Any Scots on Herceptin ?

geraldine · 10-21-2005, 10:04 AM

I would be interested in hearing from anyone from Scotland who is on Herceptin. Today, while being administered my 3 weekly dose @ Gartnavel Hosp., I got talking to Christine, another " User ". We thought it would be good to hear from other people from this area, with a view to meeting up at a later date. I have just recently reg. with this group and find it facinating reading. I read about some of you getting together and think its a wonderful idea. This is what started me thinking, it could be the same here. So if there is anyone from Scotland and on Herceptin, please get in touch. I have been telling everybody about this website and how inspirational all your storie are. Keep up the good work
God Bless Geraldine x

Gina · 10-22-2005, 02:22 PM

Hi, Geraldine,

Welcome to the board. I am so glad to hear folks in Scotland are getting access to the herceptin. Is it still only permitted for her-2 folks with mets??? Has it been opened up for early stagers yet? I know there is a problem in other parts of the UK getting access and that needs to be remedied soon. I took my son last June to ride the Harry Potter train from FT. Williams on our way to Isle of Skye. We had a fantastic trip--stayed in the Pineapple castle in Airath, but I was also doing some research as you know, Sir David Lane is famous for his work in p53 --heard on the grapevine that he and his scientist wife are also heading for sabbatical in Singapore I believe...and you are truly blessed to have some of the best research centers going in the Scottish Enterprise including several superb ones in Rosslyn and Glasgow. I, PROMISE, if you get a her-2 group together and if I have a trip to Scotland pre-planned in the future, I will visit you all and share some of my crazy her-2 mets and Herceptin stories..smile. I hope any of you reading who are near Geraldine will jump on the her-2 band wagon and join ranks. The cross-sharing of information, in the final analysis, will be what eventually solves the her-2 puzzle. I am sure. Thanks for posting! Godspeed to us all, Gina

geraldine · 10-27-2005, 01:42 PM

Hi Gina,

Thanx for your reply. I've lived in Scotland all my life and I bet you've seen more of it than me ( ha ha). Things here are moving forward, fast, as far as Herceptin is concerned. It was brought to the attention of the media, when a nurse in England was refused the drug because she had primary cancer. It was all over the papers and on the telly. The crux of the story is, she is now getting the treatment and has set a precedent for everybody who is her2, so hopefully it wont be too long before it is available to everyone who needs it. I am NED 2 years now and on Herceptin 3weekly. I attend a hospital in Glasgow, Gartnavel General, part of the Beatson Oncology Unit, and yes, we are blessed with the research here on our doorstep. It would be great to have a get together and if it came about, rest assured, I would post it early enough, so that anyone who wants to come, can.
Keep well and God Bless Geraldine

TriciaK · 10-27-2005, 05:40 PM

Dear Geraldine, I've never been to Scotland, but that is a dream of mine. My grandfather's mother was a MacIntosh. Her family of origin came from the highlands of Scotland in the early 1700's through my GGGG+grandfather, Alexander MacIntosh. A great many of her relatives (and mine) died at Culloden. I used to wonder why bagpipe music would make me cry, before I found out the family history. SO if my dream ever comes true and I get to go to Scotland I will let you know so maybe I can join your get-together,too! Hugs, Tricia