Not Good News

[Linda in Calif]

Hi Everyone: I posted awhile back that my Mom suddenly developed fluid in her one lung and the Drs. were trying to figure out what the problem was. They have done numerous tests but came up with nothing. She elected to go ahead and have the Talc Proceedure done. Her surgery was today and the Dr. found 3 small areas that he said looked "suspicious" to him. He biopsied them and we won't have the results for 3 or 4 days but he is already talking chemo...not a good sign. My Mom is 78 and she had breast cancer 12 years ago on the same side...had lumpectomy and radiation. If it indeed is a reoccurance of the original BC I want her to have it tested for the HER2 gene. My question is this...can she just take Herceptin with no other chemo drugs or is the best treatment a combination of drugs? I'm thinking of the quality of her life and it seems to me that if she could do just herceptin and get a positive response that would be best. I know that I am jumping the gun a little here because we don't have the pathology results yet but I would like to go in "armed" with information when we talk to the Dr. Thanks to All of You, Linda

[celina]

Hi Linda,
So sorry to hear about your mother. I wish I could tell you what to suggest...but I hear what you're saying about "quality of life". I guess that at this stage of her life, it's important to weight all options carefully.
Good luck with your decision and please keep us posted.

[Lolly]

Dear Linda,
I hate to hear this news, but knowing your mother has you, and incidentally all of us here, behind her should give her a great advantage in tackling this head-on.
I think a lot depends on your mother's attitude, whether to treat palliatively or aggressively.
But keep in mind that the new therapy protocols for metastatic disease are oftentimes much easier to tolerate than what we went through for primary disease, and may give her very good quality of life while also extending her life a great deal.
Keep us posted on the pathology results, and give her a BIG HUG from me.
Love, Lolly

[Kathy]

Hi Linda,
If your mother is HER2 positive, it is possible she could have Herceptin alone or with an estrogen blocker if appropriate--which would probably be easily tolerated. I have been on this regime for the past 2 years for bone and lung recurrance with resultant stability of disease. Good luck!

[cathyb]

Linda - sorry your mom has to go through all this and I really hope she comes through everything with flying colors. I have heard that herceptin works very well in concert with other chemo agents and is usually well tolerated depending on what they decide to use and I hope this is the case with her. I would love to know how she did with the talc procedure as I am possibly facing this as well. If you can provide any info, I would really appreciate it. Good luck to her!!!