PLEASE, I NEED MY SISTERS -Bad news just before the holidays.

[MichelleH]

Had a CT scan today because of some pain & pressure in the abdomen for the past week. The scan showed tumor(s) growth in the liver (old & new) and also in the bones. Can't believe Tykerb & Xeloda has stopped working for me already. I think I only felt good for about 2 mos. I started T/X in June. Doctor has said a few weeks ago that I was running out of options. I know there is still Carboplatin, Taxoterre (sp?) and Gemzar. Can anyone think of any other meds or procedures I might want to suggest to the doc. I would appreciate any suggestions and a lot of prayers.

Thank you.

I love you all.

Michelle

[caya]

Dear Michelle,

I can't offer any treatment suggestions, but I'm sure some of the gals will. I will say prayers for you, and wish you and your family a happy Thanksgiving.

all the best
caya

[swanky]

Michelle - have you been tested for BRCA? If you are positive then you qualify for the PARP trials that are cropping up. When I signed up for the trial they did the test for free and I had my results within 2 weeks.

Sorry for the crappy news just before thanksgiving! PM me if you have any questions!

Hugs!
Leea

[tousled1]

Michelle,

Sorry to hear your news and I know that around the Holiday season the last thing any of us wants is bad news. I'm not sure if you've tried the Taxene drugs yet - Taxatere, Taxol, and Abraxane. I had good results with Taxatere and am now having good results with Taxol. I'm also taking Carboplatin. Don't worry you are not running out of options -- there are plenty more chemo combos out there. I think it's just a matter of finding out which one and in what combination will work for you. I'll keep you in my prayers.

[lexigirl]

Michelle,

Yes, please don't lose hope. The right combination of tx needs to be found to smash those cancer cells to smithereens! I am sorry that you received this news, but I know that there will be a tx to help.

Hugs and Prayers,
Lexi

[Julie2]

Hi Michelle,

The heat shock protien(hsp) seems to be promising. Please se StephN's thread about it. Please don't loose courage.Best wishes for you.

Julie

[Becky]

Besides Abraxane and Taxotere (which have great synergistic effects with Herceptin), there is also Avastin (inhibits blood vessel growth within the tumor). Also, have you ever considered getting your tumor tested for Her1 (aka EGFR). There are many oral drugs targeted against Her 1 (Taresva, Erivista etc).

You are NOT out of options yet!! Keep the faith.

Love and a big hug.

[Joe]

Michele,
You may wish to consider the Herceptin-DM1 trial. It is being discussed in the clinical trials section of this board.

Regards
Joe

[dhealey]

Michelle, Sorry for your bad news, please do not give up the fight or hope. I know there is a combination out there to help you. I will be saying special prayers for you and your family

[KellyA]

Michelle,

I am so sorry that you have gotten disappointing news before the holidays. They're are many more combinations of meds to try- please don't lose hope. You and your family are in my prayers.

Love, Kelly

[Mary Anne in TX]

Hi Michelle!
What rotten news! But there are more options. Take a few days to be with your family and friends at Thanksgiving and then write those who suggested options that you can try and gather more info. You fight, girl! You're one of the warrior good guys! I'll be praying for you! God bless you, mary anne

[Faith in Him]

Michelle.

Don't give up hope. I'm sure the women here will come up with some great suggestions. Please know that I am praying hard for you.

Hugs

[SoCalGal]

Michele,
Just had a consult with Dr Linea Chap in Santa Monica, CA (Lee Rosen is her partner - they are pretty well known - from UCLA) and she told me about a clinical trial they are running using this KOS1022, herceptin and adding in something else - a chemo - for me she suggested doxel.

She did not do a hard sell, or make a bunch of promises and I haven't even researched it or finished getting opinions from the others, but thought I'd share what she said so far, in case you think it could help you. I did a quick google search, the drug is made by KOSAN.

I cut and pasted a couple of things below. --Flori


http://www.pharmadd.com/archives/Nov_2006/HT_Heat_Shock_and_Awe.asp

The company also has an on-going Phase II trial testing tanespimycin in combination with Herceptin in Her2/neu-positive breast cancer.
http://www.fightprostatecancer.org/site/News2?id=5379&page=NewsArticle
But the early results were another boon to Kosan, which has been conducting clinical trials of its 17-AAG formulation called KOS-953 and a next-generation Hsp90 inhibitor called KOS-1022 with the National Cancer Institute, its key development partner.

[lilyecuadorian]

Michel and Flori , sometimes is a sad news like progression or others worst but in the same time there so much hope for us ...this clinical trail give me more hope and I sure it will to My dear Michele and it is more clinical trials and drugs that we can try ..too many I'm on Trastuzumab-MCC-DM1 and I will have some news this Dec 13 ...so just keep the fight and try other options ....but Don't never give up ...

[Joan M]

Michelle,

I'm sorry to hear about your news, but other options are out there.

You should mention those mentioned here to your oncologist.

Besides that, have you thought about getting a second opinion?

Can you get yourself to U Mich, for example?

You are in my prayers.

[Adriana Mangus]

Dear Michelle: I'm sorry to hear the news about the liver. I will keep you in my prayers...Am sure there is something the doctors can give you to kick the cancer out of your liver...Other sisters in this site have had it and are clear now... Stay positive. Hugs

[Adriana Mangus]

Dear Flori:

Nice pic! I should have though of that before my husband's stroke...I have not posted in a long time, because of husband's medical issues. He's reciving physical, occupational and speech therapy at a facility near the house- less than five miles, so I get to see him everyday, sometimes twice a day. He will be coming home hopefully soon, he's progressing on these therapies. I miss him terribly, he was allowed to come home yesterday, just for the day to celebrate Thanksgiving with my daughter and I. It was fun. Nice to see you are doing great...Hugs..


P.S. La La land??? Did you decide to go incognito after Nicole's, Britney's and all those scandalous creatures who live up there?? :-)

[dajawood]

Michelle,
Boy, your message hit home with me. I also was dx with mets to liver and bones in Aapril 07. MD Anderson prescribed Taxotere/Herceptin. It worked for a few months and I had heck on the Taxotere. The Herceptin was not working so the doc changed in October to Herceptin and a clinical trial drug to jump-start it. The tests showed that there was progress...but for how long? Sorry, I don't have any suggestions for you being a "newbee" to the cancer world. I have read that Tykerb and Xeloda (sp?) has had some success. I am sure I will be in your shoes before too much longer wondering what next? You are in my prayers.

[hutchibk]

At the Metastatic Breast Cancer Conference at MD Anderson last weekend, they showed very compelling evidence about the superior efficacy of Abraxane over Taxol (both are paclitaxel, but Abraxane is suspended in solvent-free nanoparticle including Albumen. It makes it less toxic and more bio-available to the body.)

This article is from 2005, but it echos what the MDA docs were saying last weekend. http://professional.cancerconsultants.com/news.aspx?id=35121

They also talked alot about Ixempra (ixabepilone) and it's potential...
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/85726.php

Maybe ask your doc about these options...

[MichelleH]

I just want to thank you all for your suggestions, prayers and encouragement. I will take into the doc's off the list of drugs suggested by all of you lovely people. I think that a second opinion would also be another great idea. U of M is about a 4 hr drive south from home but would be well worth the drive.
I have not given up. I have always told my husband that I will fight till there is no fight left in me. And all I have to do to remind myself of this is just look into the eyes of my small children and know that they need me around for a very long time.
So I say thank you to Joe and all of you lovely ladies for responding to my post and my time of need. I love you all.

Love and big hugs right back,

Michelle,

[Leslie's sister]

Michelle:
You lots of great suggestions here. I can't add any more incite. Just wanted to let you know that you have prayers here in So. California.
Lisa

[Believe51]

Morning My Shining Star. I was sad to hear your post because as you know Ed is in that same spot. The Taxotere/Herceptin was working and we were almost at NED until the damn cancer outsmarted the regime. Forget the Tykerb/Xeloda, his numbers skyrocketed and there was progression (we know that it DOES work for some and those it does not work for, IT DOES NOT WORK!!)=that goes with any regime though. I liked the fact that it was working for you at one point. Try for the second opinion. Do not let anyone rob you of HOPE because we are your friends and WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE NOT EXHAUSTED YOUR OPTIONS YET!!!

Do not lose hope just yet My Star, there are many combinations that you have not tried yet. There are many clinical studies about to be born to the public soon. Remember that I love you and miss your voice. I have not spoken to you in while because I thought you needed some time to find out answers and what direction you were headed to and now I realize that was a mistake (and I should have found out by you, not your post!=my bad). I am so sorry that you had to find out news like this before the holidays again. We will be right here for you, but I guess I knew that once I read your post. keep heart. We will speak soon.>>Believe51

[runtolive]

get yourself back to the doctor and ask him or her about TRASTUZUMAB-MCC-DM1.. its herceptin plus a toxin to kill the cancer.... its in phase 1 and phase 2 trials..
phase1 .. once a week.. and phase 2 .. every 3 weeks... lily , barb , marsha, and chrisy.. are all on this and doing great.. barb has bone mets that have totally stopped hurting...

runtolive