Don't want to give up TDM-1

[caya]

Lucy, my oncologist was Dr. Martin Blackstein at Mount Sinai, but he has since retired from BC patients. I saw his replacement, Dr. Amir, just a couple of times, as I was at the end of treatment. I did like him, he is young and if Dr. Blackstein approved of him as a replacement, that said a lot to me. He discharged me after I finished Femara in 2012, and I am now being followed at Women's College Hospital in the After Cancer Care Clinic. There could be a great breast cancer onc. at Women's College too. Humber is a regional hospital, I would try to get into PMH if possible, as they do many clinical trials there.

I've heard great things about Dr. Ellen Warner at Sunnybrook. There are some wonderful breast cancer onc. at PMH, but I don't have a name for you. Whoever you go to, make sure they are a breast cancer specialist oncologist, not just a general oncologist. PMH is cutting edge, and Mount Sinai is literally linked to PMH, so the docs often confer on cases. I had my mast. at PMH, treatment at Mount Sinai. PMH is one of the top 5 cancer hospitals in the world.

The only name I know at PMH is Dr. Tak Mak, he's a brilliant doctor, I went to a seminar about her2 BC with Dr. Dennis Slamon and Dr. Tak Mak a few years ago at PMH. Not sure if he actually treats BC patients, or if he is more of a research dr., but your GP could call and ask. If he does not take treat patients directly, perhaps his office could direct you to a BC onc. at PMH.

Please keep us informed.

all the best
caya

[michka]

Hi Lucy. I understand you don't want to give up TDM1 since it seemed to be working for you the time you were able to take it. It is when you stopped because of the platelets that you progressed. TDM1 is not for the brain so it is not an argument to have you stop TDM1. Low level of platelets happened to several women here on TDM1 and they just skipped one or two infusions and when the platelets were better, went back to TDM1.
When I read your post, my conclusion is that the drug should NOT been "deemed ineffective" but "effective".
Get a second opinion!

[karina14]

Lucy,

At PMH you can ask for Dr. Warr (very knowledgeable) or Dr. Beddard (he is involved with trials at PMH), both breast cancer oncologists. You should be able to get TDM1, just make your story straight to the oncologist. And TDM1 is also thought to cross a damaged bbb (after wbrt radiation is thought that the bbb is not intact any more) (bbb = brain blood barrier, there are studies that talk about TDM1 and brain). I don't know what is going on at Mt. Sinai, Sunnybrook or Women's College Hospitals, but make sure you move away from Humber.

[lucywang.ca]

Hello everyone, thank you for your support, suggestions, and recommendations. I will speak to my family doctor this Monday regarding all that information you have provided me with, and will keep you all updated on the outcomes.

More suggestions are always welcome, thank you very much ladies.