bone scan results Help please.....

[tammymarie1971]

Hi...I received bone scan results yesterday...the report said significant progression...I know have a spot on my sternum and my left hip..these are new...I still have spots on the spine however the onc said that the bone scan can't show if these are healed spots or active spots...so he sent me for an x-ray... I knew something was up as the pain has increased and tumor markers were climbing. My onc said he is not overly concerned he didn't even tell me about the new spots or that the report said that my hip lesion puts me at an increased risk for fracture! I had the nurse show me the report!! I'm a little bummed that after 8 treatments of herceptin/zometa there wasn't better results! The previous scan was done in May'05. I asked about navelbine but the onc said he's not ready to give it yet..He said zometa sometimes takes while to do it's job..

Does anyone else have similar experiences? My tumor marker was down a bit this time from 72 to 66. I did do the z-pack that Gina suggested..I'm wondering if I should do it again??
I also have Mexico still in my thoughts..The Doctor there has the approach of treating the compromised immune system and getting the system super healthy. I asked my onc about it and he said I could go and it wouldn't interfere with things here..The Doctor in Mexico (who my Faither-in-law sees) says to keep going with the treatments here. I really think I don't have anything to lose at this point. Gina had said no hydrogen peroxide therapy I'm not sure why?? I would also have extensive chelation therapy in Mexico. Which flushes all toxins and heavy metals from the system..I don't know>>> Any words of wisdom??? I sure could use them now.
Thanks all,

So I am wondering do I ask for Navelbine to be added to my herceptin or do I check out clinical trials for stem cell transplant at City of Hope or do I bite the bullet and try the therapies offered in Mexico...I could really use some advice!!
Tammy

[StephN]

Dear Tammy -
Your situation concerns me.
I have a friend who has a similar problem - she had mets in her bones and a few small ones in her liver. They tried the Arimedex/ Zometa approach. She is not HER positive, and progressed. By the time two months had passed everything was worse. She tried taxol with the others, but was still progressing. Her markers shot to the sky.

By NOT getting an effective chemo right away she lost her chance to win her battle. She is in hospice now and does not have long.

One onc that gave a second opinion recommended Doxil, but she was really too weak to want to try it by that time. All this took a period of several months, but in the meantime her disease really became stubborn and took hold.

If you are progressing, it is time to try some proven chemo therapy and give a good jolt to your mets. There are other ways to bolster your immune system, which at this point, does not seem adequate to kill the cancer.

Please keep in mind that cancer cells are the hardest cells of all to kill. Our bodies need major help to get it under control, as they are also very fast dividing and multiply faster than most of our other cells. We cannot afford to give the cancer any more advantage.

Good wishes to you as you choose what to do.