Lung mets are growing!!!!

[Amy]

After 3 months of Xeloda plus herceptin my lung mets have gotten bigger! My Onc is steering me toward Navelbine alone. Can anyone share their experience and give their thoughts on this treatment as far as the synergistic aspect with any other cancer therapy?? Or is taking this by itself effective enough??? I'm running out of options here. Surrendering to the fact that herceptin isn't a miracle drug for me is difficult. Any comments will be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks and God Bless,

Amy

[Lolly]

Amy, I am currently on my THIRD round of Navelbine/Herceptin for lymph node mets since 2001. Each six month course of Navelbine COMBINED with Herceptin has beaten the disease back enough to allow me to continue on Herceptin solo until another recurrence, when we add Navelbine again. Navelbine is very synergistic with Herceptin, whereas Xeloda, while a good drug, is only additive when combined with Herceptin. I believe you need to show your onc some study results of the Navelbine/Herceptin combo and discuss stayin on Herceptin with Navelbine for a trial period. Herceptin is a great drug, but some of us need it in combo with the right chemo to get optimum results. I'll post some links for you shortly.

<3 Lolly

[Lolly]

Complete Results of Phase II Trial of Navelbine plus Herceptin for Her2 Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer Published in The Oncologist
Authors report 78 percent overall response rate and 17 months median time to progression with investigational combination

http://www.gsk.com/press_archive/press_10282002.htm

[StephN]

in combination with Taxol and Herceptin. This combo beat back my raging liver mets and got me to NED over 3 years ago. Been able to maintain on Herceptin and Zometa since that time.
Often we have to "get tough" and give the cancer all we can. The three-pronged approach took out the cancer cells in different ways. They worked at different points in cell division and the Herceptin grabbed onto the other cells to keep them from dividing until apoptosis or cell death occurs.
Different drugs act on the cells a little differently and I wanted to kill as many as possible as they get to dividing at a furious rate.

The oncs get all woosy about not wanting to give us too much at once, but that may be the only way to kill enough of the cancer to give ourselves a fighting chance. I took the three drugs weekly for 27 treatments and am doing just fine now.
If you want my doc's name so yours can talk to him, I will gladly give it. he is highly respected around the country.

[Lolly]

July 29, 2003
Targeted drug combination found effective in treating specific form of metastatic breast cancer
http://www.dana-farber.org/abo/news/pressarchive/072903.asp

[Lolly]

Results from second phase II trial suggest synergistic effects of navelbine in combination with herceptin for Her2 positive metastatic breast cancer

http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older/2001/B/200112369.html

[Amy]

Lolly,

Thank you so much for your quick response! In these times of uncertainty it's so nice to touch and be touched by those who truly understand.

[Amy]

Thanks Steph,

Would you please give me your Onc's name. Thanks for your help!!

[StephN]

He is Dr. Robert Livingston at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance in Seattle.
Dr. L. is a breast cancer specialist - I think that is all he has ever done. He trained at MD Anderson in Houston and has been here at Fred Hutchinson/University of Washington for many years. I know that he does consult with other docs as I know some ladies from this board whose docs have talked with him.

I know that I am not the only patient with difficult mets he has successfully treated - have made friends with some others who are doing well at keeping their cancer under control, if not fully NED. He will be in San Antonio next week as he goes to all the major cancer meetings to stay on top of the latest in his field.

Hope you can get on a plan that will knock the socks off those lung mets.
There is a new version of Adriamycin called Doxil that also might be considered.

[Amy]

Thanks so much Steph!!!

[Patty D]

Hi Amy- you did not mention if this is mets from another primary or what.
I was dx with mets to my lungs (stage 4) 3 years ago after an 8 yr remission from breast ca(-stage 2.) I was also HER2+++, so my onc put me on Taxotere and Herceptin. I took the Taxotere every 3 weeks and the Herceptin weekly.
The mets to my lungs was considerable, paralyzing my vocal cords and partially my diaphragm. Bottom line- after 4 mo of treatment, all of the affected nodules and the tumor that was blocking my vocal cords were obliterated! All my follow up scans have been clear. Hope this helps and God Bless..Patty D

[Patty H]

I have been dealing with lung mets over 3 years now. I have tried most of the chemos. Navelbine was the easiest for me. Right now I am off chemo and trying novalis radiation to the large met that insist on growing. I just finished treatment 14 and hqve 19 to go. Patty H

[jojo]

I remember that you were one of the others that were going down a similar path as mine, since we all were taking Xeloda & Herceptin.

My onc doesn't think that Xeloda is working for me neither. She just wants me to try one more cycle, as I have done only 1 cycle of the upped dosage (3,000mg). Side effects are very minimal.

So, if that is the case (we will decide in 2 weeks from now), I suspect that it would be Navelbine next. I'm pretty sure that she would also want me to keep on the maintenance Herceptin.

I have heard good success with Navelbine for several patients. It's also tolerable.

BTW, does Navelbine cause hair loss and/or affect blood counts?

Amy, sending good thoughts your way!

[lu ann]

I was on navelbine for about 3 months. It does affect blood counts, but no hair loss. Blessings, Lu Ann

[Amy]

Jojo,
It's sad but nice to know I'm not alone. It is so very disheartening when our cancer doesn't want to respond to treatment. Do you have lung mets as well?
I won't start navalbine for another 2 weeks because my family and I are going to Mauii!!....and I didn't want to start a new drug, not knowing how I'm going to react, and being far away from my Onc...you know? So around the 15th of December I will start my new course. I think I'm also going to have a port put in.....I've heard that Navelbine is hard on the ol' veins. Anyway , please keep in touch with me. Feel free to e-mail me anytime.
God Bless and take care,

Amy

[jojo]

Yes, I have lung mets. I started out with only 2 things: one 6mm spot in left, 2-3mm pleural effussion in right. Started on Xeloda 2,500mg.

After the 1st follow-up, my supraclav nodes shrunk, the effusion was completely gone; however the same old 6mm spot grew to 9mm. AND there are 2 other spots that are suspicious (very, very tiny spots).

At this point, I don't show any symptoms from that, like dry coughing or tight chest, nothing. But I am getting fatigued as of late. Been throwing in a quickie nap during my afternoons (if you would call an almost 3-hour nap a "quickie"!).

Hands & feet are doing fine, just mostly skin discoloring (getting darker skin).

I will find out the status of Xeloda efficiacy on Wed, Dec 14 with my onc. That's the day before you take off for Maui.

You are welcome to drop me an email anytime: acrobaticfan@yahoo.com

Send me a postcard from the sun paradise! :-) Have a good time!

[michele u]

Amy,

has your onc mentioned any of the new radiation tx's they do for lung cancers now? It's what they use on liver mets, but now for the lung. Maybe someone reading this could find a link for you.

[Amy]

Thanks Michele,
No she hasn't. If anyone out there has any info on this, please pass it on. I greatly appreciate it.
God Bless,
Amy

[Unregistered]

Food for thought. Mice and not people and no cell line given in article but interesting.


RB

http://www.xagena.it/news/medicinenews_net_news/ca0226c1b273bb50a210ba4a8db4ce8c.html


Abstract

.............."Though the study results are early, researchers found that the nontoxic natural substance not only repelled progression of the disease to the lungs, but also appeared to reverse the effects of Paclitaxel ( Taxol ), a commonly prescribed chemotherapy for breast cancer that may trigger spread of the disease with use over a long period of time.

Because Taxol is so toxic, it activates a protein that produces an inflammatory response that induces metastasis. Curcumin suppresses this response, making it impossible for the cancer to spread. In fact, researchers found that adding curcumin to Taxol actually enhances its effect. Curcumin breaks down the dose, making the therapy less toxic and just as powerful while delivering the same level of efficacy".............