Update on Hope

[hope]

Well I got the results of CT chest, bone scan, and CT pelvis. All of abdomen OK, bone scan stable execpt for some moderate uptake in upper thoracic spine, onc. wasn't too worried. Well the bad news is that I do have some progression in both lungs. Compared to my other bouts of progression in the lungs the tumors didn't grow as much in the 3 months ~.5cm to 1cm. My two largest tumors are now ~4cm and ~8cm. All of the other small tumors all less than ~1cm did not grow. Symptomwise, I have had more shortness of breath but really no pain. My onc. has also refered me to a pulmonary specialist to go over scans and check my oxygen level for possible oxygen tank use.

My onc. wants to get off Abraxane and try some clinical trials at the cancer center I go to. I am already on a clinical trial for a decadron subsitute drug, which I'm not sure if I'm getting the drug or placebo, to help get rid of this brain edema after a successful Gamma knife to one brain lesion. I don't think you can be on two clinical trials at the same time so that leaves me with trying Xeloda again.

I was originally on Xeloda a year ago but was hospitalized for low electrolites, high fever, and lung infection. Once out of hospital onc decided to put me on Abraxane, that was just FDA approved so I really never failed Xeloda. The only thing is that when I started Xeloda I was put on a very high dose and Al from Canada had mentioned in a post awhile back that the starting dose of Xeloda was set very high. My onc is aware of that and will put me on a lower dose. My onc will talk to the investigator of the other clinical trial I am on to see if it is okay for me to start Xeloda again. Still will be getting Herceptin weekly and Zometa monthy but if I were to be put on any of the new clinical trials for lung mets I would have to get off Herceptin (Scary Thought!). If any of you have suggestions on this, it would be appreciated.

I'm trying to keep a positive attitude on this darn rollercoaster of progression and I at least have some options left and and an onc. that is still fighting the battle with me. I want to thank each and every one of you that continue to pray with me and this wonderful board on which there is a wealth of information. God Bless, Hope

[Sherryg683]

Oh Hope, I am saying a prayer for you at this moment. May they find the right combination to stop those darn lung mets. I am on Xeloda and it pretty much got rid of my lung nodules in 6 weeks, it is a hard drug for me to take but maybe if they find the right dose for you, it won't be so hard...sherryg683