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Julie,
My initial dx was Stage IIIb, too. I had two tumors, plus Inflammatory and 6 pos nodes of 26 taken.
My mets occured at two and a half yrs., July of '02. Mediastianal node/s, spot on lung, spot on pelvis. I had a surgical biopsy of aortic window node to confirm.
My tx was Navelbine/Herceptin. In only four rounds, I was NED in body, and I opted to stop tx. All treatment.
I was dx'd with brain mets in Sept. '02, and that became my focus, as long as my other scans were good.
For the past three yrs I've been on Xeloda/Temodar for my brain mets... but my bod is still NED, as far as we know. So, with this tx, we also added Tykerb last fall. My brain mets progressed a bit, but I MIGHT be getting an advantage with it to my body along with the Xeloda now.
Anyway, that still leaves three yrs with no tx for my 'body' at all.
It is generally wise to begin with the lesser of 'evils' unless ofcourse the mets are raging. Then combos come in to play.
However, as we are all individuals, we need to do what we and our oncs feel is the best course for us.
Hope that does not confuse, but offer another opinon.
pattyz
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