A different kind of survivor's poll..

TheresaM · 05-02-2007, 11:30 AM

Michelle, very interesting story you have. No, I was stage IIb when dx, the cancer just plowed through every treatment, first going through lymphs, then lungs, then skin, then abdomen. I'm on my last legs now, very weak.

I've asked this question about folks who are HER2+, er/pr- not responding to Herceptin and finding something else that works over the course of the last 3 years, and I have yet to find ANYONE who fits that category...

Theresa

StephN · 05-02-2007, 02:10 PM

Hello -

Sorry to read of your plight - your disease seems particularly aggressive.

Are you too weak to try one of the new combinations such as Avastin (a blood supply interrupter) and Abraxane (Form of Taxol delivered in a liposome)?

There are other new drugs if you have a "creative" med onc in a major medical center.

I am hormone neg and have not been able to take any hormonals in my 6+ years of fighting cancer. I was also just post-menopausal at dx, which may make the difference.
Guess I am one of the few hormone neg people who have achieved a long term NED status as Stage IV.

Shell · 05-03-2007, 11:17 AM

Theresa-

I've never responded to herceptin, but I did respopnd initially to cytoxin/epirubicin/taxotere. I also had a great response on xeloda for awhile, but have not done well on my subsequent treatments.... We're tring gemzar/cisplatin/tykerb currently - but it's day 22 and unfortunately I don't feel any better, but obviously we'll give it some more time.

Are you still in the wyeth trial?

Regards,

Lolly · 05-03-2007, 11:37 AM

Teresa,
I'm so sorry you aren't doing well. It's hard to think about new treatments when you're feeling weak, but maybe you can consider the Avastin, as Steph says, or a combo of Avastin and Abraxane.

I'm er/pr-, and am now on Abraxane/Tykerb. I started the weekly Abraxane last week as Tykerb hadn't arrived yet, and can honestly say I had very minimal side effects. I was give Zofran as a precaution but am not sure I'm going to need to continue that. It seems to be not as hard on the blood counts as some other chemo's I've had.

I hope this helps, and at least know that we are here for you on your journey.

<3 Lolly