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rcj11 · 10-16-2008, 12:46 PM

Questions about CTC test:

From RCJ11,

The CTC test was taken 1 week after she began weekly Herceptin & Abraxane infusions. The test showed NO ctc's. She will be given another test 4 weeks after beginning treatment & I will report results.

Can anyone explain this CTC test result so quickly after beginning new treatment when PET scan 1 week earlier showed significant progression? Is the test unreliable or unable to pick-up certain kinds of circulating cells? Please reply with any experiences having similar results or possible explanations.

Following is Kathleen's history copied from other posts I have made on this site:

Ixabepilone & Tykerb
Success with this combination after only 3 treatments. My wife, Kathleen, is 58 yrs old, original breast cancer 7 years ago, removed left breast, standard chemo & radiation. Followed for 6 yrs with Herceptin when treatment discontinued. 9 months later her cancer returned with 3 lymph nodes involved and a mass above her heart. Treated with Tykerb & Xeloda for 9 cycles with terrible side effects & progression of disease. PET scan disclosed 8 lymph nodes involved, growth of mass above heart, & small mass in plura space below left lung. Discontinued Xeloda and began infusions of Ixabepilone every 3 weeks and continued daily Tykerb. After 3 infusions cancer is undetectable on PET scan. Will continue infusions for at least 2 more cycles & thereafter the plan is to continue daily Tykerb and monitor cancer. Consider this treatment!

Next post:
My wife, Kathleen, was NED for 6 years maintained on Herceptin only. 6 months after she ceased the Herceptin infusions her cancer returned with multiple mets. She was removed from Herceptin because of fear of heart damage. In hindsight we should not have made that decision. We can't prove that the herceptin was still effective when she stopped taking it, but why take the chance especially when new research indicates that long term use of Herceptin does not increase risk of heart damage.

For information on Kathleen's treatment since the cancer returned see thread under "Ixabepilone & Tykerb. While the result of her treatment with ixabepilone & tykerb was favorable at 1st, her cancer returned while taking only Tykerb as a maintenance drug. She is now back on Herceptin & Abraxane but only for the past 2 weeks ( weekly infusions) so too early to know the effects. Our prayer is that the Herceptin is still effective for her.

10-16-2008, 12:46 PM	#37
rcj11 Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 10	Questions about CTC test Questions about CTC test: From RCJ11, The CTC test was taken 1 week after she began weekly Herceptin & Abraxane infusions. The test showed NO ctc's. She will be given another test 4 weeks after beginning treatment & I will report results. Can anyone explain this CTC test result so quickly after beginning new treatment when PET scan 1 week earlier showed significant progression? Is the test unreliable or unable to pick-up certain kinds of circulating cells? Please reply with any experiences having similar results or possible explanations. Following is Kathleen's history copied from other posts I have made on this site: Ixabepilone & Tykerb Success with this combination after only 3 treatments. My wife, Kathleen, is 58 yrs old, original breast cancer 7 years ago, removed left breast, standard chemo & radiation. Followed for 6 yrs with Herceptin when treatment discontinued. 9 months later her cancer returned with 3 lymph nodes involved and a mass above her heart. Treated with Tykerb & Xeloda for 9 cycles with terrible side effects & progression of disease. PET scan disclosed 8 lymph nodes involved, growth of mass above heart, & small mass in plura space below left lung. Discontinued Xeloda and began infusions of Ixabepilone every 3 weeks and continued daily Tykerb. After 3 infusions cancer is undetectable on PET scan. Will continue infusions for at least 2 more cycles & thereafter the plan is to continue daily Tykerb and monitor cancer. Consider this treatment! Next post: My wife, Kathleen, was NED for 6 years maintained on Herceptin only. 6 months after she ceased the Herceptin infusions her cancer returned with multiple mets. She was removed from Herceptin because of fear of heart damage. In hindsight we should not have made that decision. We can't prove that the herceptin was still effective when she stopped taking it, but why take the chance especially when new research indicates that long term use of Herceptin does not increase risk of heart damage. For information on Kathleen's treatment since the cancer returned see thread under "Ixabepilone & Tykerb. While the result of her treatment with ixabepilone & tykerb was favorable at 1st, her cancer returned while taking only Tykerb as a maintenance drug. She is now back on Herceptin & Abraxane but only for the past 2 weeks ( weekly infusions) so too early to know the effects. Our prayer is that the Herceptin is still effective for her.