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Lani · 10-05-2007, 09:38 AM

consult Martine J Piccart-Gebhart, MD, PhD
Head, Medicine Department
Breast International Group
Chair, Medical Oncology Clinic
Jules Bordet Institute
Brussels, Belgium

She is head of the entire HERA trial--which were the herceptin adjuvant trials in all world locations except North America. She speaks widely on metastatic her2+ bc as does Edith Perez, who is with the Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville Florida Branch, who was head of the North American adjuvant herceptin trials and is the most frequent speaker at conferences on the treatment of metastatic her2+ disease.

At San Antonio last year I was terribly impressed by Jenny Chang of Texas (I think Baylor rather than MD Anderson) who was chosen to speak on all that was new in the treatment of metastatic her2+ bc and discussed many things not yet published.

MD Anderson with lots of top doctors and doing incredible amounts of research on breast cancer only does consultations if the patient promises to receive all their treatment there and that may prove impractical (time, money and otherwise for you)

Mark Pegram just left UCLA for the University of Miami Cancer Center (I believe that is what it is called, I know it is in Miami). He and Dr. Slamon developed herceptin and did the early work and he started the trials of herceptin with avastin.

Dr. Slamon is harder to see as he travels a lot would then also therefore tend to be less involved in the day to day care of patients, although Jean
here saw him and had him direct her care back on the East Coast.

There are a lot of new treatments and combinations already being tested and scores more just coming up. If you are getting panicky, just put my name in search and see that I submit scores and scores of abstracts and news items just to keep the board informed of what is new and in the hope of providing ammunition and just that--hope.

Noone can promise you that one of these will necessarily prove to be YOUR CURE, but I think those on this board can reassure you that there are many more left to try.

The dogma taught to oncologists has tended to be that all Stage IV breast cancer patients are dead in two years or so, so just give them something to make them comfortable. I think many people on this board have proven them wrong, led productive and meaningful lives and some are going on 8 or 10 years and have brought up their children and some even seen grandchildren.

About a week ago I posted a link to a wonderful video...it was a grand rounds given at Stanford about lymphoma where a patient who happened to be a doctor was presented. She not only survived when all Doctors told her there was nothing really left to try with any likelihood of working, but survived to see her small children graduate high school, enter college. I believe she is now at 18 years of survival and she has used this time to write many books on cancer decisionmaking, survivorship etc for the layman. I would recommend searching for my posting, watching the video(certainly the second half) and perhaps seeking out her books.

I have no experience with chemos as many of these fine ladies do, and I am certain they will help you tremendously with their first-hand knowledge...but remember to try to gather up scientific information as your ammunition
and source of hope, remembering it may be helpful to seek out nature, music and art for solace.

I recently made up the following: The arts make living worthwhile, but science may save your life!

Hope some of this helps

10-05-2007, 09:38 AM	#7
Lani Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,780	Perhaps being an EU citizen you could consult Martine J Piccart-Gebhart, MD, PhD Head, Medicine Department Breast International Group Chair, Medical Oncology Clinic Jules Bordet Institute Brussels, Belgium She is head of the entire HERA trial--which were the herceptin adjuvant trials in all world locations except North America. She speaks widely on metastatic her2+ bc as does Edith Perez, who is with the Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville Florida Branch, who was head of the North American adjuvant herceptin trials and is the most frequent speaker at conferences on the treatment of metastatic her2+ disease. At San Antonio last year I was terribly impressed by Jenny Chang of Texas (I think Baylor rather than MD Anderson) who was chosen to speak on all that was new in the treatment of metastatic her2+ bc and discussed many things not yet published. MD Anderson with lots of top doctors and doing incredible amounts of research on breast cancer only does consultations if the patient promises to receive all their treatment there and that may prove impractical (time, money and otherwise for you) Mark Pegram just left UCLA for the University of Miami Cancer Center (I believe that is what it is called, I know it is in Miami). He and Dr. Slamon developed herceptin and did the early work and he started the trials of herceptin with avastin. Dr. Slamon is harder to see as he travels a lot would then also therefore tend to be less involved in the day to day care of patients, although Jean here saw him and had him direct her care back on the East Coast. There are a lot of new treatments and combinations already being tested and scores more just coming up. If you are getting panicky, just put my name in search and see that I submit scores and scores of abstracts and news items just to keep the board informed of what is new and in the hope of providing ammunition and just that--hope. Noone can promise you that one of these will necessarily prove to be YOUR CURE, but I think those on this board can reassure you that there are many more left to try. The dogma taught to oncologists has tended to be that all Stage IV breast cancer patients are dead in two years or so, so just give them something to make them comfortable. I think many people on this board have proven them wrong, led productive and meaningful lives and some are going on 8 or 10 years and have brought up their children and some even seen grandchildren. About a week ago I posted a link to a wonderful video...it was a grand rounds given at Stanford about lymphoma where a patient who happened to be a doctor was presented. She not only survived when all Doctors told her there was nothing really left to try with any likelihood of working, but survived to see her small children graduate high school, enter college. I believe she is now at 18 years of survival and she has used this time to write many books on cancer decisionmaking, survivorship etc for the layman. I would recommend searching for my posting, watching the video(certainly the second half) and perhaps seeking out her books. I have no experience with chemos as many of these fine ladies do, and I am certain they will help you tremendously with their first-hand knowledge...but remember to try to gather up scientific information as your ammunition and source of hope, remembering it may be helpful to seek out nature, music and art for solace. I recently made up the following: The arts make living worthwhile, but science may save your life! Hope some of this helps