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06-23-2007, 10:01 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: DFW area (TX)
Posts: 431
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Fantastic News and a HUGE Thank-you to SO MANY HERE
Ruth went in for her 2<SUP>nd</SUP> pre-adjuvant (pre-surgery) TCH treatment yesterday. It was our first appointment with the oncologist since Ruth began treatment. Dr. O’Shaughnessy did an exam and said Ruth had had one of the most dramatic responses (8 cm tumor area, ER+, PR+, HER2+) to a first treatment that she had ever seen. Hurrah! Further, Ruth has a chance of TR (total response, with no evidence of cancer even before surgery). Some of you may remember that Ruth and I had extensive conversations with the oncologist, whose first impulse was to go with the “standard of care” treatment of AC + TH. Ruth had concerns about the heart toxicities given the heart conditions of her mother, and I wanted the Herceptin given early in treatment based on what I had read about Herceptin. Dr. O’Shaughnessy agreed though that it may well be a very good thing to get the Herceptin in on the get go and agreed to try the TCH regimen. Yesterday she exclaimed that “we did the right thing of getting the Herceptin in there early!!!”
<O </O
The second fantastic piece of news is that Ruth’s blood counts are back to full normal after being basically neutropenic (sp?) 11 days ago. (2.3 WBC and 515 ANC) The nurse who did the blood test was predicting the doctor would want to give Ruth a WBC booster shot right on the spot. However, after a call to the doctor the nurse said that the doctor felt Ruth’s blood count was on the rebound and would wait until 2nd treatment to receive Neulasta shot. I scoured the board for WBC help and came up with Astragalus and Reishi mushroom. We found Gaia liquid extracts of both and Ruth has been taking them religiously twice a day. Yesterday the doctor agreed that Ruth did NOT need the Neulasta shot and further, Ruth did not need her blood tested again until the 3<SUP>rd</SUP> treatment. WOW.
<O
We discussed supplements. We only had “permission” to take multivitamin and fiber. I’ve been giving Ruth in addition probiotics, 4 fish oil capsules, 1 tbsp. of Udo’s oil, 1 tbsp. L-Glutamine, multi mushroom extract with reishi, astragalus root extract and astragalus tea. She had been taking extra vitamin B to try to prevent neuropathy but someone on the board suggested that it might not be good for tumors, we can that out after about 10 days. (Our multi vitamin has lot of B vitamins so hopefully that will be enough without being too much?) The oncologist (who is excellent outside of the holistic arena) is still not really on board with the supplements but she says “it is obvious that Ruth is doing very well” and that as long as we don’t do anything that is heavy on the antioxidants, that she “won’t have heartburn” about it. There are so many things I’d still like to add to the mix, but guess we shouldn’t rock the boat right now.
I just want to say a heart-felt thank-you to all of those who have patiently answered my questions, and to those that work so hard at running this board. It has been a life-line for Ruth and I, in so many ways.
We have a long way to go, but it was a good day in cancer-land.
Sincerely,
Terri (spouse of Ruth)
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06-23-2007, 03:17 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ireland
Posts: 3,463
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Hi Terri
I hope Ruth continues to do so well and congrats on the good results so far!
__________________
Tricia
Dx July '05 IDC 1.9cm Triple positive 3/9 nodes positive
A/C X 4 ..Taxol/Herceptin x 12 wks then herceptin 1 yr
Rads x 36 ..oophorectomy August '06
Currently taking Arimidex..
June 2011 osteopenia/ zometa x1 yearly- stopped Zometa 2015 as Dexa show normal bone density.
Stopped Arimidex July 2014- Restarted Arimidex 2015 for a further two years on the advice of my Onc.
2014 Normal Dexa scan
2018 Mammo all clear, still NED!
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06-23-2007, 07:10 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: indianapolis, indiana
Posts: 1,544
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i wish you both the best and will keep you in my prayers!
__________________
dxd 9-04, lumpectomy,
st 1, gr 3, er,pr-, her2 +,
2 tac,33 rads,6 cmf
1 yr herceptin,
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06-23-2007, 08:04 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 3,154
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Happy for both of you...
Dear Terri,
Glad you posted I have been wondering how you and Ruth were doing.
Now you have the count down going ....the TCH is doable. You sound
so much better....before you know it you will be posting her last and final
TC treatment.
Best Wishes
Hugs,
Jean
__________________
Stage 1, Grade 1, 3/30/05
Lumpectomy 4/15/05 - 6MM IDC
Node Neg. (Sentinel node)
ER+ 90% / PR-, Her2+++ by FISH
Ki-67 40%
Arimidex 5/05
Radiation 32 trt, 5/30/05
Oncotype DX test 4/17/06, 31% high risk
TOPO 11 neg. 4/06
Stopped Arimidex 5/06
TCH 5/06, 6 treatments
Herceptin 5/06 - for 1 yr.
9/06 Completed chemo
Started Femara Sept. 2006
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06-23-2007, 08:12 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Central Coast, CA
Posts: 3,207
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Terri, that's fantastic! You and Ruth must be thrilled and very encouraged. Keep up the good work!
__________________
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
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06-23-2007, 08:17 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 1,055
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So glad all is working out for you, Bev
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