Re: brain mets have arrived
Exactly what we didn't want to hear but it seems there are a lot of people on this site who are thriving despite brain mets. Glad people have been able to provide advice re treatment options. Re Tykerb, we do have access to it here but the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme only funds it in combination with Xeloda and only so long as you show no progression. The real sting in the tail though is that once you have had Tykerb PBS will no longer fund Herceptin (meaning Tykerb/ Herceptin is not a funded option unless you can appeal to the generosity of Genetench and GSK.) However I got a good year of no progression of my liver mets from Tykerb/Xeloda but now am facing having to pay for Tykerb which is in the order of $250/week. Thankfully you don't need to worry about that at this point but you do have to think carefully and/or exhaust all other options before switching to Tykerb in the Australian context. So sorry to hear that news but am thinking and hoping things will go well,
Trish
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5/2004 (R) 30mm bre gr3 infiltrating ductal ca 16/18nodes er (2+) pr (3+) HER2 (3+)
6/2004 6 cycles(FEC), Oct 40 rads, Tamoxifen
5/2006 oopherectomy, Arimedex
12/2006 liver mets largest 9cm
1/2007 Herceptin,
3/2007 Taxol + Herc
1/2008 Herc alone
4/2008 Multiple bone mets,Zometa
7/2008 Herc + Gemcitabine
8/2008 Herc+Navelbine/vinoralbine
10/2008 Herc+Carboplatin+Taxol
12/2008 Tykerb+Xeloda
2/2010 Herceptin + trial drug
5/2010 Herceptin+Tykerb
8/2010 Tykerb+Abraxane
9/2010 Abraxane
12/2010 Abraxane+Tyk+Herc
4/2011 Tyk+Herc+Femara
6/2011 Liver and bone mets prog.Abraxane continue Herceptin,Tykerb,Femara and Zometa
8/2011 Probable liver progression and increased neuropathy. Xeloda with Tyk+Herc. Zometa 6 weekly.
9/2011 Liver progression,TM +++. Cyclophosphamide and Methotrexate metro Herc Zometa
10/2011 liver mets prog.Herc, 3 Tykerb +2mg decodron daily,Zometa
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