update on me

[Julie2]

I just got my recent PET/CT scan results after 2 cycles of Navelbine with Herceptin. The two hilar nodes reduced in SUV from 3.4 to 1.8 and from 3.0 to 1.4 and the mediastinal node is completely resolved. I am totally exhausted and my RBC went very low. This is my 3rd time on Navelbine in two years. Each time I used Navelbine only for 2 or 4 cycles. But this time looks like because of cumulative chemo usage the body was hardly hit.
I am in dilemma now whether to discontinue Navelbine and just stay on Herceptin or use it for 1 more cycle. I had progression after 9 months on Herceptin and Tykerb.
Looking for some non-chemo options. Please suggest any ideas.

Thanks,
Julie

[Becky]

Can you get into the T-DM1 trial. This might be the ticket for you.

[Jackie07]

Have you ever been given the booster shots to increase your blood count? Could you get blood transfusion so you can continue the current treatment since it's working quite well?

Using Herceptin only might be good since the previous effect might continue for a while and you probably will still see more shrinkage without using those chemo drugs.

[ElaineM]

Just thought I would pass along a little tip I used during chemo and Herceptin treatment. I never had to have a blood transfusion or shots to help my blood counts. I never had to skip treatments because my blood counts were too low.
If a person has a good appetite he or she might want to eat more vegetables and fruit, including lots of mushrooms (shitake, reishii, maitake,portabella and plain old white mushrooms) during chemo. These foods help the white blood count.
Good luck. Whatever you decide will be the right choice for you.

[Joan M]

Julie,

Can these nodes be surgically removed? Just wondering.

It seems they're the only areas of metastses.

If your onc says no, it might be worthwhile to ask a thoracic surgeon anyway. A friend from my local bc group had a mammary node removed surgically via her back (the surgeon said it was a "piece of cake"). It was the only area lighting up on PET/CT. She had tried chemo and radiation first, but it wouldn't go away. Afterward the cancer eventually spread to her lung, but that didn't have anything directly to do with the surgery. However, spread might not always be the case.

Surgery might be worth looking in to.

Joan