[DeenaH]

Looks like I was right not to get too excited. I talked to my onc today, and she confirmed that she has had patients with mets test 0 on the CTC. She did say it's a good sign that there isn't cancer in my blood, but I can't count on that to tell me if there is NED. I asked where she is in the process of getting Lapatinib approved, and she said my insurance hasn't even responded yet. She is ready to get the help of the drug company to help back up her fight. I may also get something from Dr. Melisko saying I need it, just in case. She said her reasoning for being aprehensive about me being on Lapatinib during radiation has to do with skin toxicity. She said if my skin seems to be holding up well with radiation, she would be more apt to let me start it sooner than later. I didn't tell her this, but I am going to push for another CT in a few weeks just to check on the spots to see if they are gone, or growing. I was congested with a cold when I had the CT, so there is a chance the spots were from that. Hoping...

Thank you all for the input! It's so nice to have a sounding board here. Especially before I can talk to my doctors. Now that I know this about the CTC, I'm questioning whether or not I should just forget it and do chemo, then radiation. I am seriously considering putting radiation off by a week so I have a chance to go to UCSF before I make a decision.