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Herceptin Vacation Update
Hello folks,
Just wanted to give a quick update on stopping my Herceptin. As you may recall, I had stopped Herceptin (last infusion was April 27th) only to have my Her2 Serum levels climb above normal at five weeks out. My CA15-3 was still normal. Retesting 4 weeks later showed a further increase in Her2 Serum, while CA15-3 stayed normal. Based on that I decided to go back on Herceptin.
So, on July 14th I had my Herceptin again. As usual, I had my blood drawn before they gave me the Herceptin to run my labs again. I fully expected my Her2 Serum to be even higher, and possibly my CA15-3 too, but they were both NORMAL!
So, maybe the Her2 Serum isn't going to be the most accurate test for me. Or maybe there are other things that can cause it to rise (just like CA15-3). In any case I am going to try going off the Herceptin again, and not freak out so soon, if my markers are slightly elevated!
So, I will keep you posted on the continuing saga of trying to wean myself off of the miracle Vitamin H.
Kim in CA
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Diag. Feb 1997 4.5cm IDC <10%ER+, PR-. 5 out of 36 nodes +. Mastectomy followed by 3 rounds Adriamycin/Cytoxin.
5/1997 Hi Dose Chemo w/ Stem cell rescue. Spent 4 weeks in isolation ward. Then 6 weeks radiation.
9/2001 widespread mets to liver. 8 mos Taxotere/Herceptin brought me almost to NED. Stop Taxotere & add Femara .
11/2002 liver resection to remove spot that turned out to be necrosis. Officially NED!
7/2003 Tumor markers rising add Xeloda Disastrous reaction, 8 days hospital, but tumor markers came back to normal!
June -Dec 2004 UW Vaccine Trial.
7/2005 MRI single 11mm brain met
8/2005 Gamma Knife.
Brain MRI @3 months NED!
2006-2011 brain/body still NED
8/04/11 Taking Herceptin break, will monitor with tumor markers.
6/20/12 Tumor markers begin to rise. CA15-3 is 31.3 and Her2 Serum is at 17.1 Decide to repeat in one month.
7/23/12 CA15-3 now 49.3
Her2 Serum 26.8
8/6/12 Back on Herceptin
CA15-3 now 76
Her2 Serum now 49
11/7/12 Add weekly Taxotere for 4 cycles
2/2013 Stopped Taxotere added Perjeta. MRI shows approx. 50% reduction liver mets. CA15-3 still elevated @ 55. Will continue on just Herceptin & Perjeta.
November 2014 Continuing on Herceptin, Perjeta, and
Femara indefinitely. Guess I'm NED again, but watching those tumor markers carefully!
Dec. 2015 PET scan reveals mass in perirectal area of abdomen.biopsy confirms. Still Her2+, but no longer ER+. Bye bye Femara
Jan 2016 Begin Kadcyla
March 2016 PET scan shows tumor now barely visible, still NED everywhere else.
2016/2017 continue Kadcyla
November 2017 brain MRI reveals small focus of T2 hyperintensity with possible 4mm enhancing nodule. Short term follow up MRI suggested. Stay tuned...
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Hybrid Mode
