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chrisy · 01-13-2007, 01:49 PM

Joy,

I would definitely recommend getting to a comprehensive cancer center for some additional opinions. I see Dr. Rugo at UCSF, but have my treatment here with my local oncologist (who is also no slacker!).

I don't know which is "best" but if it were me, I'd want to get connected with the cutting edge research in Her2 and/or treatment of liver mets. MD Anderson seems to be in the forefront of RFA and surgical treatment of liver mets, and of course UCLA is a hotbed of Her2 research. As is MSK. So it would seem that any of those would be good choices.

You could do this and still continue with your local oncologist - you are mainly seeking direction and options which she might be able to implement locally.

One thing was clear at San Antonio - there is a LOT of targeted research continuing as is evidenced by the number of things they can test us for as you note. This gave me hope that there are still many options out there and more in the pipeline.

By the way, I also saw a poster there which confirmed that even if initial CTC count was "high", an early drop in this with treatment was a positive indicator. I thought of you and your "ta-da" zero CTC.

Keep pushin on, Joy!
Chris

01-13-2007, 01:49 PM	#2
chrisy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Central Coast, CA Posts: 3,207	Joy, I would definitely recommend getting to a comprehensive cancer center for some additional opinions. I see Dr. Rugo at UCSF, but have my treatment here with my local oncologist (who is also no slacker!). I don't know which is "best" but if it were me, I'd want to get connected with the cutting edge research in Her2 and/or treatment of liver mets. MD Anderson seems to be in the forefront of RFA and surgical treatment of liver mets, and of course UCLA is a hotbed of Her2 research. As is MSK. So it would seem that any of those would be good choices. You could do this and still continue with your local oncologist - you are mainly seeking direction and options which she might be able to implement locally. One thing was clear at San Antonio - there is a LOT of targeted research continuing as is evidenced by the number of things they can test us for as you note. This gave me hope that there are still many options out there and more in the pipeline. By the way, I also saw a poster there which confirmed that even if initial CTC count was "high", an early drop in this with treatment was a positive indicator. I thought of you and your "ta-da" zero CTC. Keep pushin on, Joy! Chris __________________ 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