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Herceptin & AI questions
Hi! Question: How long is "long enough" to see if a treatment approach is working? I am trying Femara and Herceptin (every 3 weeks) and have been on this since end of August. My 2nd opinion doc at Johns Hopkins recommended this, but said it's an approach that takes a while to work. I just had a pet/ct scan last week which showed some progression, and am meeting w/ my onc this week to discuss what to do next. Also, I've noticed that about 7-9 days after my Herceptin treatment, more times than not, I'll wake up with a migraine, vomiting, etc. which lasts a few to several hours, then disappears. I don't have a history of migraines. I was thinking migraines were sometimes caused by estrogen levels dropping, but I didn't think I would still cycle at all (ovaries out two years ago and loving that!). My onc said this wasn't a typical side effect of the herceptin/femara. I had been on herceptin & tamoxifen a couple years ago (significant progression then!) and didn't have these symptoms. Anyone have any ideas or similar experience? Thanks! (PS I need to update my signature - obviously no longer NED)
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Liz
3/05 Initial dx invasive dc 2 cm lump, age 39
lumpectomy & 3 of 5 nodes +, ER+/PR+, Her2+++
alternative chemo 5/05-7/05, rad 8/05-10/05
7/06 dx mets to vertebrae, pelvis & chest lymph nodes
8/06 - 10/06 tamoxifen, herceptin, oophorectomy & zometa
11/06 PET/CT showed continued bone mets, new spot on liver
12/06 began taxotere/herceptin 1x/3 weeks,
2/07 - 2-08 NED!
3/08 progression, start taxol/herceptin weekly, monthly zometa
8/08 start ai & herceptin
12/08 - progression, start weekly navelbine/herceptin thru 6/09 & monthly zometa
7/09 - PET/CT showed improvement in spine, but 2-3 lymph nodes in chest became active
9/09 - 11/09 - weekly abraxane/herceptin
12/09 - PET/CT - chest lymph nodes resolved, progression in spine & pelvis
2/10 - 6/10 - start tykerb/xeloda, progession in spine & pelvis
7/10 - start taxotere/carboplatin/herceptin
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