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StephN · 03-26-2006, 01:18 PM

Hi Barbara -
What an update - you see the Herceptin did its work and shut down the mets where they were prior to your daughter's wedding.
The bone involvement is new and may even have a different hormonal makeup than the others. Especially since they grew while the other mets stayed shut down. This concept should not be new to your med onc. It is one to try and work on somehow.

Zometa is easy to tolerate for me - I have been on it for close to 4 years now and nothing has come back in my bones. I did not take it with chemo, but got it afterwards as maintenance as it was brand new in those days. (A newer version of the old Pamidrinate that was a long infusion.)

Navelbine, if it is effective for you, is a drug that you can take breaks from and than use again when/if the need arises. I took it with Taxol, so always thought the Taxol was the problem when I felt bad as it was the drug I had the most of.

You may hover on the border with your red and white counts and not be able to get the red and white cell booster shots. That often happens and is almost worse than taking a bigger dose of the drugs so you are able to get the boosters so that you feel actually better. (Hope that made sense?)

I would be surprised if your doc meant that you will need to stay on CONTINUOUS chemo for the rest of your life. I still surprise myself that I am off chemo for so long and holding my own, since my mets were so aggressive in the beginning. Once you get a firm grip on these bone mets, you should be able to get a break from chemo. If they do not respond well with the new regimen, then you may have to add a hormone suppressor.

Lots of chamomile tea and get some Neurontin if you continue to feel very achy.

03-26-2006, 01:18 PM	#3
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	You will get off chemo Hi Barbara - What an update - you see the Herceptin did its work and shut down the mets where they were prior to your daughter's wedding. The bone involvement is new and may even have a different hormonal makeup than the others. Especially since they grew while the other mets stayed shut down. This concept should not be new to your med onc. It is one to try and work on somehow. Zometa is easy to tolerate for me - I have been on it for close to 4 years now and nothing has come back in my bones. I did not take it with chemo, but got it afterwards as maintenance as it was brand new in those days. (A newer version of the old Pamidrinate that was a long infusion.) Navelbine, if it is effective for you, is a drug that you can take breaks from and than use again when/if the need arises. I took it with Taxol, so always thought the Taxol was the problem when I felt bad as it was the drug I had the most of. You may hover on the border with your red and white counts and not be able to get the red and white cell booster shots. That often happens and is almost worse than taking a bigger dose of the drugs so you are able to get the boosters so that you feel actually better. (Hope that made sense?) I would be surprised if your doc meant that you will need to stay on CONTINUOUS chemo for the rest of your life. I still surprise myself that I am off chemo for so long and holding my own, since my mets were so aggressive in the beginning. Once you get a firm grip on these bone mets, you should be able to get a break from chemo. If they do not respond well with the new regimen, then you may have to add a hormone suppressor. Lots of chamomile tea and get some Neurontin if you continue to feel very achy.