[IRENE FROM TAMPA]

Well I just came back from seeing my onc. for my results to my scan.

Come August will make 1 YEAR since I began on the trial. This was my first time waiting 3 months before being rescanned. From the 2 tumors which I started out with last year, one has disappeared and the remaining one although still there, remains about the same size as my last Pet Scan 3 months ago. This is good news for me since I generally last about 7-8 months on a drug before progressing.

My CEA did elevate a bit (it's at 4.8) and my 27-29 at 45 (about the same as last one) We are a bit concerned with my CEA going up some since I am very sensitive to this marker, but my onc. is considering me STABLE and we will recheck markers again in a few weeks and then again in 6 weeks. I have a feeling that this tumor might want to start becoming "active" again but time will tell and meantime I am not too disappointed -
GONE would have been great but nothing was found anywhere else which is great.

In the event that I start having progression again, my onc's office will be beginning a NEW TRIAL which should be coming their way in about a month or so through GENETECH. I will have that as a backup plan.
They were not permitted to give me much info on it as yet but it involves HERCEPTIN which has the chemo build right into it. THIS IS VERY INCOURAGING.

So all in all, not a bad visit. I just wanted to let everyone know that this combo has done well by me and gotten me another year....
I pray that it does as well for those of you on it or looking to start. There is much out there in the future that will be coming our way ladies so keep your hopes up and try to stay strong. We are pioneers making way for those to follow and I pray that much will be learned from our struggles.

Keep the faith and take care.