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There are definitely two sides to this story; saftey and extending options for those of us for whom "progression-free" survival is not an abstract concept, but a reality. I'm currently on Avastin for skin metastisis, and Avastin + chemo has shrunk many lesions on my chest and stabilized others. I was holding my breath on this anticipated announcement, as my insurance would have definitely cut me off if the FDA ruled against approval. Yes, hopefully there are a few more options out there for me, Ixempra for one, but to me it is worth all the rare side effects to keep this particulary nasty type of metastisis under control.
<3 Lolly
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Sept.'99 - Dx.Stage IIIB, IDC ER/PR-, HER2+++ by IHC, confirmed '04 by FISH. Left MRM, AC x's 4, Taxol x's 4, 33 Rads, finishing Tx May 2000. Jan.'01 - local/regional recurrence, Stage IV. Herceptin/Navelbine weekly till NED August 2001, then maintenance Herceptin. Right Mast. April 2002. Local/Regional recurrence April '04, Herceptin plus/minus chemo until May '07. Gemzar added from Feb.'07-April '07; Tykerb/Abraxane until August '07, back on Herceptin plus Taxotere and Xeloda Sept. '07. Stopped T/X Nov. '07, stopped Herceptin Dec. '07, started Avastin/Taxol/Carboplatin Dec. '07. Progression in chest skin, stopped TAC March '03, started radiation.
Herceptin has served as the "Backbone" of my treatment strategy for over 6 years, giving me great quality of life. In 2005, I was privileged to participate in the University of Washington/Seattle HER2 Vaccine Trial.
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