Kim in CA
01-06-2013, 03:47 PM
Hi Gang,
Well, I’m finally getting around to posting an update on my return to chemo and Herceptin after deciding to take a Herceptin Holiday after 6 years of being NED.
Quick recap: CA15-3 and Her2 Serum markers started rising in June 2012. Rechecked in July, still rising. Back on Herceptin alone in August. August 15th PET scan doesn’t show any active mets. On Nov. 7th, After 3 months of Herceptin and CA15-3 still not coming down, latest (Nov. 29th) “enhanced “MRI now shows "extensive" mets to liver, decided to add weekly Taxotere since it worked well for me in 2001/2002.
So, I just started my 3rd cycle of weekly Taxotere on Jan 2, and we are really wondering if the Taxotere is going to work for me this time. My CA 15-3 has been sort of bobbing up and down, but finally dropped a bit on Dec. 19th , it is now at 74.7, where as the Her 2 Serum has actually been coming down very gradually, but steadily. It was 14.5 on Dec. 19th. The problem that I am having is that the Taxotere is much harder on me this time around. The side effects after 2 months are as bad as they were at 7 months back in 2002.
In the meantime I had a consultation with a radiologist at UC San Francisco to see if I might be a candidate for cyberknife. Unfortunately I have too many spots for the cyberknife, but he did think I would be a candidate for radioembolization, and gave me the name of the doctor at UC that does it.
So, I’m anxious to discuss all of this with my doctor this week at my next appt., and also push for him to add Perjeta to the mix.
As an aside, our CAL-COBRA coverage will be ending on March 1 (currently through Blue Shield), and we’ve decided to go with Kaiser Pemanente since their premiums will be several hundred dollars less for their Guaranteed Issue/ HIPAA Plan. The good news in all of this, is that I have already met with a woman oncologist at Kaiser (really, really liked her!) to discuss my history and current treatment as a way to reassure myself that I will be able to l receive the care I will need going forward. One of the first things she said to me is that she would put me on Perjeta. This is something that my current oncologist has been dragging his feet about, saying that he doubted he could get it approved.
So…..stay tuned!
Well, I’m finally getting around to posting an update on my return to chemo and Herceptin after deciding to take a Herceptin Holiday after 6 years of being NED.
Quick recap: CA15-3 and Her2 Serum markers started rising in June 2012. Rechecked in July, still rising. Back on Herceptin alone in August. August 15th PET scan doesn’t show any active mets. On Nov. 7th, After 3 months of Herceptin and CA15-3 still not coming down, latest (Nov. 29th) “enhanced “MRI now shows "extensive" mets to liver, decided to add weekly Taxotere since it worked well for me in 2001/2002.
So, I just started my 3rd cycle of weekly Taxotere on Jan 2, and we are really wondering if the Taxotere is going to work for me this time. My CA 15-3 has been sort of bobbing up and down, but finally dropped a bit on Dec. 19th , it is now at 74.7, where as the Her 2 Serum has actually been coming down very gradually, but steadily. It was 14.5 on Dec. 19th. The problem that I am having is that the Taxotere is much harder on me this time around. The side effects after 2 months are as bad as they were at 7 months back in 2002.
In the meantime I had a consultation with a radiologist at UC San Francisco to see if I might be a candidate for cyberknife. Unfortunately I have too many spots for the cyberknife, but he did think I would be a candidate for radioembolization, and gave me the name of the doctor at UC that does it.
So, I’m anxious to discuss all of this with my doctor this week at my next appt., and also push for him to add Perjeta to the mix.
As an aside, our CAL-COBRA coverage will be ending on March 1 (currently through Blue Shield), and we’ve decided to go with Kaiser Pemanente since their premiums will be several hundred dollars less for their Guaranteed Issue/ HIPAA Plan. The good news in all of this, is that I have already met with a woman oncologist at Kaiser (really, really liked her!) to discuss my history and current treatment as a way to reassure myself that I will be able to l receive the care I will need going forward. One of the first things she said to me is that she would put me on Perjeta. This is something that my current oncologist has been dragging his feet about, saying that he doubted he could get it approved.
So…..stay tuned!