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Barbara H. · 11-05-2006, 08:52 AM

HI,
You certainly are a wonderful friend. The members who have already written have given you wonderful advice. Two and a half years ago I had a recurrance with a 3cm tumor to my brain along with liver, lung, skin, and mets through out my lymph system. I had brain surgery and a month later my oncologist started me on Herceptin alone because he wanted me to enjoy my daugter's wedding. It turned out that the Herceptin alone took care of all the visible mets until March of this past year when I developed minimal bone mets in three places. Unfortunately, I had to add Navelbine to the mix, but it has worked. I initially was diagnosed in May of 98 and as Stage 3A, Herceptin was not available to me then. Nevertheless, now at stage 4 I continue to teach third grade full time, take graduate courses each year, and live a full life. I am now 58 and not thinking about retirement any time soon. Your friend needs to get to a cancer center where they offer her hope. Yes, stage 4 does have a stinky prognoses, but there are plenty of women that have been on Herceptin for years with stage 4 who are still around. And, now they have a new drug, Tykerb, soon to be approved that crosses the blood brain barrier. In spite of my deplorable condition a few years back, my oncologist told my husband that I could have years. At this point your friend is probably in shock, and is thinking mostly about her children. Since she has just recently been diagnosed for the first time, she should probably add other treatment options to the Herceptin. Good luck to you and your firend. If you can do anything to help her, it would help her to start reading the member profiles on this site and to perhaps join and get some support. Statistically, people who are more informed about their disease survive longer. Again, I wish you and your friend all the best.
Barbara H.

11-05-2006, 08:52 AM	#5
Barbara H. Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Newton, MA Posts: 951	HI, You certainly are a wonderful friend. The members who have already written have given you wonderful advice. Two and a half years ago I had a recurrance with a 3cm tumor to my brain along with liver, lung, skin, and mets through out my lymph system. I had brain surgery and a month later my oncologist started me on Herceptin alone because he wanted me to enjoy my daugter's wedding. It turned out that the Herceptin alone took care of all the visible mets until March of this past year when I developed minimal bone mets in three places. Unfortunately, I had to add Navelbine to the mix, but it has worked. I initially was diagnosed in May of 98 and as Stage 3A, Herceptin was not available to me then. Nevertheless, now at stage 4 I continue to teach third grade full time, take graduate courses each year, and live a full life. I am now 58 and not thinking about retirement any time soon. Your friend needs to get to a cancer center where they offer her hope. Yes, stage 4 does have a stinky prognoses, but there are plenty of women that have been on Herceptin for years with stage 4 who are still around. And, now they have a new drug, Tykerb, soon to be approved that crosses the blood brain barrier. In spite of my deplorable condition a few years back, my oncologist told my husband that I could have years. At this point your friend is probably in shock, and is thinking mostly about her children. Since she has just recently been diagnosed for the first time, she should probably add other treatment options to the Herceptin. Good luck to you and your firend. If you can do anything to help her, it would help her to start reading the member profiles on this site and to perhaps join and get some support. Statistically, people who are more informed about their disease survive longer. Again, I wish you and your friend all the best. Barbara H.