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No, I am not on Herceptin now. I opted to stop ALL tx when I became NED in body after two+ months on Herceptin/Navelbine. That was late fall of '02.
Since I had concurrant dx with brain mets and my other mets where limited to mediastinal node/s, 'spot on lung and pelvis', I was choosing QOL for the 'short term'. However, I have continued to have clear scans and tm's, except for brain.
Here is my history in a 'nutshell':
12-1999: Age 50, Dx'd Invasive Ductal & Inflammatory. Two tumors, upper and lower inside quadrants R/breast.
1-2000: Mast., 6/26 pos. nodes. ER+PR-, Heu2+++ StageIIIb - 4rnds A/C, no rads (my choice & no medical ins.)
7-2002: Dx'd mediastinal node/s mets, (surgical biopsy), 'spot' on lung and pelvis. Arimidex briefly.
9-2002: Dx'd brain mets. (mininally symptomatic) Two lesions, 1.5cm, 6mm. SRS focalized tx successful. Refused WBR.
11-2002: Navelbine/Herceptin 4rnds for systemic mets, scans show NED.
3-2003: Progression of brain mets. 14 new lesions visable. Asymptomatic. Continue to refuse WBR. "Watch and wait " approach. Treat in small batches with two more SRS, two CyberKnife procedures through 5-2004. NED in body.
3-2005: Progression brain mets - maybe 10 new lesions, asymptomatic. (otherwise NED) Again 'watch and wait' approach until...
8-2005: Dizzy 24/7 in the course of just one day. Begin Temodar/Xeloda.
9-28-2005: Following 2 rnds, MRi shows response of nearly 50% shrinkage in many brain mets, including brainstem/pons. Dizziness gone.
11-28-2005: MRi 'carbon copy' of previous, still responding. Continue Temodar/Xeloda.
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