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Val Pfeiffer · 07-03-2008, 10:32 AM

Lexi, you asked what I have decided about the quarterly Herceptin. I'm pretty sure that I will continue with it quarterly. I called my oncologist yesterday and told him what has been going on (I hadn't talked to him since the new cancer was discvered, so I thought it was time to bring him into the loop). We chatted for awhle; he mentioned that at ASCO this year a study was presented that combined the post-tx Herceptin (triple dose every three weeks) with a lower dose of Tykerb. He knows that I have been following and thinking about Tykerb for long time, but previously I had decided to save Tykerb for a "rainy day."

I have an appointment with him on th 17th. By then I will have the pathology report on my new cancer cells. For some reason they never ran the Her2 or the ER/PR path tests on the biopsy sample, so I have to wait for the path results on the tissue they removed during the mastectomy (that really ticked me off...what a bone-headed thing to do). So when I know for sure that the new cells were also Her2 then I can make a better decision.

If the new cells are Her2+, then I will most certainly stay with at least the quarterly Herceptin. Unless someone tells me differently, I don't believe that mets travel to the other breast, so this is a new primary site. There wasn't evidence of cancer in the nodes, so theoretically my situation hasn't really changed. So I guess I could decide to go back to triple doses every three weeks and add the low dose Tykerb, but since things aren't really that different, I may stick with what I'm doing.

If any of you have any other thoughts, please let me know :-)

Val

07-03-2008, 10:32 AM	#33
Val Pfeiffer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 159	Lexi, you asked what I have decided about the quarterly Herceptin. I'm pretty sure that I will continue with it quarterly. I called my oncologist yesterday and told him what has been going on (I hadn't talked to him since the new cancer was discvered, so I thought it was time to bring him into the loop). We chatted for awhle; he mentioned that at ASCO this year a study was presented that combined the post-tx Herceptin (triple dose every three weeks) with a lower dose of Tykerb. He knows that I have been following and thinking about Tykerb for long time, but previously I had decided to save Tykerb for a "rainy day." I have an appointment with him on th 17th. By then I will have the pathology report on my new cancer cells. For some reason they never ran the Her2 or the ER/PR path tests on the biopsy sample, so I have to wait for the path results on the tissue they removed during the mastectomy (that really ticked me off...what a bone-headed thing to do). So when I know for sure that the new cells were also Her2 then I can make a better decision. If the new cells are Her2+, then I will most certainly stay with at least the quarterly Herceptin. Unless someone tells me differently, I don't believe that mets travel to the other breast, so this is a new primary site. There wasn't evidence of cancer in the nodes, so theoretically my situation hasn't really changed. So I guess I could decide to go back to triple doses every three weeks and add the low dose Tykerb, but since things aren't really that different, I may stick with what I'm doing. If any of you have any other thoughts, please let me know :-) Val __________________ BLOG: http://valleygirlvnp.blogspot.com/ Dx 11/04, Age 42, ER-/PR-, HER2+++ 3 months weekly Herceptin, Taxol. Carboplatin Significant tumor shrinkage Mastectomy 3/05; Stage 3b, 9 cm tumor, 5/8+ nodes 3 more months weekly Herceptin, Taxol. Carboplatin 7/05 30 radiation treatments, IMRT planning approach Started 1 year of Herceptin 9/05 9/06 Began quarterly triple doses Herceptin. Brain & breast MRIs semi annually. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 6/08 Right breast, intraductal carcinoma, high nuclear grade associated with comedo necrosis; extensive diffusely involved the entire biopy specimen. ER+, PR-, Her2 unknown at this point, 07/08 mastectomy.