Making switch "again"

[IRENE FROM TAMPA]

Hi everyone - have not been posting much this year but always have my eye on how everyone is doing. I have been feeling terrible since the holidays and had a difficult time shaking sinus issues and feeling very very down and tired. Am finally getting past that I hope. My taste buds died about 2 weeks into this combo (which I thought was very strange. This has never happened to me before so early on) I have lost about 10 pounds due to such bad taste. The pounds were welcome but not the lost of taste.

I started new combo in Dec. (Herceptin/Avastin/Taxotere) and was just scanned last Friday. It seems nothing much is happening and my CEA has elevated , tumors about same size but more uptake so we decided to stop and start on IXEMPRA/XELODA beginning this Friday. I think my cancer has found its way around taxanes. They do not seem to work for any longer. My onc. office is opening the Herceptin/DM1 trial but due to my having a little too much Adriamycyn back in 1999 mind you, I am excluded. I was so excited since we found out that Genetech was signing an amendment to the exclusion for more then 3 chemos., but now this.

Anyway, my next option is the Ixempra so we will give that a try.

If anyone is on this combo - can you please let me know how you are doing and the side effects you are having. I hear it is a pretty good drug but not much known since it is so new.

Thank you all again and everyone take care.