Vicki Z from Calif.
06-01-2004, 12:36 AM
Hi Merridith
Thanks for your story! Yours is the first case that is very much like mine: I was diagnosed in Dec. 2003 with Paget's Disease DCIS and infiltrating ductal carcinoma and 3 negative nodes. I had surgery Jan. 8 2004 with a skin-sparing mastectomy of the right breast and immediate reconstruction (still in progress). My tumor was 1.5 cm.
I feel my med.-onc. probably changed my last FAC to this new combination (Taxol-Herceptin-Carboplatin) due to my own investigations and interest as well as ongoing findings with the American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO)findings being reported at their conference in early June. She may feel I am attempting to kill an ant with an elephant but I feel like it is worth doing at this point.
That's why I was glad you also were going to give herceptin a go because as you stated unlike us many on this board have mets so there remains a question about it and our use of it.
Thanks for sharing the 30% statistic on mets. I had not heard this and that's why I feel it's valuable to connect with people like you. I noticed you also took taxol and I'm satisfied that I'm now being given it after my 5 rounds of FAC " as it seems a number of her2 women get taxol or taxotere in their treatment and all along I was concerned that my FAC was an ""'80s model type of treatment"" and the taxol embraced newer thinker.
Please let me know how everything goes with your clinical trial and when you begin the herceptin and I will stay in touch with you as I'm going through mine.
Your note really does help."
Thanks for your story! Yours is the first case that is very much like mine: I was diagnosed in Dec. 2003 with Paget's Disease DCIS and infiltrating ductal carcinoma and 3 negative nodes. I had surgery Jan. 8 2004 with a skin-sparing mastectomy of the right breast and immediate reconstruction (still in progress). My tumor was 1.5 cm.
I feel my med.-onc. probably changed my last FAC to this new combination (Taxol-Herceptin-Carboplatin) due to my own investigations and interest as well as ongoing findings with the American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO)findings being reported at their conference in early June. She may feel I am attempting to kill an ant with an elephant but I feel like it is worth doing at this point.
That's why I was glad you also were going to give herceptin a go because as you stated unlike us many on this board have mets so there remains a question about it and our use of it.
Thanks for sharing the 30% statistic on mets. I had not heard this and that's why I feel it's valuable to connect with people like you. I noticed you also took taxol and I'm satisfied that I'm now being given it after my 5 rounds of FAC " as it seems a number of her2 women get taxol or taxotere in their treatment and all along I was concerned that my FAC was an ""'80s model type of treatment"" and the taxol embraced newer thinker.
Please let me know how everything goes with your clinical trial and when you begin the herceptin and I will stay in touch with you as I'm going through mine.
Your note really does help."