HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - already approved anti-rheumatoid arthritis drug reverses herceptin resistance!!

StephN · 07-25-2012, 11:53 AM

Lani - Thanks for the reply. I know we are a bit off track here, but maybe there are things we can do short of taking another extremely strong drug. If it is necessary so be it.

There is no one overweight in my direct family. I am considered in the normal range for my height and weight. (Was always on the "thin" side prior to all the chemos, etc.)

My onc did prescribe Celebrex as a COX-2 inhibitor in 2002, which I did take for close to 3 years. This was on anecdotal evidence at that time. But COX-2 has now been proven as a piece of the mets puzzle. (Articles are available on these studies.)

I have been using Alpha Lipoic Acid supplement to add to the other antioxident foods in my diet.

If Big Pharma is not on board, we need to take some steps ourselves as educated patients.

07-25-2012, 11:53 AM	#13
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Re: already approved anti-rheumatoid arthritis drug reverses herceptin resistance!! Lani - Thanks for the reply. I know we are a bit off track here, but maybe there are things we can do short of taking another extremely strong drug. If it is necessary so be it. There is no one overweight in my direct family. I am considered in the normal range for my height and weight. (Was always on the "thin" side prior to all the chemos, etc.) My onc did prescribe Celebrex as a COX-2 inhibitor in 2002, which I did take for close to 3 years. This was on anecdotal evidence at that time. But COX-2 has now been proven as a piece of the mets puzzle. (Articles are available on these studies.) I have been using Alpha Lipoic Acid supplement to add to the other antioxident foods in my diet. If Big Pharma is not on board, we need to take some steps ourselves as educated patients. __________________ "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.