New to Group

[dmarra]

I am new to this forum and have just been diagnosed with Breast Cancer again. In November of 2003, I had a mastectomy, 33 lymph nodes removed with 29 having cancer. I was HER2 postive strong. I received dose dense chemo and 38 rounds of radiation.

Now a year after treatment, I through the grace of God had a new blood test done with the Mary Crowley Medical Research Foundation called the CellFinder. It showed me still having cancer cells, then a Pet Scan, then a bone scan. Now I am confirmed to have lesians on the T3 vertibrae, a large node under my other arm and several lesians on the sternum and between the sacrum and lungs by the trachea.

The trial they are telling me to consider is Perifonsine and Herceptin.

Are there people out there that have gone through this treatment?

Blessings,
Mindy Bradley
Texas

[*_Martha_*]

So sorry to hear about the relapse Mindy. I have not heard of the first medication you mentioned but will surely be looking into it because I've never heard of it. I am however on Herceptin as many women on here are. I am also participating in a study with IU in Indy. I can say that for me the Herceptin has been very tolerable and doesn't interfere with my daily activities. I don't know how much help that is for you to know but I hope that there is someone else out there who can be of more help to you. Blessing and best wishes. Martha

[*_michele u_*]

Mindy,
I'm sorry to hear about your dx. i too had alot of pos nodes, 34. I was dx about the same time Aug 2003. Today is my 2 year anniversary. I had the Herceptin trial, it sounds like you didn't? I wondered, is the cellfinder like the cellsearch? I'm going to ask my dr is i can run one of those for a base line. Quest labs has it on their list of tests, so i think i can ask for it. If you want to talk please email me. I'm also a nurse, so i can answer alot of your question. mulmer@mainstaycomm.net

[StephN]

There is a little mixup in the spelling:
The name PERIFOSINE retuned 107 web sites by using Google on AOL.

It is a new class of anticancer drug that is in clinical trials. Does not seem to have come onto our "radar screen" at this site before.

The pages I looked at seem to show some good results with this drug.
But you have to have the correct spelling!

[*_Judy_*]

Mindy,

Sorry to hear about your recurrence. I don't have any info on the drugs you mentioned.

Could you please tell us more about this CellFinder test and also could you please give me some contact info at Mary Crowley Medical Research Foundation to do this test.

Thank you

Judy

[dmarra]

Thank you for the correct spelling. I added a "N".

[shaeff]

Hi dmarra,

I am very curious about the cellfinder machine. Do you have any info on it.

As far as your question I found an EMAIL from someone who was using it. I don't know for what cancer and what dose but it may be helpful.

"I have been on perifosine from Nov '03 phase II trial. The first six to eight weeks were tough (i.e.) sick feeling. I found taking the two tablets during the evening meal was the best for me, after the first 2 months I was able to tolerate the perifosine. I go in for monthly check up and receive the next month supply. What information are you seeking? Check out, www.keryx.com, for additional information. In addition, you may want to look at OSI pharmaceuticals and Telik pharmacuticals, for other promising cancer canditate drugs."

This was about 1 year ago.

Here is another EMAIL from May 2005.

"I have determined that the drug is also called KRX-0401 (Perifosine), and that it is made by a company called Keryx Biopharmaceuticals. All the rest of the data I am finding is more about the release of the drug than what answers I am searching for -- results, the side affects, how sick the drug is making the patients and if that is worth trying to go ahead with this or better to just allow them to be comfortable during their last days with us?"

I believe both of these were looking at it for lung cancer.

Good luck,

Shaeff