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06-03-2006, 07:04 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 285
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Now what???
Friends,
A couple of days ago I went for a back x-ray to determine whether I had a fractured rib (from a dogs vs. me incident). Turns out I did...but that was the good news.
The films showed some probable cancer mets in part of my lung. We'll know more after a PET/CT scan Tuesday and a pow-wow with docs on Thursday.
When my onc's wonderful PA told me the news and we discussed it somewhat, she (with a very sad face) asked me how I felt. I told her I was in no pain, thinking about my previously painful rib. No, she said. How are you feeling emotionally?
I honestly answered her, "O.K." While I'm not the least bit thrilled with this bad news, I just say, let's continue the fight. Good thoughts and prayers are welcome.
I'll let you know more after next Thursday.
Love and light,
Lisa
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06-03-2006, 07:07 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 306
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Well crap, Lisa....
OFCOURSE: many very good thoughts and prayers....
xoxopattyz
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06-03-2006, 07:09 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Newton, MA
Posts: 951
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My thoughts are with you, Lisa. I'm also glad that your thoughts are "Continue the fight!"
Barbara H.
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06-03-2006, 07:10 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 1,516
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Lisa...
You've ALWAYS got thoughts and prayers from me.
Rhonda
__________________
Rhonda
Dx 2/1/05, Stage 1, 0 nodes, Grade 3, ER/PR-, HER2+ (3.16 Fish)
2/7/05, Partial Mastectomy
5/18/05 Finished 6 rounds of dose dense TEC (Taxotere, Epirubicin and Cytoxan)
8/1/05 Finished 33 rads
8/18/05 Started Herceptin, every 3 weeks for a year (last one 8/10/06)
2/1/13...8 year Cancerversary and I am "perfect" (at least where cancer is concerned;)
" And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."- Abraham Lincoln
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06-03-2006, 07:17 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Posts: 65
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I am always so impressed with how strong the ladies are who participate in this forum. You have such a wonderful attitude, and that will carry you a long way.
God is watching over you as you continue on your journey. I will be thinking about you and praying for you.
All the best,
Jayne
__________________
Caregiver to mother, Diane
Diagnosed 3/2006 Stage IIB (T2, N2, M0), Her-2+++, Er/PR-, Grade 3
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06-03-2006, 09:26 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 543
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Lisa,
Here is a just published article which you might ask your onc to look into:
Reported June 2, 2006
One-Two Punch for Lung Cancer
(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- UCLA researchers find adding the COX-2 inhibitor Celebrex (celecoxib) to the lung cancer drug Tarveca significantly increases the number of people who can benefit from the therapy
In their study, about 33 percent of patients responded to the combination treatment. Typically, only about 10 percent of lung cancer patients respond to Tarveca alone.
The addition of Celebrex is believed to up the efficacy of Tarveca because it inhibits the COX-2 cell signaling pathway. That pathway has been linked to resistance to Tarveca, which blocks the growth of tumor cells by targeting a protein known as the epidermal growth factor receptor, or EGFR.
"Tarveca alone is a great drug and has a lot of clinical benefits, but for a small proportion of patients," says study author Dr. Karen Reckamp. "With this drug combination, we saw an increase in response rates, indicating we are overcoming some resistance."
All of the participants in the study were diagnosed with advanced lung cancer that failed to respond to conventional treatments like chemotherapy.
The authors note the Tarveca-Celebrex treatment could be superior to chemotherapy because it targets only the diseased cells. Chemotherapy kills all fast growing cells, healthy and diseased alike, and can cause serious side effects. In this study, Tarveca only caused minor side effects, such as rash and diarrhea, and the addition of Celebrex didn't add any side effects to the mix.
The researchers plan more study to confirm these early findings and delve more deeply into why some people are resistant to Tarveca.
SOURCE: Clinical Cancer Research, published online June 1, 2006
P.S.: in the above text one should read "Tarceva" instead of wrongly spelled "Tarveca". Tarceva is the commercial name for Erlotinib. The abstract for the study results can be read at:
http://www.her2support.org/vbulletin...ad.php?t=24036
Last edited by heblaj01; 06-06-2006 at 08:28 PM..
Reason: P.S. added to indicate spelling error in original press report for Tarceva (wrogly spelled Tarveca)
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06-03-2006, 10:02 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 589
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Lisa, you continue to amaze! Have no doubt that thoughts and prayers will be coming your way. Great suggestion from heblaj01.
Love and light, Eric
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06-03-2006, 10:51 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Morris, IL
Posts: 3,507
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Lisa
I also had a fractured rib from sneezing so I know what that feels like...on my bone scan it came back bone mets, but upon xray and another scan, a fractured rib was noted. You have such strength, my prayers are with you...it seems like when 1 gets good news, another gets bad news....I hate this disease, all the more reason to keep up the fight....we need to win!
__________________
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Hugs & Blessings
Sheila
Diagnosed at age 49.99999 2/21/2002 via Mammography (Calcifications)
Core Biopsy 2/22/02
L. Mastectomy 2/25/2002
Stage 1, 0.7cm IDC, Node Neg from 19 nodes Her2+++ ER PR Neg
6/2003 Reconstruction W/ Tissue Expander, Silicone Implant
9/2003 Stage IV with Mets to Supraclavicular nodes
9/2003 Began Herceptin every 3 weeks
3/2006 Xeloda 2500mg/Herceptin for recurrence to neck nodes
3/2007 Added back the Xeloda with Herceptin for continued mets to nodes
5/2007 Taken Off Xeloda, no longer working
6/14/07 Taxol/Herceptin/Avastin
3/26 - 5/28/08 Taxol Holiday Whopeeeeeeeee
5/29 2008 Back on Taxol w Herceptin q 2 weeks
4/2009 Progression on Taxol & Paralyzed L Vocal Cord from Nodes Pressing on Nerve
5/2009 Begin Rx with Navelbine/Herceptin
11/09 Progression on Navelbine
Fought for and started Tykerb/Herceptin...nodes are melting!!!!!
2/2010 Back to Avastin/Herceptin
5/2010 Switched to Metronomic Chemo with Herceptin...Cytoxan and Methotrexate
Pericardial Window Surgery to Drain Pericardial Effusion
7/2010 Back to walking a mile a day...YEAH!!!!
9/2010 Nodes are back with a vengence in neck
Qualified for TDM-1 EAP
10/6/10 Begin my miracle drug, TDM-1
Mixed response, shrinking internal nodes, progression skin mets after 3 treatments
12/6/10 Started Halaven (Eribulen) /Herceptin excellent results in 2 treatments
2/2011 I CELEBRATE my 9 YEAR MARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7/5/11 begin Gemzar /Herceptin for node progression
2/8/2012 Gemzar stopped, Continue Herceptin
2/20/2012 Begin Tomo Radiation to Neck Nodes
2/21/2012 I CELEBRATE 10 YEARS
5/12/2012 BeganTaxotere/ Herceptin is my next miracle for new node progression
6/28/12 Stopped Taxotere due to pregression, Started Perjeta/Herceptin
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06-03-2006, 12:17 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 198
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Lisa...BIG hugs to you first of all. You are such and inspiration to us!!! You have been through a great deal, but I am always so impressed with your will to fight this beast no matter what it throws at you...Thank you, it gives me the will to continue to fight as well. If Lisa can do it...maybe I can too!!!!
All the best to you as you meet with the powers that be to determine...What's next.
Tammy
__________________
Dx'd Dec'01 while 6mos preg. with #4. child (30yrsold)Mastectomy/AC chemo/radiation/ Recur:Mar'04 liver mets: 3 taxol/herceptin /liver resection/3 taxol/herceptin. Cured?
Recur: May'05 spine & Hip. New onc
treatment in Mexico Feb'06-Mar-06
back to Mexico June/July '06
Currently on herceptin/Zometa/Femara-recently added navelbine
Switched to arimidex Nov'06
ovaries removed June '07
ca15-3 in May'06 was 102
ca15-3 summer of '07 holding steady at 23!
ca15-3 slowly rising Dec & Jan 36, 38, 41 and Feb was 36
Feb '08 Liver, lung & Brain scan NED... bones are stable with even a couple spots gone. as compared with '06 scans
May '08 ca 15-3 is 55. Treatment is zometa, vinorelbine, herceptin and aromasin.
No signifcant changes.
Feb'09 Started Xeloda with herceptin..no more hormonals
Feb'09-June'09 tumor markers coming down again from 155 to 84
May'09 blood clots in lungs vena cava filter put in..Heparin shots daily for now.
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06-03-2006, 03:25 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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Lisa,
I've read many of your posts and you are indeed a strong and determined woman. Keep up the positive attitude. You are in my prayers.
__________________
Kate
Stage IIIC Diagnosed Oct 25, 2005 (age 58)
ER/PR-, HER2+++, grade 3, Ploidy/DNA index: Aneuploid/1.61, S-phase: 24.2%
Neoadjunct chemo: 4 A/C; 4 Taxatore
Bilateral mastectomy June 8, 2006
14 of 26 nodes positive
Herceptin June 22, 2006 - April 20, 2007
Radiation (X35) July 24-September 11, 2006
BRCA1/BRCA2 negative
Stage IV lung mets July 13, 2007 - TCH
Single brain met - August 6, 2007 -CyberKnife
Oct 2007 - clear brain MRI and lung mets shrinking.
March 2008 lung met progression, brain still clear - begin Tykerb/Xeloda/Ixempra
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06-03-2006, 05:01 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: LI, NY
Posts: 660
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Dear Lisa - I learned it from you!! Your a strong person with attitude! Keep up the good fight..my prayers are with you...
__________________
Maryann
Stage IV Inflammatory BC 1/00
Mod Rad Mastectomy 24nod/5+
Adriomycin Cytoxin Taxol
Tamoxifen 4 1/2 yrs
Radiation - 32 x
Metastatic BC lung/liver 10/04
thorocentesis 2x - pleurodesis
Herceptin Taxatiere Carbo
Femera/Lupron
BC NED 4/05
chemo induced Acute Myeloid Leukemia 5/06
Induction/consolidation chemo
bone marrow transplant - 11/3/06
Severe Host vs Graft Disease of liver
BC mets to lung 11/07
Fasoladex Herceptin Zometa Xeloda
GVHD/Iron overload to liver
Avascular Necrosis/morphine pump 10/10
metastatic brain tumor
steriotactic radiosurgery
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06-03-2006, 05:31 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Streetsboro, Ohio
Posts: 365
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Dear Lisa, You are in need of a break. I have not been in remission since this recurrance, but I have been stable enough to get off of chemo for 3 months last summer and 5 1/2 months this past winter and spring. I have some activity in and around my lungs but things seem to be moving slowly. I will continue to pray for you to get a good report.
God Bless You, Lisa.
Lu Ann
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06-03-2006, 07:46 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 556
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Tykerib
Lisa,
Please see the post by Joe about compassionate use of Tykerib, it should be available if you talk to your oncologist. This might do wonders for you.
Julie
__________________
Diagnosed in Sept 2004 while pregnant with the second child. Stage 3b, tumor 4.5cm, 4 auxillary and supraclav node positive. Her2+++ FISH 9.4 and er-,pr-.
Had dose dense neoadjuvant AC,Taxol then mastectomy,radiation+xeloda+Herceptin.
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06-03-2006, 07:51 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Montgomery Co, Pennsylvania
Posts: 110
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Dear Lisa, I, too, am so sorry to hear your news. Even though you are strong and a fighter, allow yourself the time to say this stinks, then.. give it all you've got!
Praying for you,
Maggie
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06-03-2006, 08:29 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: northshore suburb of chicago
Posts: 1,093
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It never ceases to amaze me the strength and positive thinking so many of you have, Lisa included. I believe I happened upon this forum for many reasons but for one important one and that is to draw strength from all you incredibly strong women. You have all helped me to have even a more positive attitude and to be thankful for everyday....for it can always be worse. I am proud to be among all you brave and courageous women. I made up my mind from the day it was confirmed that I had grade 3 her2neu+b.c. that I was going to be a fighter and beat this and I am commited to that way of handling this. Lisa stay strong and positive and know that you have my prayers, support and admiration.
__________________
~Rina~
Dx:3/06 had a lumpectomy April 19, 2006
Her2+ er/pr- Stage I Grade 3 tumor size 1.4 cm, node negative
AC 4 dense doses
34 radiation treatments including booster doses
receiving herceptin every 3 weeks since late August 2006 for 12 months
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06-04-2006, 02:32 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: melbourne, australia
Posts: 267
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As someone else said,try for the Tybkerb on EAP (early access program). They will release it for special circumstances.
Christine
Last edited by chrislmelb; 06-04-2006 at 02:34 AM..
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06-04-2006, 02:35 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: .
Posts: 211
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Dear Lisa
Thats not fair. You have my thoughts and prayers. The Tykerb thing sounds like a good possibility.
love
LInda
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06-04-2006, 10:18 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: St. George, UT
Posts: 582
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Lisa, You are an inspiration, and our thoughts and prayers are indeed with you. I read once that Amazon women cut off at least one breast so they could use their weapons better, Maybe we can all be considered warrior Amazons as we fight this beast! Hugs, Tricia
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06-04-2006, 12:38 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Misty woods of WA State
Posts: 4,128
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Tykerb - ditto
That's why we love you Tricia - you always come up with a spunky reply!!
Lisa already qualifies as an Amazon since she is lopsided. This is physically, but your outlook and will to stay in the thick of the battle sets you apart, Lisa. You could beat the Amazons!
It seems to me that as we get farther into being Stage IV, each new challenge gets met with the same "well crap - what now." Then we go on and deal with it.
If lung mets are confirmed maybe it is worth trying Tykerb.
Seems like the mets play their own version of "musical chairs" in your body. Time to stop the music.
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06-04-2006, 01:38 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 943
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Keep the fighting spirt up. You are in my prayers.
__________________
Robin
2002- dx her2 positive DCIS/bc TX Mast, herceptin chemo
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