HonCode

Go Back   HER2 Support Group Forums > Caregivers Corner
Register Gallery FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Caregivers Corner Dedicated to those who support their loved ones.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 01-14-2009, 10:29 AM   #1
Nguyen
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 503
Just need to write something

So I am nervously awaiting my wife's tumour marker result. I usually can't wait for the Doc to call. But can't seem to have the nerve to pickup the phone and call them this time yet.

Linda's treatment history:
10/2008: Fulvestrant, Femara, Herceptin
04/2008 - 09/2008: Herceptin and Exemestane
01/2008: Oophorectomy
01/2005 - 4/2008: Herceptin (readded) and Femara
07/2004: It returned again via several small nodules in the lung
10/2002: NED (via CT and CA27.29)!
10/2001 - 01/2005: Femara, Fosamax
12/2000 - 10/2001: Herceptin and Navelbine
12/2000: lung metastatic was diagnosed (a few small nodules)
02/1998 - 12/2000: Daily Tamoxifen
05/1997 - 04/1998: Modified Radical Mastectomy, many many cycles of chemo
regiments (CAF,Taxol, Carpoplatin, Thiotepa, Navelbine,
Taxotere), including HDC, and radiation
05/1997: First diagnosed with BC stage 3A, ER+, PR+, HER2 +,
poorly differetiated, nuclear grade 3.

Nguyen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2009, 10:52 AM   #2
chrisy
Senior Member
 
chrisy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Central Coast, CA
Posts: 3,207
Definitely can relate to what you're feeling. Don't forget to breathe.
__________________
Chris in Scotts Valley
June 2002 extensive hi grade DCIS (pre-cancer-stage 0, clean sentinal node) Mastectomy/implant - no chemo, rads. "cured?"
9/2004 Diag: Stage IV extensive liver mets (!) ER/PR- Her2+++
10/04-3/05 Weekly Taxol/Carboplatin/Herceptin , complete response!
04/05 - 4/07 Herception every 3 wks, Continue NED
04/07 - recurrence to liver - 2 spots, starting tykerb/avastin trial
06/07 8/07 10/07 Scans show stable, continue on Tykerb/Avastin
01/08 Progression in liver
02/08 Begin (TDM1) trial
08/08 NED! It's Working! Continue on TDM1
02/09 Continue NED
02/10 Continue NED. 5/10 9/10 Scans NED 10/10 Scans NED
12/10 Scans not clear....4/11 Scans suggest progression 6/11 progression confirmed in liver
07/11 - 11/11 Herceptin/Xeloda -not working:(
12/11 Begin MM302 Phase I trial - bust:(
03/12 3rd times the charm? AKT trial

5/12 Scan shows reduction! 7/12 More reduction!!!!
8/12 Whoops...progression...trying for Perjeta/Herceptin (plus some more nasty chemo!)
9/12 Start Perjeta/Herceptin, chemo on hold due to infection/wound in leg, added on cycle 2 &3
11/12 Poops! progression in liver, Stop Perjeta/Taxo/Herc
11/12 Navelbine/Herce[ptin - try for a 3 cycles, no go.
2/13 Gemzar/Carbo/Herceptin - no go.
3/13 TACE procedure
chrisy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2009, 11:08 AM   #3
Believe51
Senior Member
 
Believe51's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: RHODE ISLAND (Ed getting me a latte on 2nd Cancerversary Cruise 2008) 'BELIEVE': To accept as true or real, To have faith in, To presume ALWAYS BELIEVE
Posts: 2,999
Talking

No need to rush to get them right now unless you are checking for a reason. These markers, if she is marker sensitive, will tell you how to proceed whether it be 'relief' or 'further action'. As a caregiver these things have a habit of causing more stress than we already have. Waiting for this, waiting for that, testing....then waiting for results. It is enough to make a sane person crazy. I am so pleased that you needed to talk and you came to your family.

Linda's history is long and her quest to conquer this beast must be tiring for her too. What is happening that she needed the tumor markers checked? Routine?

Please know that I will be wondering how she is doing and praying that things will work out. She will be in thoughts so when you find out what is happening please update us. Prayers to you too, what a blessing it must be that her husband is such an Angel. You two have each other and as simple as that may sound to some, it is all you need. Keep trudging forward and be kind to yourself.

Right now my husband is in spinal radiation for a reoccurence of BC to the spine. On 12/19 he had yet another Gamma Knife procedure. We know he is having a problem right now and I do not even care about his markers. In his situation markers are useless at the moment because we know he has things going on. The markers would not help us at this second but after radiation and follow up MRI of brain & spine we will get another set of markers. We have to check them every 3-4 weeks.

Please let us know how Linda is as soon as you get a chance. I am hoping that this is just a routine for her and that there is nothing happening.
__________________
9/7/06Husband 50yrs=StageIV IBC/HER2+,BoneMets10/06TaxotereX10,'H'1X wk,Zometa,Tamoxifen4/12/07Last Tax5/18/07Pet=Rapid Cell Activity,No Organ Mets,Lytic Lesions,Degeneration,Some Bone Repair5/07ChemoFail6/01/07Pleural Thoracentisis=Effusions,NoMalignantCells6/19/07+7/2/07DFCI
6/25/07BrainMRI=BrainMets,Many<9mm7/10/07WBR/PelvisRad37.5Gx15&Nutritionist8/19/07T/X9/20/07BrainMRI=2<2mm10/6/07Pet=BoneProgression
10/24/07ChemoFail11/9/07A/Cx10,EndTam12/7/07Faslodex12/10/07Muga7512/13/07BlasticLesions1/7/08BrainMRI=Clear4/1/08Pet=BoneImprovement,
NoProgression,Stable4/7/08BrainPerfect5/16/08Last A/C8/26/08BrainMets=10(<9mm)9/10/08Gamma10/30/08Met=5mm12/19/08Gamma5mets5
12/22/08SpinalMets1/14/09SpinalRads2/17/09BrainMRI=NoNewMets4/20/09BoneScan5/14/09Ixempra6/1/09BrainMRI=NumerousMets6/24/09DFCIw/DrBurstein6/26/09Continue
Ixempra/Faslodex/Zometa~TM now lower7/17/09Stop Ixempra By Choice9/21/09HOSPICE10/16/09Earned His Deserved Wings And Halo=37 Month Fight w/Stage 4 IBC, Her2+++,My Hero!!
Believe51 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2009, 12:13 PM   #4
ElaineM
Senior Member
 
ElaineM's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,142
Wink Just need to write something

I am sending positve vibes your way for you and Linda.
Keep putting one foot in front of the other even if you have to do it slowly.
__________________
Peace,
ElaineM
12 years and counting
http://her2support.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=48247
Lucky 13 !! I hope so !!!!!!
http://her2support.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=52807
14 Year Survivor
http://her2support.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=57053
"You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have." author unknown
Shared by a multiple myeloma survivor.
ElaineM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-16-2009, 09:25 AM   #5
Nguyen
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 503
Thank you for all the support. After 10+ years I still didn't do any better in waiting for result. Though I was more nervous this time, since Exemestance failed her after a few months, and we just switch to Fulvestrant. Anyway, the nurse calls back and CA27.29 is about the same as before. So at least the disease is stabilized. I've been spending time updating my battle plan with the latest data from numerous conferences (2008ASCO, 2008SABCS, 2008ESMO, and cases). In case it's of use to someone with similar disease characteristics. The list is an ordered list. Keep in mind that there's no trial for the sequence, though there are data for each combination. AND of course I am not an MD.

Best wishes,

Nguyen
  • 6mg of generic Estradiol therapy :
  • Lapatinib + Capecitabine ;
  • Lapatinib + Trastuzumab
  • Bevacizumab + Trastuzumab (or Lapatinib)
  • Nab Paclitaxel + Bevacizumab (plus Trastuzumab?)
  • Bevacizumab + Fulvestrant (or Letrozole)
  • Trastuzumab + Pertuzumab OR Lapatibib + Pazopanib
  • Trastuzumab-DM1
  • All chemo combination (Oral Vinorelbine and ? OR Trastuzumab+Paclitaxol+Gemcitabine?)
  • Metronomic chemotherapy with a biologic
Nguyen is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 08:59 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright HER2 Support Group 2007 - 2021
free webpage hit counter