where are we going

[arati]

i was diagnosed with metastasis in the lungs,bone with malignant nodes in jan..was on a weekly dose of only herceptin for ten weeks as part of a clinical trial..the ct scan showed that it was working beautifully but i developed breathlessness..tests revealed that the cancer had reached the lungs..went on to a combination of navelbine and herceptin for 12 cycles which is std practice in india.. the lungs had greatly cleared and the liver and nodes all seem better.. unfortnately the bone scan shows a spread since when i started the herceptin.. the doc advises three months rest with just a monthly shot of herceptin and zometa and tests again after three months...can someone tell me what this means... shd i stop herceptin .. had a tough time with the navelbine as it lowered my count except for platelets well below limit... i hv a spread in many places in the bones//where does it go from here...also read an article that has made me stop intake of any dairy products as read that this helps the spread..is that true

[Lolly]

Arati,
It sounds to me as if your onc feels you need a "rest" from the chemo to let your blood counts improve enough to hit the bone mets again in a few months. In the meantime, he's going to keep you on Herceptin to help keep the other areas stable, and is adding Zometa to help prevent fractures from the mets while you gain strength for another round. If you feel uncertain about his course of treatment, is it possible to get a second opinion? I would feel uneasy in your situation and would be asking "why no chemo to fight the bone mets". I also would NOT go off Herceptin at this point, as it can work to keep things stable, and of course with chemo is much more effective than either chemo or Herceptin alone.
I hope this helps, and it's really good news you had such a good response on the lung and liver mets with the Navelbine/Herceptin combo, but it is hard on the blood counts. I've been having to have Arenesp to help maintain my red blood counts while on this combo, but the white cells are a problem, I sometimes only get a half-dose of Navelbine because of low white cells. I know there is also a shot given to stimulate the white blood cells, but have never had it. Others on this site have mentioned getting it, these are good questions for your onc to answer... Again, hope this helps.
Love, Lolly