brain mets - Temodar+Sorafenib update

Emmay · 05-08-2007, 07:56 AM

My sister just yesterday had her third monthly MRI since starting the Temodar (a.k.a Temozolomide, an oral chemo that crosses the blood-brain barrier) plus oral antiangiogenesis drug Sorafenib(a.k.a Nexavar) combo treatment, and the good news is there have been no new mets since she started in February! (Prior to that, she had been receiving Cyberknife radiosurgery every 2-3 months, as 2-3 new mini-mets would appear by the 2nd monthly MRI i.e. the Cyberknife treatment worked well on detected mets, but new lesions where still showing up, and she had already received Whole Brain Radiation in Nov'04).

She is feeling well on this treatment, with the side effects being minor (controllable) occasional nausea and diarrhea, decreased appetite from the Sorafenib (she has lost 12 lbs since Feb 1), and her hair is thinning slowly, unlike the quick loss when she had AC+T chemo before in '03-'04. She works out at Curves every morning, walks her dog, gets out with friends and drives her two boys to their activities. She, her husband and the boys just had a great vacation in Florida.

Her neuro-oncologist and oncology nurse say they are starting to see more positive responses to the Temodar/Sorafenib combo treatment in people with brain mets (from breast cancer, melanoma, and others). The Herceptin my sister gets every 3 weeks is keeping the rest of her body clear, and now, at last, an effective treatment that crosses the blood-brain barrier.

hutchibk · 05-08-2007, 10:11 AM

Thanks Emmay - this is more good news for those of us just tackling the brain mets issues... My doc is not ready to turn to Temodar just yet, but we have been keeping it in our back pocket for future reference.

Emmay · 05-08-2007, 10:29 AM

I forgot to mention that my sister participated in an early Lapatinib (aka Tykerb) trial Feb-April '05, and while it did not work for her then, it was making a difference for some other patients. I would think Tykerb would be a better early systemic treatment choice for brain mets because it is targeted at Her2+bc, and is generally better tolerated.

Joy · 05-08-2007, 01:33 PM

Thanks for letting us know all of this information Emmay. It sounds like your sister is handling this with grace and vigor. I will hope for great results in the next round of scans.

pattyz · 05-08-2007, 04:32 PM

Emmay,

this is the most wonderful news to hear about your sister!! I am just delighted for her... and all of her family, too, ofcourse

) so happy!

And thank you for posting this great news so that others can store this info away re: your sisters tx's for her brain mets.

I'll need to do a bit more looking to print out something for my own onc on the Nexavar part of her treatment... Next Mri on this Thurs, appt w/ onc next Monday....

hugs to you and your sis! xoxoxo
patty