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Donna, I was on Xeloda with Herceptin for over a year, a very small dose(500 mg. 2 x's daily. It served to keep the cancer stable, and it was only when I resumed Xeloda at a higher dose, after a break to try other chemos, that I had hand/foot syndrom in a big way. At first my onc restarted me at 1000 mg. 2 x's daily, then I asked if we could up the dose so he increased it by just 500 mg. a day and that did me in. So as Sheila points out, side effects are usually dose related. From what I understand it's important to start lower and increase gradually, rather than the reverse.
<3 Lolly
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Sept.'99 - Dx.Stage IIIB, IDC ER/PR-, HER2+++ by IHC, confirmed '04 by FISH. Left MRM, AC x's 4, Taxol x's 4, 33 Rads, finishing Tx May 2000. Jan.'01 - local/regional recurrence, Stage IV. Herceptin/Navelbine weekly till NED August 2001, then maintenance Herceptin. Right Mast. April 2002. Local/Regional recurrence April '04, Herceptin plus/minus chemo until May '07. Gemzar added from Feb.'07-April '07; Tykerb/Abraxane until August '07, back on Herceptin plus Taxotere and Xeloda Sept. '07. Stopped T/X Nov. '07, stopped Herceptin Dec. '07, started Avastin/Taxol/Carboplatin Dec. '07. Progression in chest skin, stopped TAC March '03, started radiation.
Herceptin has served as the "Backbone" of my treatment strategy for over 6 years, giving me great quality of life. In 2005, I was privileged to participate in the University of Washington/Seattle HER2 Vaccine Trial.
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Hybrid Mode
