HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - triple therapy yields better results than standard of treatment for Stage IVs

StephN · 05-22-2009, 12:11 PM

The "triple therapy" idea has been around for many years.

For my raging mets I was put on a three-drug approach which included Herceptin and Navelbine mentioned in this study, with the addition of Taxol. (Capacitabine was still in development then.) I believe this was called "anti-microtubule" trial, with the addition of Herceptin for those of us HER2 positive.

These drugs did the trick for me. I took them on a weekly basis, and had red and white blood cell production support. It was a hard go, but worth it in the end. I happen to know that there are at least 2 of us still alive, and we both had Herceptin in addition to the other two drugs.

At the time, I was posting about this in 2003, most of the other members here said their docs did not support this type of chemo as it would impair "quality of life" too much. All these drugs were approved then and could have been given to anyone who wanted them.

Glad I bit the bullet and went ahead with that combo.

05-22-2009, 12:11 PM	#6
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	The "triple therapy" idea has been around for many years. For my raging mets I was put on a three-drug approach which included Herceptin and Navelbine mentioned in this study, with the addition of Taxol. (Capacitabine was still in development then.) I believe this was called "anti-microtubule" trial, with the addition of Herceptin for those of us HER2 positive. These drugs did the trick for me. I took them on a weekly basis, and had red and white blood cell production support. It was a hard go, but worth it in the end. I happen to know that there are at least 2 of us still alive, and we both had Herceptin in addition to the other two drugs. At the time, I was posting about this in 2003, most of the other members here said their docs did not support this type of chemo as it would impair "quality of life" too much. All these drugs were approved then and could have been given to anyone who wanted them. Glad I bit the bullet and went ahead with that combo. __________________ "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.