumors.

2. When originally diagnosed, I was already Stage IV with mets to lung and bones. in December, 2002, I switched oncs. and came to UCSD. My present onc. stopped Taxotere, but continued me on Adriamycin and Taxol and added Herceptin. This regimen stopped the growth and from April,2003 to August,2003, I was considered "stable" and was given a rest from chemotherapy, but continued on weekly Herceptin. Onc. put me back on Taxol and Herceptin in August, 2003, to see if I could get shrinkage again. It did not work so onc. added Carboplatin to Taxol and Herceptin(TCH) I had this triplet of chemos until November, 2003. Everything remained stable except for this same aggressive lung tumor. It kept growing, so onc. decided to put me on Navelbine and Herceptin. This is where I am now. Navelbine did not work after taking it from November to now. It is so strange that all of my other lung mets are stable except for this one tumor.

Paul, what is your e-mail address so I can e-mail you directly with some more questions as I think about them. Thanks, again. May God bless you.