[IRENE FROM TAMPA]

Hi Maggie -

I can tell you my experience with some of the drugs you mentioned. I sometimes hate to pass on how I did with certain chemos since everyone is unique in their own treatments and is affected differently but on the other hand I like hearing what others feel.

I am a ten year survivor so I can say to you that even when chemos have failed? on me they have kept me here for that long, which is a good thing.

I think I have almost tried everyone chemo out there, in fact I just came off of the newest, ABRAXANE, I was on since Last July and we just progression again.
They took me off of the Herceptin (which I had been on for 6 1/2 years) when I started the Abraxane.

I just took my first treatment of the combo of - TAXOL/CARBOPLATIN/HERCEPTIN yesterday. So back on with Heceptin.

I have tried Navelbine/Herceptin. Gemzar/Herceptin & also Xeloda/Herceptin.
Each time I went about 8 months without any progression, but again each time the tumor was well controlled. I certainly do not want to discourage anyone from trying these since like I mentioned earlier, everyone is different.

I found all of them to be tolerable. I had some reduction in my blood counts, to be expected. My experience with Xeloda was my feet burned a lot and hands but tolerable. I have never really experienced any nausea with any of my chemo's (just lucky that way so far)

I am planning to walk in the BREAST CANCER 3-DAY WALK that will be in our area in Tampa, Florida in October-GOD WILLING. I will be walking for everyone of us Maggie. We need lots of more drugs to be developed and HOPEFULLY
a CURE or at the least how to control this disease. This takes alot of money and alot of research and time.

Good luck with your treatments and stay strong. That is the whole key to this I believe.