Stage IV - Herceptin break cuz I wanted it
Good morning everyone -
Just wanted to report in after my 3-month Herceptin break that I took "just because." It worked for me! All my scans and lab work from last week were "just great" in the words of my med onc. My team was thrilled with my results, expecially since I am hormone neg/neg.
My onc left it up to me whether to resume at this time or extend my break. Keep in mind that this break was taken after being on Herceptin for FIVE solid years with no new measurable tumor activity apart from the two in my brain in 2003/04.
My life has been turned upside down with my father STILL in the cardiac ICU after almost 8 weeks. His staph infection is improving and they are trying to get him off the ventilator and breathing on his own after the infection moved into his lungs. Because of all this agonizing stress and heartbreak I have asked to resume my Herceptin and will have a loading dose next Wed. My team thinks this is wise under the circumstances, if only for prophylactic reasons.
My Dexa bone density scan showed good results and med onc sees no need to have any Zometa or other bone builder for while. My spine score is 118% of age matched normal values, but my hips and femoral necks are the 90's and 80's precentiles respectively. Need that vitamin D if I can ever get out of the hospital corridors! Thought you would like to know this is a better outcome than the Dexa scan I had just after completing Adriamycin, Taxotere and rads 6 years ago, when I was reading at 79% of age matched normal. Went on Fosamax after that.
I WILL have a colonoscopy done soon as they are now doing them at my cancer center. Had one 5 years ago and this one will be for the reason that people with one cancer are a greater risk for another cancer. Better safe than sorry.
On the subject of BREAST MRI's, and my cancer center was a leader in the research in which I participated, it is still not recommended in general and I will stick to the other new digital imaging they have.
TROVAX vaccine trial at the U of W is getting back on track and should start enrolling in the near future. I will be contacted at that time
__________________
"When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau
Live in the moment.
MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~
Found suspicious lump 9/2000
Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement
Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR -
Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds
36 rads - very little burning
3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum
Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED!
2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa
Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18
All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET
Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying
Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa
Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?)
2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava
2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec.
Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011
STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer
7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones
Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED
2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED.
Same news for 2016 and all of 2017.
Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018.
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