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		 Congratulations on your good news! 
 
My doctor believes in chemo holidays - particularly if you have Herceptin to keep things stable.  When she first told me this, I freaked because I thought we stage IV-ers needed to be on constant chemo. 
 
I'm now a firm believer in the less chemo, the better - so much of our ability to heal and fight this disease depends on us having the "resources" (as she put it) to stay in the fight.  Chemo holidays give you the chance to strengthen your resources for the next battle. 
 
Besides, you get a "new hair" day! 
 
Keep up the good work! 
Chris 
		
	
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
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				Chris in Scotts Valley 
June 2002 extensive hi grade DCIS (pre-cancer-stage 0, clean sentinal node) Mastectomy/implant - no chemo, rads. "cured?" 
9/2004  Diag: Stage IV extensive  liver mets (!) ER/PR- Her2+++ 
10/04-3/05 Weekly Taxol/Carboplatin/Herceptin , complete response!  
04/05 - 4/07 Herception every 3 wks, Continue NED 
04/07 - recurrence to liver - 2 spots, starting tykerb/avastin trial 
06/07 8/07 10/07 Scans show stable, continue on Tykerb/Avastin 
01/08 Progression in liver  
02/08 Begin (TDM1) trial  
08/08 NED! It's Working!  Continue on TDM1 
02/09 Continue NED 
02/10  Continue NED.  5/10 9/10 Scans NED 10/10 Scans NED 
12/10 Scans not clear....4/11 Scans suggest progression 6/11 progression confirmed in liver 
07/11 - 11/11 Herceptin/Xeloda -not working:( 
12/11 Begin MM302 Phase I trial - bust:( 
03/12 3rd times the charm? AKT trial  
 5/12 Scan shows reduction!  7/12 More reduction!!!! 
8/12 Whoops...progression...trying for Perjeta/Herceptin (plus some more nasty chemo!) 
9/12 Start Perjeta/Herceptin, chemo on hold due to infection/wound in leg, added on cycle 2 &3 
11/12 Poops! progression in liver, Stop Perjeta/Taxo/Herc 
11/12 Navelbine/Herce[ptin - try for a 3 cycles, no go. 
2/13 Gemzar/Carbo/Herceptin - no go. 
3/13 TACE procedure 
 
			 
		
		
		
		
		
		
	
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