Has anyone heard of Iressa being used to treat metastatic breast cancer?

I have a friend with liver mets who is on iressa and herceptin combined and her markers were stable the last time I spoke with her. Her main complaint was diarrhea and rash. I have heard as a single agent it is not too effective ( I seem to recall a 10% response rate ) but combined with herceptin might be more effective.

Shannon,

It's probably due to hormonal changes from the menopause. Please try not to panic. I know it's hard not to but just enjoy Christmas with your family because if you let it bother you you are going to be mad at yourself later on that you let it interfere with enjoying the holidays. We are all here for you, remember that.

Blessings and Hugs,

Linda in MI.

any long term surviros out there w advanced bc/ mets? navelbine/gemzar? success stories? how long did it take for the chemo to start working?

is herceptin the same thing as gemzar

No - Gemzar is a chemo; Herceptin is an antibody specifically designed to bind to the cancer cells which overexpress the Her2 protein to stop the cells from growing and dividing. Chemo drugs generally slow or stop the growth of cancer cells. Herceptin is also known as Trastuzumab and is used only for Her2+ cancers. It can be used alone or in combination with other chemo drugs.
Kitty

I was dx'ed as stage IV in June 1999 with mets to the chest and brain. Been on Herceptin since August 1999..Doing great.

Go to our home page and then to "Index" if you select "stories" we have several stories from long term survivors.

We are also in the process of collecting stories from other long term survivors which we should publish at the end of this month on our "new" renovated web site.

Hugs and well wishes
Christine

Dx in January 2001 with mets to supraclavicular lymph nodes and skin. I started Herceptin/Navelbine and within 2 weeks saw skin mets shrinking, after 3 months no visible or palpable evidence and blood tumor markers were normal. After 6 months was NED and went to Herceptin only. I continue on Herceptin as a maintenance therapy indefinitely. I have blood markers checked every 3 months, and annual scans unless something seems worrisome which is then checked...So far so good!
Hugs,
Lolly

I was told by an oncologist that Gemzar is the sister drug to Herceptin. So with that I would assume that they are somewhat alike

Gemzar is the sister drug to Navelbine.

Oh yes, kleenex bits in the laundry!
I don't know if the dripping goes away once Herceptin is discontinued, because I've not stopped and don't plan to in the near future, I'll take it drippy nose and all!
Lolly

does anyone have pain in their ribs? taking femara gemzar and navelbine. mets n brain and liver. havnet had chemo since since friday 1/16??

My sister has breast cancer with mets to brain and liver. She has been saying that she has pain in her ribs, and on both sides, and around the liver. She's taking gemzar and navelbine. Are rib pains common - or is it because of the liver mets? They said she only had a few spots there.

Amy,
First, I'm so sorry about your sister. You're obviously an active supporter for her and that's great.

I have liver and bone mets and am also on Navelbine. Occasionally, I have rib pains. I know they're not from the bone mets. Pain on the right side in back is definitely from the liver. And Navelbine can cause pains. Other than that, no one has ever really diax my rib pains, either. Is she on any type of pain killer? I am now on MS Contin (morphine) which has helped all my pains tremendously. I have very few (if any) side effects from it.

Lots of love and light to you both,

Lisa

Has anyone known anybody to have liptomenengitis? The cancer has gone to my spinal fluid and there is not much hope for further treatment. I have a short time to live but could try further treatment to see if it may give me a little more time. I feel fine now, but of course am not ready to die. I have to small children and just don't know what to do. Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks,Julie

My prayers are with you. May our Lord bless and keep you. Find strength in His peace. There is always hope. Do not give up looking for a treatment. If your onc. doesn't have a plan, find one who does. I pray you find the answers you are seeking. Stay strong and positive. You are not alone in this fight.

I am writing this because I am worried to death. I had my navelbine shot today and for some reason i wanted to look at my tumor marker chart. i noticed that CA 27.29 was around 25-31 at the end of last year after I had a surgery to remove brain met. and then CA 27.29 jumped to 41 in 2/04. i talked to my doctor about it and he said that there is nothing to worry unless CT scans proves any activity. i have to wait until monday to set up any appointments because it is too late today to call for appointments. i recently had spine and brain MRI and those were all clear. until monday, i have to sit at home and wonder about what it could mean and of course, wonder about the worst case scenario. any thoughts?

I was reading some of the stories on the site index and wondered how Kathleen, Lynn, Tracy are all doing. I see some posts from Lolly, so I can figure out that she's doing pretty well. The stories are fascinating, and I just wonder how everyone is doing.

Hi Ladies,

Just to give you an update....my fluid kept returning in my opposite lung that I had the lund talc on (I had it done on the left), now have fluid on the right so last Wed. I had a pleurodex catheter inserted so I can have it drained at home every 2-3 days. I had it done yesterday and it was painless--just some coughing at the end. She drained close to 1 liter. I'm having it drained again tomorrow.

Hopefully this will all end in another month or so. I'm trying so hard to be patient. I'm getting physical therapy too since I lost some muscle mass/protein in my body since I've been laid up not being able to do much because of having to be on the oxygen.

I have made some progress and am feeling a little stronger but I just wish I could take leaps instead of baby steps.

Has anyone else ever had to deal with these pleural effusions?

Talk to you all later and hopefully with some even more positive news. Please keep me in your prayers.

P.S. I've been on the navalbine for 3 weeks now. Hope it's working and shows signs that it's "kicking in" soon!!

Blessings and Hugs,

Linda in MI.

Linda
You are in my prayers that things will improve for you...seems you are going through alot right now...your bravery an determination are an inspiration to all of us...prayers for a speedy recovery.
Hugs
Sheila

What does skin mets look like? I have a patch of skin behind my right backbone (a little lower)that's been there about 2 weeks, not bruised or anything. Also, under the arm where I had the mastectomy there is an irration of the skin. Also, not sure if I should check with my gp or oncologist...Not sure the internist would recognize mets. Thanks

Skin mets appear near the scar line. Type in skin mets and you will see some pictures. Its not a pretty site but they are not life threatening so the oncologist told me. The only way you will know if they are skin mets is a biopsy and I doubt you would get one unless it was near the scar of the mastectomy. I would be interested to see what you hear from others. Mine came up as 2 small red dots the size of a pencil eraser just above the scar. The oncologist kept saying he didn't think they were mets and I knew they were. When it started to spread then I knew and I had a biopsy that confirmed my worst fear. I would see my oncologist but then everyone is different and you may feel better seeing the other one. Don't wait too long. Good luck and let us know what you find out. Hugs, Sandy

I had mets to the skin which first manifested as a rash about the size of a pencil eraser, at the base of my neck on the same side as the original bc. It took a few weeks to get a biopsy scheduled and by then I had bumps along the scar line also, so a suspicious rash anywhere should be checked out, and I agree with you that your onc should look at it, and then get it biopsied asap.
Hugs, Lolly

Interesting! I learn something new all the time. Thanks for sharing. Hugs to you all. Sandy

Where do you type in skin mets. I tried but got hundreds of references and no pictures?

May need to type in Inflammatory Breast Cancer under search. I thought I typed in skin mets. My chemo brain gets in the way. If this doesn't work let me know and I will check it out for you. Its been a while since I visited that site. May have been changed. I am in the process of doing the church newsletter at this point so need to finish it. I was quickly checking my messages. Hugs, Sandy

Hi there, the only problem notifying the media is it would probably have to be in book form, the things I have been through this past 6 years, is Murphy's Law, if it was going to happen it would happen to me. For instance, I checked the radiator of my car, something I have done since the age of 15 so I knew what I was doing, but this time it was different it had back pressure so a delayed reaction with the radiator, knocked me down the driveway, my husband neglected to tell me he had cooked the motor the day before, probably hoping he could blame it on me, I rushed inside jumped in the shower took off all of my jewellery, and I had a habit of wearing a lot because it was a pain taking it off, so here I am, I grabbed the burn cream out of the refrigerator I had got from the burns unit prior, another story, covered the right side of my face and arm, ran next door told my husband to get his own bottle of coke from the shop I was going to hospital and I drove myself, I didn't even give him time to respond so of course the nursing staff at the ER looked at me weird,I had my AC chemo the day before, it was even weirder when later they told me my husband was outside so he must have left right behind me, then of course I had to lay there for hours with cold dressings on me to monitor the burn, where I had taken my jewelly off there were blisters, the metals had heated up and burnt me, apparently I had done all the right things, and who should come down and visit me, my Onc, he asked me what I had been doing to myself so I told him I was eveninng up the sides, so from then I had to have daily bandage changes for a month, and what happened next, my next dose of chemo, no portacath then, so the male nurse had to unbandage my arm, find a spot he could insert the canuala and give me my chemo, and re bandage me, so to this day he doesn't let me live it down. I have now scarring whatsoever and I healed while on chemo, and that was all within the first months of treatment in 1998, so you can see what I mean. I think I must be some kind of freak. I told the chemo unit that when they find the cure for cancer the aliens will think we are smart enough to meet them and this is all a test.

Love & Hugs Lyn

Dear Annamarie

Just wondering how you are.

love
Lindaw

Dear Annamarie
Wondering how you are . Am thinking of you often.

love
lindaw

Oh, yes, I too have been thinking and praying for you Annamarie. If you can let us know how you are. Big hugs to you. Sandy

Thanks so much for your post and your conceern. I am hanging in there. I have had seven radiaion tretments to my stomach area. They are still trying to shrink the three inch tumor that is sitting on the aortic. Unfortunately I am still vomitting every day. I have hospice now and have been able to get a hospital bed so am more confortable sleeping. They really don't understand why I am vomitting every day. The radiologist said he dosn't think it is from the radiation since he is not hitting the stomach area much, just a little. I am really getting tired, however.

So glad to hear from you. Get plenty of rest. Your in my prayers. hugs, Sandy

I've not heard of that kind of testing, but that is very interesting. I did Navelbine and herceptin and worked great for me.

Dear Annamarie

Thanks so much for letting us know how you are. I hope the vomitting stops. I am thinking of you.

love
linda

Thanks Lolly - hope it is fast tracked in Australia. I wanted to go on the trial for this and xeloda but need measurable tumour and so far haven't any bits returned on scar. Suppose this is a good thing.

love
linda

Was wondering if anyone has ever experienced swelling of the face. My sister, who is currently receiving Taxol/Herceptin, is experiencing this symptom. She mentioned it to the visiting nurse, who said it could be that she is slowly coming off decadron...wouldn't that mean that she should NOT be coming of this medication? She will mention it to her doctor next week, but I was wondering if this is something that should be addressed immediately.

My face became swollen/puffy after decreasing the Decadron while I was on Taxol/Herceptin combo. I was crashing bad when the Decadron wore off and
I also was very anxious so the doc decreased the
amount. I have been on Herceptin only (due to NED) without Taxol, Decadron, and Benedryl for 3 weeks now and the swelling in my face is gone.

I am on taxotere/herceptin/carboplatin and I have swelling in my face. Also get IV decadron and zofran. Unfortunately it's part of chemo.

Yes, some puffiness in the face is a normal "side effect" of chemo in general.
I had it and it took a while to finally all go away after getting off Taxol and Navelbine. It seems to be OK with the Herceptin alone.

Thanks for the reply...I relayed the info to my sister..it was a relief. Unfortunely, she is unable to get on this site as she can't read. She can see, but everything is quite blurry. We don't know if it's the tumors or the WBR that has caused this. Her vision was definetly effected by the tumors, but worsened after WBR..could be swelling but, needless to say, she is so very worried..we won't get head scan results for at least another 6 weeks. (very slow to get results here in Canada)
All this to say...she appreciates this site even though she is currently unable to read/ask things herself.