Sharon,
After my Onc. decided that Herceptin wasn't working well enough for me, she switched me to Gemzar and Avastin. Avastin has been approved for BC. But, she couldn't leave me on Herceptin with the Avastin (no studies have been done to prove that that is safe), so I am flying without my Herceptin. From your story above, it sounds as though you have really been through the ringer.
Remember to be proactive as possible with your treatment decisions. Second Opinions from other Onc. is always an option. Lapatinib may even become FDA approved early 2006. I am HOPEful for that too.
Stay strong and keep the faith.
God Bless,
Cindi.
My Profile:
Diagnosed 4/2002, left mastectomy, lymph node dissection, Age 41.
Stage 2A, 1/11 node pos, ER-/PR-, HER2+++, Treatment – AC, then weekly Taxol. 52 weeks of Herceptin through clinical trial (completed trial 11/03) –No more Herceptin.
5/24/04 – Locoregional Recurrence to axillary lymphs . A total of 2 nodes
found under arm. CT, Bone scans showed no other areas involved. PET scan showed
2 other nodes in Third level of axillary nodes, again no other areas involved.
7/13/04 – Surgery to remove 2 other nodes.
8/5/04 – began Navelbine/Herceptin treatment…3 weeks on / 1 week off for 4 months.
10/4/04 – Punch biopsy positive for skin mets on left breast area (Doctor still thinks it’s
locoregional.) Had a very mild rash that wouldn’t disappear.
10/28/04 – Began daily Hyperthermia radiation for 4-6 weeks for skin mets.
Onc. Will schedule a PET scan after rads are done.
10/28/04 – Began daily Hyperthermia radiation for 6-8 weeks for skin mets in Ann Arbor. Received 1000 mg/day of. Xeloda too. Rash is disappearing, good progress. No negative skin reaction (yet).
12/28/04 - Rads complete!
12/28/04 - PET/CT fusion done.
1/4/05 - Scan results were negative!
2/10/05 – PET/CT fusion done again as a followup
(because the last PET/CT was done the same day Hyperthermia Rads ended)
2/11/05 – Scan results were negative again!!!!!!!!!!!!! Praise the Lord! Now on Herceptin every 3 weeks.
4/8/05 – Biopsy results confirmed that skin mets are back. They are in the lymphatic dermal layer of my skin. Have traveled down my left arm.
4/11/05 – PET scan results show that recurrence is strictly skin mets. No other evidence of disease.
4/14/05 – Onc. has suggested treatment plan of one week on Cytoxan (pill form), then one week of Cytoxan and Xeloda (both are pill form) and then one week of Xeloda. Then begin again on this three week regiment until remission. Still receiving Herceptin every 3 weeks.
9/28/05 – MRI is suspicious of cancer returning. This is due to much nerve pain in my left arm. Left on 9/28 for my lifetime trip to Europe with my husband. I put my BC on the BACK BURNER!!
10/5/05 – PET scan has two small areas light up around the radial plexus of my left arm. Now on Gemzar and Avastin for this and continuing small area of skin mets.
11/22/05 – Maybe it’s working. The nerve pain has greatly dispated, but still not totally gone. Skin mets still there, maybe a little less red.
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