new treatment of gemzar/carboplatin + tykerb

[Shell]

I started on gemzar/carboplatin yesterday w/ tykerb to be added as soon as the paperwork is approved.

This is my 4th regime in the metastatic setting, so needless to see most all hopes are pinned on this. My shortness of breath is very bad, but I muddle through (it's daunting to muster the wherewithall to get out of bed, yet I'm the troop camping mom and we're going camping this weekend for the girl scout camporee). This conflict has been present for a long time. To most outsiders, I'm out and about working full time as a law partner, participating in town events, etc., but my family (husband especially) sees the opposite side of this, as I come home exhausted and just want to sit on the couch. My husband has taken on so much extra.

I'm contacting a counselor to help speak with our girls (ages 9 and 11), so hopefully things will continue to go as smoothly as possible in that regard.

I read Lani's latest article (but being non-medical of course understood next to nothing!! - you ladies who can interpret these are AMAZING in my book!!) of the issue of the four genes spreading cancer to the lungs - I am sending the article to my onc, but wonder if this means that there would be no harm in adding cetuximab (erbitux) and celecoxib (celebrex) to my regime - any thoughts anyone??

In any event, will keep you posted as my next infusion will be next week, with I think a week or 2 off after that. My understanding is we need to see results VERY quickly.

Finally, I've called Wyeth re the HKI-272 trial - one disqualifying factor is "more than 4 prior cytotixic regimes". I don't know what that means - from my signature can anyone tell me whether that's me?

Regards,