About my new Miracle Drug, Eribulen (Halaven)

[Sheila]

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB 10001424052748704111504576059772498413328.html&h=e4e00

[ElaineM]

I am so happy for you Sheila.
Here is another link.
www.halaven.com

[tricia keegan]

I've been following your sucess with this drug on FB too Sheila and so happy for you:)

[StephN]

That article makes clear just how long it took to get from the initial research to patient use - "nearly three decades."

We know this is just ONE of many such research projects out there which may hold even better keys to various disease processes. Hope springs eternal in my mind!

My city is full of biotech companies that pop up like mushrooms! Some "hit" and others go down in flames taking a huge amount of venture capital with them ...

[mmoons]

Sheila-

I am not on Facebook much but you have been in my thoughts recently and in my prayers always.

What exceptional news to hear your are having good results!!! I am so happy to hear this!!

Love,
Maureen

[Ellie F]

Hi Sheila
I am not on facebook either but wanted to send special thoughts that this new drug is helping you to heal so well.

Hugs
Ellie

[KirisMum]

This is so interesting, Sheila. I am captivated by this kind of research and information. So delighted it is working for you. What can we, as laypeople, do to contritribute to and support this line of research? I would love to help in some way.

More power and progress to you!!

[Pam P]

Sheila - It makes me so happy that this new chemo is working so well for you! Pam

[sassy]

Sheila,

Your response to the drug is so exciting! I'm glad that the effectiveness we were "seeing" in San Antonio has continued!

[ElaineM]

Are you taking Halaven with Herceptin or by itself?

[Karen Wheel]

Thank you for sharing - good article - I shared it just now on Facebook from my page.

Let us know how you are doing - I am also curious about Herceptin if you are taking this with this new drug...

Karen

[Sheila]

Thank you all for all the support, I would not be where i am without each and every one of you... for those who asked, yes, I am taking it with Herceptin...I get the Eribulen day 1 and day 8, then skip a week, and get the Herceptin every 3 weeks.....so far, so good. They did add IV Compazine and IV Zofran to my mix last week, and it has really helped. Feeling much better....hair is gone, but thats the least of my worries...ITS WORKING. I will get CT's in another week or so to check on the internal nodes.....

[Gerri]

Wow! Who thinks of these things? I am so thrilled for you and can't wait for your update!

[Patb]

Great news, wow so many new and wonderful drugs.
Keep up the good news and keep us posted.
patb

[Pam P]

Praying that this drug will bring ti to NED. Pam

[Trish]

Fantastic news! So good to know there are more options for us in the future too. But most of all it is good to hear you are so well. Who needs hair anyway? I'm currently bald for the fourth time. I'm sure there will be hair in our future.
Trish

[Jackie07]

Oh Sheila, I love the words 'ITS WORKING'...

[Unregistered]

Sheila: I am desperate to find out the results of your Ct/Pet due soon after your taking Halaven for a while. I am in about your same situation, done T-DM1 [kicked out for other reasons than yours], I am now on HERCEPTIN, TYKERB, XELODA, FASLODEX, ZOMETA, and it is not working, I am practically at the "end of the road", I have had just about every drug. My oncologist says he would start me on HALAVEN, but only if I PRE-SIGN TO AGREE to pay in full for it if my insurances dont approve to pay for it. He says that they may refuse to pay for it because I never had an antracycline. My insurances are Medicare and Tricare for Life. I need to get started on it as soon as possible as my skin mets are progressing rapidly, and I am quite aprehensive on pre-committing myself to such exorbitant medical expense, he says it would costs me, if I pay directly, $14,300 per treatment, at twice every 21 days=$343,200 per year[?]. I so look forward to you posting of your test results. It may help me make a decision. Meanwhile I am very happy for you that you have such good results with the medication. Thank you. Patricia

[Jean]

Sheila,
My heart is lifted with joy and hope - may the Gods continue to watch over you and continue to bless you.

Big hugs!
Jean

[SoCalGal]

Sheila the strength you exhibit in this tiring fight is such a huge inspiration. So glad the Halaven is working!

[Sheila]

Patricia
I never had an Anthracycline and BCBS is paying for the Halaven...if woese comes to worse, have the onc. give you 1 small dose of Anthracycline and then say you had a reaction or could not tolerate it....then go on Halaven....thats what mine would have done///I am guessing I get my scans in another week and a half, as i am slated for round 3 next Tuesday.....I am anxious to see what my internal mets show, as the neck mets are GONEEEEEEEEEE

[Lori R]

Sheila,
Gone ....baby....gone!!! That is the update I am waiting to hear. I am so, so happy for you.

As always, great advice for Patricia.

Wishing you both success in 2011.

Lori

[Sheila]

Hoping Patricia reads this!

[pibikay]

Hi
I am happy to hear the good news.I am on facebook and I will try and follow you

[Delaney]

Sheila, thrilled to hear your neck mets are GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. I am going to beg on my knees for Halaven at my next appointment this month.
Best of luck with your scans, please keep us updated.
You are an inspiration.

[Unregistered]

Sheila:
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your response. I dont think my oncologyst or the medical facility I am in are that "human"....but I willl try.[Unfortunately they know that i could afford it if I had to pay, and that would cover all the costs and profitt of the medication without medicare deductions]. I will be watching out for your test results. Lots and lots of good thoughts for you. Patricia

[TriciaK]

Sheila, I am so thrilled that this new treatment is working so well for you!! I could have written the response from Patricia, as I have the same situation and insurance. (Same name, too). The only chemo I have had, plus herceptin, is navelbine, so I don't think I can qualify for Halaven either. My oncologist plans to start gemzar next week, but since my largest lung node is growing and markers rising, I am of course concerned that we choose the right chemo. Your response to Halaven seems almost miraculous and, like Patricia, I would like to see if I could try it.I will keep watching this thread. I am sending thoughts and prayers for you, Sheila, and for Patricia, too. When I see my oncologist next week I will ask him about Halaven and post his response. Hugs, TriciaK

[Unregistered]

My mom was diagnosed in Oct 10 with IBC
masectomy Feb 11

taxol
arithromycin
spread to liver
told incurable
now on halaven...tell me more please??????

[krisvell]

Sheila,
I am so very happy to see it working for you. This post made my day!
Hugs & prayers,
Kris...

[Sheila]

Kris
This is an old post...I was taken off the drug last week due to progression in the neck nodes...although the CT showed stable every where else...the onc, called it a mixed response. I did get 7 months out of it, but I now switch to Gemzar next week.

[Jean]

Onward and forward Sheila - you are amazing!!!
You should run the country and maybe we would not be in this mess.

Love ya
Jean

[hutchibk]

Good one Jean.