Re: Sorry
 

Barb,

We are all sisters (and brothers). And we are just chit-chatting here with each other every day. I often do this while reclining in the couch (which is not a recliner and probably explains why I got neck strains often.)

And we talk about everything under the Sun: good, bad, inspiring, depressing...(or in another classification scheme: rated G, PG, R (such as Bill's postings sometimes,... :)

This is our 'home', and we'd like to see everyone every day - or at least once in a while. I think I joined the group back in 2004 and did not feel like I needed to stay (thinking that I was 'cured' - as the doctors had told me - my oncologist kept wondering why I wouldn't believe him this time :)

Then I came back after my recurrence in 2007 and draw strength from everyone here on the board.

"Good time, bad time, griping about our hubbies, celebrating our milestones...", these are the reasons why we are here - to support each other.

Remember all your 'sisters' when you are down, because we all care about you as you have cared about all of us.

Sending prayers from Central Texas...

Re: Sorry
 

Barb,
I've been thinking of you so much. I, too, am not doing well, so haven't posted either. I am used to being the nurturer and not the one in need. I understand what you are going through as I feel the same way.
Thank you for letting us know how you are. I will pray for you, my dear friend even more now. I am so sorry to hear you are not doing well.
Please know you are well loved. This cancer just sucks! Please let me know how you are. (I will need to post soon with my own sad news...just hard to do)
Much love to you always,
Vickie

Re: Sorry
 

Vickie,

I hope things begin to look up for you. Your message to Barb is lovely and heartfelt. Many prayers to you and Barb.

Love,
Dana

Re: Sorry
 

have you had any of your brain mets biopsied?

If so, they could look for something called a sodium/iodine symporter on the cell surfaces. If it is there (and it is in the vast majority(80%) of her2+ brain mets) it may be possible to give a simple treatment, already FDA approved for
those with hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer. Dr. Irene Wapnir at Stanford has approval to do this if the tumor is symporter positive and the patient hasn't had too much radiation to the area already.

Seems like you might want to inquire about it, as later you may have had too much radiation to qualify.

Hope this help!

I don't know when they might be trying using radioactive iodine (already FDA approved for thyroid cancer and widely used), but will try to find out if there are trials and if you have to have had a brain biopsy showing NaI symporter
present on the mets.

: J Neurooncol. 2009 Jul 19. [Epub ahead of print]

Breast cancer brain metastases express the sodium iodide symporter.

Renier C, Vogel H, Offor O, Yao C, Wapnir I.
Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive H 3625, Stanford, 94305-5655, CA, USA.
Breast cancer brain metastases are on the rise and their treatment is hampered by the limited entry and efficacy of anticancer drugs in this sanctuary. The sodium iodide symporter, NIS, actively transports iodide across the plasma membrane and is exploited clinically to deliver radioactive iodide into cells. As in thyroid cancers, NIS is expressed in many breast cancers including primary and metastatic tumors. In this study NIS expression was analyzed for the first time in 28 cases of breast cancer brain metastases using a polyclonal anti-NIS antibody directed against the terminal C-peptide of human NIS gene and immunohistochemical methods. Twenty-five tumors (84%) in this retrospective series were estrogen/progesterone receptor-negative and 15 (53.6%) were HER2+. Overall 21 (75%) cases and 80% of HER2 positive metastases were NIS positive. While the predominant pattern of NIS immunoreactivity is intracellular, plasma membrane immunopositivity was detected at least focally in 23.8% of NIS-positive samples. Altogether, these findings indicate that NIS expression is prevalent in breast cancer brain metastases and could have a therapeutic role via the delivery of radioactive iodide and selective ablation of tumor cells.
PMID: 19618116

Let me know(by psting on the board) if you need/want her contact info.
I

Re: Sorry
 

Dear Barb - am sorry to hear that treatment is not going the right way right now. Am sending out those prayers and hopes that another direction in treatment will turn things around. Wish I could give you a hug in person, am sending out a cyber hug honey, and we're all here to listen to you anytime you need it.
Hugs,
Diane

Re: Sorry
 

Barb,
we are family here. i can't help thinking on how can i manage alone without my family here at Her2.
you are always in my thoughts and prayers.

Love,
Gemma

Re: Sorry
 

Thanks so much to everybody! As soon as I hear something, good or bad I will post again. I have every part of my "body crossed" hoping for the best!

Re: Sorry
 

Barb,
I was saddened to read your post, but echo everyone's response. Please don't ever feel like you can't vent, cry, scream...whatever you need, especially here. Your emotions are very real and all the people on this board are here to support you and help you put those boxing gloves back on when you don't feel like you can fight anymore. Please keep us posted on what the brain scan reveals. Until then, please know you remain in our prayers. Btw, I loved Tom's post!!

On another note, I grew up in Rogers City which is a small town just south of the Mackinac Bridge on Lake Huron. Hopefully, we will be going back home for Thanksgiving. I love, love, love, northern Michigan. It will always be home for me.

Please take care,

Hayley