Good News
 

I had my last TC treatment yesterday. Yeah!

I also got my results back from the CYP2D6 test to see if my body will metabolize Tamoxifin. According to the results, I am 1/1 which means I will be an Entensive Metabolizer of the drug.

I want to thank everyone on this board who takes time to post and keep us all informed about what is going on with BC. If I were not a member of this board, I would not have known about the Elisa test or the Tamoxifin test.

I will start Tamoxifin in December, and I will also have scans. I told the doctor I have apprehensions about the scans, and he told me at this point he does not think I have anything to worry about.

But, I am concerned about what to do next. I will finish my year of Herceptin in the middle of February, and I was first diagnosed Stage IV with mets to my L4 in my spin.

I will have to decide if I stay on Herceptin. I know some of you have stayed on Herceptin. If any of you have any advice, knowledge, or recommendations, I would really like to hear from you.

I have also asked my doctor about getting me in the vaccine trial in North Carolina. If any of you have any thoughts on this, I would greatly appreciate your thoughts.

God Bless all.

Amelia

Congrats on finishing chemo Amelia!

I was always amazed that my cancer "to-do" list kept getting longer (the decisions, the decisions)

I did one of the vaccine trials offered at Univ of Wash. The entire experience was terrific.

Wishing you the best of luck in these upcoming days and peace,

Margerie

Margerie,

Thank you for your response. My tumor was also multi-focal and two nodes had micro mets in them. I did do neo-adjuvant therapy prior to my surgery.

So you would recommend the trial? How do you know if you got the vaccine? My oncologist said I might not get the real vaccine. When do they tell you if you got the vaccine?

Amelia

I don't know how the UNC trial works, but the vaccine trial I did at UW was a Phase I study. They were evaluating immune response to three different doses of vaccine. There were no placebos. I got the middle dosage of the vaccine, and did get a measurable immune response. Of course, they do not know if this will translate into more DFS for me and other patients, but I figure it could only help. And I wanted to pay it forward like all the gals that did Herceptin in clinical trials.

Here is the website for UW Tumor Vaccine Group

Wishing you luck on your "journey" I guess it is self-discovvery (the journey) but I wish it was a lot more fun!

Amelia
 

Tch
 

Big congratulations to you Amelia!!!!
I'm having TCH and I just had #5 out of six yesterday, the end is so close I can taste it! Of course I still have Lumpectomy and radiation to look forward to, and about 9 more months of Herceptin, maybe Tamoxifin...but finishing chemo feels like a HUGE step.
It's a long fight, but it makes us all stronger.
Celeste

Hi Amelia,

That is good news!

Glad to hear things are going well...

Terri

Congratulations, Amelia!

Hi Amelia....You sound like such a sweetheart. I'm so happy for you that you are at the end of your chemo. What a great feeling that is.

I, too, would like to learn more about the vaccine trial. Is it for early stagers who are NED or for stage 4 people. Would love to get a vaccine for more added assurance.

Sending you my love and a congratulatory (is that a wordhttp://her2support.org/vbulletin/images/icons/icon7.gif) HUG.

Mary Jo

Ameila,
I am so happy for you...I remember well when you started....and look now the TC is behind you! Also,
it is time for some of your favorite cake! Celebrate!


All good wishes, my sister!
Big Hugs,
Jean

Amelia
Congratulations on conquering the chemo....whenever i read your name, I think of a book my son loved when he was little (given to him by his first grade teacher) called Amelia Bedelia....
Clelbrate, you have earned it...may the rest of this journey be smooth sailing for you!

Amelia,

Congratulations on finishing TC!

Did your onc say anything specific about staying on Herceptin? Generally, if a person is stage IV they would stay on the drug, but I'm sure there are exceptions.

It seems that you have limited disease in your vertebra, and may be able to take a drug like Zometa to help your bones. I have not had bone mets, so I don't know a lot about treating them. But I'm sure others on the board can give you more information.

Great news about your Tamoxifin test.

Joan

Can you elaborate on this CYP2Dyou speak of?

Thank all of you for your replies. This is the first time I have had to check my mail since Friday. I had to take two units of blood Friday afternoon.

Marie, you and the Mighty Oak are always in my thoughts. Tell the Mighty Oak to be "strong and courageous".

Celeste, it was a relief when I finished my neoadjuvant therapy to be getting ready to start another stage of the journey. You also be "strong and courageous."

Bill, Marejo, and Jean you three have helped me more than you will ever know.

Joan and Shelia thank you for just listening and adding new knowledge to my journey.

Rich, the test determines if my body metabolizes Tamoxifin. The ladies on the board introduced me about this test. Instead of going into the treatment blindly, I now know that my body will metabolize the medicince.

God Bless all of you.

Amelia

Terrie and Ruth,

I hope all is well. Thank you for the advice and encouragement you always send my way.

Please let me know about Ruth's results.

Terrie, I thought about you yesterday afternoon when I was walking around the yard picking up pecans. You encouraged me to walk when I do chemo, so I am still walking.

Amelia

Hey Teach, Wonderful news....your teaching buddy Ceesun

Does the test work with Aromatase inhibitors too?

Rich,

This test only works with Tamoxifin as far as I know. You will need to ask Lani, Beck, Jean, or one of the other women who stays on top of this kind of knowledge.

Amelia