Well - here I go again

[michka]

Irene,
I am sad about this bad news. After all you went through you have to go back into the battle. Although you are a great warrior, it must be very difficult. I hope you can get several opinions from the Doctors that have been suggested. I send you love and strength. Michka

[Believe51]

Sorry about the progression, all words we cannot stomach to hear. You are a very special lady and I pray that your next move will knock those cells into a fiery death!! Take that you cancer cells; you are messing with our Irene now and you do not know what a fighter she really is!! Continued prayers for those next moves and hoping you find solace on this part of your journey. Just another chapter Irene, time to turn the page on those cells and add a happy ending! Lots of love and continued support.>>Believe51

[PinkGirl]

Hi Irene

I am not qualified to offer any advice on chemo combinations,
but I wish for you all the strength, courage and conviction
you will need to make these upcoming decisions.
I am happy that others have made so many promising
suggestions.

I am sending you good vibes and best wishes from the
far north....good luck.... onward and upward!!!

[Verna]

Irene,
Have you checked with MD Anderson in Orlando? I see a local onc here in Tampa, and follow up every 3 months after scans with an onc at MD Anderson. They seem to work miracles there.
Who do you see here in Tampa if you don't mind me asking.

Verna-

[kareneg]

Hi Irene,

I was thinking of the new drug Ixempra also. As you I have also used a lot of treatments. Just Know I am praying that you find the right treatment and kick butt!

[IRENE FROM TAMPA]

I was so excited to see someone from Tampa also.

I was going to ask you the same thing.

I go to Bay Area Oncology and my doctor is Dr. Chris. George.

He was my orig. onc. and then I transferred to Moffitt. I came back to Dr Onc. last year when they put me on the Tykerb/Xeloda trial.
I did great on that for a year until this Sept.

Thanks let me know where you go.

[StephN]

Irene -
My dear friend we know you are anything but a quitter, so will be watching as you go this next round of battle.

It seems to me that there must be something in your tumor biology that is missed and why you can't get free of mets. Have you ever had the oncotype DX test or other?

Maybe someone like Dr. Pegram would be able to help you in this regard.

I am sending you all best healing wishes for the energy to cope with this new problem.

[Verna]

Irene,

I go to Gulfcoast Onc (St.Josephs), Dr. David Wright. But I also see Nakita Shah at MD Anderson in Orlando every 3 months after scans. They are both great Dr's.,I love them both.

Have you ever heard of the "Pink Dragon Ladies"? We promote health & fitness here
in the Tampa Bay area (downtown behind the University of Tampa), dragon boat racing team, and we are all cancer survivors mostly b/c survivors. We would love for you to join us. If you are interested, let me know.

I do hope and pray you will find the right treatment to put the monster back in check.

Verna-

[Barbara H.]

Hi Irene,
I saw my oncologist who is treating me for this trial. I told him about you and he said that you would not be limited by the treatment you have had to qualify for the trial I am on. I am on a weekly phase 1 trial of this drug that is testing a higher dose. The trial that Lily is on is given every three weeks, is phase two, and has different criteria. It is an offshoot of the the previous stage 1 trial. I would suggest investigating this drug. All of the patients at Dana Farber are doing well on it. My oncologist presented at San Antonio.
I am doing well. My scans look great and my bone scan indicated that the bones are healing. Both of my tumor markers are now normal. CEA is now 1.7.
Best wishes,
Barbara H.

[Lolly]

Barbara, are there other sites doing the Phase I that you're on? Closer to the west coast would be so cool! It's really exciting that you're doing well, CEA normal, bones healing. Wow. I'm hoping to be able to get on it, if not in trial then asap.

<3 Lolly

[chrisy]

Irene,

I've been thinking of you a lot, and how you are again searching for new solutions. Sounds like the Herceptin DM1 might be a possibility, and you certainly have access to the best doctors (including yours who seems endlessly creative and really works hard on your behalf). I heard a discussion in San Antonio on the H-DM1 in which the researcher was saying this agent was great against cancer but in the past it had been TOO TOXIC to use. Now attaching it to the Herceptin (like a guided missile) they could finally use it to benefit patients

I remember your post OVER a year and a half ago which I think was titled "running out of options". Followed by your pioneering with tykerb/xeloda which gave you a longer run than you'd seen in many years.

Here's hoping that you will find an even better weapon this time around.

Much love and many blessings to you, my friend.
Chris

[Vanessa]

I can't give you any better advice than anyone else has, but just know I am thinking of you and praying for you. It sounds like you are in good hands. Keep up the battle!

[dhealey]

Irene, so sorry to hear of your progression. Wishing you a miracle cocktail for christmas. Will keep you in my prayers. Keep the faith and don't give up on hope. The two basics for life. God Bless!

[IRENE FROM TAMPA]

Merry Xmas everyone - as I look out of my window this Christmas morning and everything looks so "peaceful" outside - if only.....

but it is TODAY and that is what counts. Hope everyone's Christmas is a joyous one.

Chrisy - yes, only a year ago I was at the same scary place thinking I had reached the end of my options, but there was Tykerb/Xeloda and I did well on it.

I am sure something else will be there now also. Just keeping the faith.

I checked on the trial for the Heceptin DM-1 as everyone suggested and on the Phase II trial I am excluded of course due to my having had more then 3 chemos. I checked with Dana Farber for the Phase I which did not have this exclusion but their trial is full.

So for now the best I can do is PRAY that they fast track this one for approval quickly. Meantime I will be beginning on Heceptin/Avastin/Taxotere on Friday and hope this carries me for a while.
I will keep checking on other options though.

I thank everyone on this board for their knowledge which has led me to so many new options.

May everyone's day be peaceful and safe as you enjoy this time with your families.

Merry Christmas .....

[runtolive]

IRENE.. here is a list of sites in florida ...

for those interested.. the once a week trial for trastuzumab-dm1 sites in florida..

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=header3 noWrap colSpan=5>United States, Florida</TD></TR><TR><TD class=spacer><TD class=body3 noWrap colSpan=2>Florida Cancer Care </TD><TD class=spacer><TD class=header3 noWrap>Recruiting</TD></TD></TD></TR><TR><TD class=spacer><TD class=body3 noWrap colSpan=5> Davie, Florida, United States, 33328 </TD></TD></TR><TR><TD class=spacer><TD class=body3 noWrap colSpan=5> Contact: Joel Espinoza 954-262-7606 crc@flcancercare.com </TD></TD></TR><TR><TD class=spacer><TD class=body3 noWrap colSpan=2>Gulfcoast Oncology Associates </TD><TD class=spacer><TD class=header3 noWrap>Recruiting</TD></TD></TD></TR><TR><TD class=spacer><TD class=body3 noWrap colSpan=5> Saint Petersburg, Florida, United States, 33705 </TD></TD></TR><TR><TD class=spacer><TD class=body3 noWrap colSpan=5> Contact: Margie Blasek 727-821-0017 smyers@gulfcoastoncology.com </TD></TD></TR><TR><TD class=spacer><TD class=body3 noWrap colSpan=2>Hem/Onc Assoc - Treasure Coast </TD><TD class=spacer><TD class=header3 noWrap>Recruiting</TD></TD></TD></TR><TR><TD class=spacer><TD class=body3 noWrap colSpan=5> Port St Lucie, Florida, United States, 34952 </TD></TD></TR><TR><TD class=spacer><TD class=body3 noWrap colSpan=5> Contact: Christine Baker-Gerdes 772-408-5159 cgerdes@hemoncfl.com </TD></TD></TR><TR><TD class=spacer><TD class=body3 noWrap colSpan=2>Bay Area Oncology </TD><TD class=spacer><TD class=header3 noWrap>Recruiting</TD></TD></TD></TR><TR><TD class=spacer><TD class=body3 noWrap colSpan=5> Tampa, Florida, United States, 33607 </TD></TD></TR><TR><TD class=spacer><TD class=body3 noWrap colSpan=5> Contact: Julie Hahn 813-875-2300 ext 28 jhahn@bayareaoncology.com </TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
runtolive

[runtolive]

irene.. phase 1 clinics.are as follows..
they are doing treatment...every week... with fewer restrictions.. but i expect genentech to have a pivotal phase 3 later this fall..
i have to post in sections.. per her2 ??

[runtolive]

The phase I study for trastuzumab-DM1is located at the following institutions:

dr howard burris at sarah cannon research in nashville tn.. hburris@tnonc.com

dr monica mita at Institute for Drug development san antonio tx. mmita@idd.org

dr ian kropp at dana farber in boston mass... ikrop@partners.org
dr shanu modi sloan kettering.. modis@mskcc.org

[Catherine]

Irene,

All the best to you with this new progression. So delighted that there are so many good minds on this site. Glad you have a good mind and a good doctor. I am here as part of the support team.

Hugs from me, Catherine

[jones7676]

I can't offer advice either...I guess I would get another opinion. One thing I do know about Abraxane is that they now follow a new dosing method (3 weeks on, 1 week off) that is 40% more effective (I believe the Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago did the study). I am wondering if they have something similar going with Taxotere or Taxol if they do not want you to do Abraxane again? Whatever your decision/Drs. decision I hope it is right and kicks butt on your recurrence. Good luck.

[runtolive]

http://www.oncology-times.com/pt/pt-...-Jan102008.pdf

link to trastuzumab dm1 article by dr howard burris..
he is running the phase 1 trial for once a week dosing..