HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - T-DM1 trial with Pertuzumab

StephN · 10-20-2009, 01:41 PM

Here is a brief update on my friend. She seems like a NEW PERSON

after just three treatments of the T-DM1 drug. This new drug has allowed her red and white blood counts to recover so that she has more energy and pep. Better appetite too and she has gained some weight back.

She reported that for the first 2 or 3 days after the first 2 treatments she was pretty tired and had some pain in the tumor sites. After the third treatment last week she did not need to hunker down as before. Her body seems to be adjusting well.

The best news is that her skin mets and lymph nodes have reduced quite a bit and she is much more comfortable (just on visual examination). Scans soon so she will see how the drug is affecting the bone mets.

She sounds so hopeful now. The trial will close soon. They are getting people from the major cancer centers all over the country and internationally.

More in a week or two after scans.

10-20-2009, 01:41 PM	#9
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Re: T-DM1 trial with Pertuzumab - my friend is IN! Here is a brief update on my friend. She seems like a NEW PERSON after just three treatments of the T-DM1 drug. This new drug has allowed her red and white blood counts to recover so that she has more energy and pep. Better appetite too and she has gained some weight back. She reported that for the first 2 or 3 days after the first 2 treatments she was pretty tired and had some pain in the tumor sites. After the third treatment last week she did not need to hunker down as before. Her body seems to be adjusting well. The best news is that her skin mets and lymph nodes have reduced quite a bit and she is much more comfortable (just on visual examination). Scans soon so she will see how the drug is affecting the bone mets. She sounds so hopeful now. The trial will close soon. They are getting people from the major cancer centers all over the country and internationally. More in a week or two after scans. __________________ "When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau Live in the moment. MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~ Found suspicious lump 9/2000 Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR - Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds 36 rads - very little burning 3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED! 2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18 All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?) 2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava 2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec. Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011 STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer 7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED 2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED. Same news for 2016 and all of 2017. Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018. Last edited by StephN; 11-09-2009 at 03:21 PM..