Well, I don't know if I have any better ideas... I kind of like the stiff drink and contemplation of life strategy at moments like this! It's not enough to just fight the disease - on top of that we always torture ourselves over the options. I couldn't tell from your posts what tx you have had before; if adriamycin then there is a higher risk of heart damage with Herceptin. Although when this happens, people go off the Herceptin until the heart function is normal, then go back on. Of course, the kicker is nobody knows 100% what will happen with the cancer. There is no data to show that, for early stagers, adjuvant Herceptin is better with more than a year. For patients with mets, standard of care seems to be "indefinite" Herceptin - and I'm hoping to continue on Herceptin alone for a long time - sure beats chemo (and cancer!)
Go ahead and have the cocktail, maybe some antioxidants (in the form of Chocolate) and trust yourself to make the right decision.
__________________
Chris in Scotts Valley
June 2002 extensive hi grade DCIS (pre-cancer-stage 0, clean sentinal node) Mastectomy/implant - no chemo, rads. "cured?"
9/2004 Diag: Stage IV extensive liver mets (!) ER/PR- Her2+++
10/04-3/05 Weekly Taxol/Carboplatin/Herceptin , complete response!
04/05 - 4/07 Herception every 3 wks, Continue NED
04/07 - recurrence to liver - 2 spots, starting tykerb/avastin trial
06/07 8/07 10/07 Scans show stable, continue on Tykerb/Avastin
01/08 Progression in liver
02/08 Begin (TDM1) trial
08/08 NED! It's Working! Continue on TDM1
02/09 Continue NED
02/10 Continue NED. 5/10 9/10 Scans NED 10/10 Scans NED
12/10 Scans not clear....4/11 Scans suggest progression 6/11 progression confirmed in liver
07/11 - 11/11 Herceptin/Xeloda -not working:(
12/11 Begin MM302 Phase I trial - bust:(
03/12 3rd times the charm? AKT trial
5/12 Scan shows reduction! 7/12 More reduction!!!!
8/12 Whoops...progression...trying for Perjeta/Herceptin (plus some more nasty chemo!)
9/12 Start Perjeta/Herceptin, chemo on hold due to infection/wound in leg, added on cycle 2 &3
11/12 Poops! progression in liver, Stop Perjeta/Taxo/Herc
11/12 Navelbine/Herce[ptin - try for a 3 cycles, no go.
2/13 Gemzar/Carbo/Herceptin - no go.
3/13 TACE procedure
|