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10-12-2010, 02:34 AM
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#21
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Southern, CA
Posts: 2,511
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Re: Courtney, how are you?
Courtney,
That's just amazing news...just got to love it. Just when the ppl at UCSF think they have seen it all along comes YOU. That's pretty exciting to be the first one to show shrinkage on the Gamma scan! Now it's one of those things that will have all of you left scratching your heads wondering which one is responsible for the shrinkage? (I do know Dr. Slamon talked to me about Tykerb since it's good at crossing the BBB.) But after the "combo" you had it's one of those things that make you go hummmmm?  (Would of been fun to be a fly on the wall as they read your scans over and over again.) lol
I'm so glad you got good news and can breath a little easier as you go into the Holiday season. I'll continue keeping you in my thoughts & prayers. Enjoy!
Chelee
__________________
DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes.
Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs.
Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06
Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07
3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07
9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV.
9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa
9-29-09 Power Port Placement
10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head.
11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed
12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa.
3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed.
4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone.
5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy.
Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time.
7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.
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10-12-2010, 03:12 AM
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#22
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,526
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Re: Courtney, how are you?
Hi Courtney
Always knew you were remarkable! Now YOU have just proved it!
Hugs
Ellie
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10-12-2010, 09:08 AM
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#23
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 415
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Re: Courtney, how are you?
Yaaaay! So thrilled for you Courtney!!!
It is your grace and dignity that helped me face my
bout with a brain met with courage and certainty that
we could zap it away.
Successful treatment for any one of us is a VICTORY for
ALL of us!
Keep the faith~
Jessica
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10-12-2010, 09:18 AM
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#24
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Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Suburb of Baltimore, MD
Posts: 23
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Re: Courtney, how are you?
Courtney,
I am so excited - Awesome Awesome news! I am so happy for you! You may be onto something with your medicine combo and brain mets. I am really glad your procedure went as well as possible.
Love,
Carolyn
__________________
1/10 Diagnosed with IDC; 3.7 cm tumor
3/10 Left Radical Masectomy; 2 /16 nodes positive - Grade 3 ER+/PR-/HER2+++
4/10 BRCA1 and BRCA2 both negative
4/10 Pet Scan showed another node .07mm positive on the internal mammary area
4/10 ALLTO Trial - randomized for Arm 4 - Taxotere/Carboplatin and Herceptin only (no Tykerb) Began 6 cycles Taxotere/Carboplatin (every three weeks) and Herceptin weekly for eighteen weeks and then every three weeks until the end of April 2011
Radiation to begin 9/2010
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10-12-2010, 01:21 PM
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#25
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 510
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Re: Courtney, how are you?
Wonderful news!!! So happy for you!!!!
__________________
ER+ (30%)/PR-/HER-2+, stage 3
Diagnosed on 02/18/09 at 38 with a huge 12x10 cm tumor, after a 6 month delay. Told I was too young and had no risk factors. Found swollen node during breastfeeding.
March-August 09: neo-adjuvant chemo, part of a trial at Stanford (4 DD A/C, 4 Taxotere with daily Tykerb), loading dose of Herceptin
08/12/09 - bye bye boobies (bilateral mastectomy)
08/24/09 - path report shows 100 % success in breast tissue (no cancer there, yay!), 98 % success in lymphatic invasion, and even though 11/13 nodes were still positive, > 95 % of the tumor in them was killed. Hoping for the best!
September-October 09: rads with daily Xeloda
02/25/10 - Cholecystectomy
05/27/10 - Bone scan clear
06/14/10 - CT scan clear, ovarian cyst found
07/27/10 - Done with Herceptin!
02/15/11 - MVA-BN HER-2 vaccine trial
03/15/11 - First CA 15-3: 12.7 and normal, yay!
10/01/11 - Bone scan and CT scan clear, fatty liver found
now on Tamoxifen and Aspirin
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10-12-2010, 01:25 PM
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#26
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Haarlem, the Netherlands
Posts: 835
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Re: Courtney, how are you?
Doing my happy Dutch clogdance for you! Wow, what fantastic news!
Love
jacqueline
__________________
Diagnosed age 44, January 2004, 0.7 cm IDC & DCIS. Stage 1, grade 3, ER/PR pos. HER2 pos. clear margins, no nodes. SNB. 35 rads. On Zoladex and Armidex since Dec. 2004. Stopped Zoladex/Arimidex sept 2009 Still taking mistletoe shots (CAM therapy) Doing fine.
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10-12-2010, 01:44 PM
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#27
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Ireland
Posts: 271
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Re: Courtney, how are you?
Courtney, so very glad all is going well for you. I must google Boswellia whatever it is, it must be magical. Very best wishes.
__________________
Delaney, dx 2008 lumpectomy,mastectomy,a/c,paxitaxol, tyverb 1 yr.
dx 2010 mets lymph nodes, skin, lung. start taxotere/herceptin.
Stopped taxtere/herceptin, now on tyverb/xeloda.
Lung mets shrinking.
Back on Herceptin with T/X. Partial response.
Skin mets progressing. Radiation scheduled mid february 2011.
Spot found on hip - radiation to hip beginning mid February 2011.
Now trying Gemzar/Tyverb/Herceptin and Zometa.
CT scan Feb 2011 - lung clear!
Brain mets (specks) - radiation mid Feb.
Brain Scan June'11 - Clear
CT Scan June'11 - Good - skin met active - watch and wait.
Surgery to remove skin met. Surgery to back 2012, four titanium rods inserted. Skin mets reappear. On Navelbine, not working. 4 week washout, start Myocet for skin and lung mets August 2012. Brain scan clear despte intermittent blurry vision (something hiding? Am suspicious but hopeful. )On we go, glad to be here.
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10-12-2010, 02:05 PM
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#28
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Northern Calif.
Posts: 981
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Re: Courtney, how are you?
Wonderful news!! Shrinkage in our bc language is always very good! I am going to google boswellia too!
Hugs,
Lexi
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10-12-2010, 02:21 PM
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#29
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 76
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Re: Courtney, how are you?
Wonderful news! Woo hoooo!! I am absolutely thrilled with your news. Have a wonderful and blessed holiday season.
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10-12-2010, 03:51 PM
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#30
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 260
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Re: Courtney, how are you?
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Yes, definitely check out the papers on Boswellia. There are some threads about it here too so check the search function and you can read about our past experiences with it as well. I think Brenda may have tried it too.
I had been taking Boswellia at a low dose since my brain mets diagnosis but I went off it once I started the vaccine trial in May. Then all of a sudden, I get hit with brain mets again. I start taking the Boswellia at super high doses three weeks ago (1800 mg x 3 daily) and all of a sudden there is shrinkage. I KNOW that it is not the Tykerb alone. I started taking Tykerb 3 weeks ago as well but this is my second dance with Tykerb. My brain mets progressed (albeit slowly) while on Tykerb previously.
Another explanation is the vaccine. I got my first booster shot in September.
I don't care what is shrinking them. I am just grateful something is. But yes, I would encourage anyone who is interested to check out the info on Boswellia. It can't hurt to take it.
And Steph, to answer your question - yes, I will get to continue on the trial! I'll be up two more times for vaccine booster shots, once on November 16th and again in January date TBD. Hope to see you again during one or both of my trips!
__________________
4/17/08: Dx Stage IV at age 30 - extensive mets to liver, lungs, and bones. Er/Pr-, Her2+++
April 08-Aug 08:Taxotere, Cytoxan, Herceptin, Zometa - complete response!
Sept 08-Dec 08: Herceptin +Zometa for maintenance.
Jan 09-April 09: Brain mets. Add Tykerb. Watch and wait.
April 09: Gamma Knife 10 brain mets, add Xeloda.
Sept 09: Gamma Knife to 1 brain met.
Nov 09- April 10: Lung progression, add Gemzar to Herceptin, Zometa.
May 10- Sept 10: HER2 Vaccine Trial
Sept 10: Add Tykerb for more brain mets.
Oct 10: Gamma Knife to 7 brain mets.
Dec 10: Switch from Zometa to Denosumab.
Jan 11: Gamma Knife to 3 brain mets.
March 11: Gemzar/Herceptin for lung/bone progression.
April 11: More brain mets - Intrathecal Herceptin
June 11: Ixempra/Herceptin for lung, soft tissue progression.
Aug 11: Gamma Knife
Sep 11: Abraxane/Herceptin
Future: NED
Send me a PM if you'd like to follow my journey on Caringbridge.
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10-12-2010, 04:05 PM
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#31
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 129
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Re: Courtney, how are you?
That is just so amazing Courtney!
I just sent my info to Doreen at UDub to get the ball rolling on the vaccine trial. Right now I qualify, so I can't imagine why I shouldn't jump on it. I am so glad you get to continue with the trial.
After I posted here, I Googled Boswellia, and what little I had time to read sounds really great. I may even try it the next time I have a headache since it is sometimes used in place of Ibuprofin or Aspirin. I also forwarded it to my friend who struggles with Colitis. Thanks for the tip on using the search function here
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10-12-2010, 04:12 PM
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#32
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 260
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Re: Courtney, how are you?
Glad to hear it Deena. The team at U of W is fantastic. Truly first rate. I think it would be a great thing for you to do at this point in your treatment - kill off all of those micromets that may be lurking by teaching your own immune system how to search and destroy!
For more info on Boswellia and breast cancer, check out this link and read the article on the right side column:
http://bcwatchdigest-brain.evidencewatch.com
__________________
4/17/08: Dx Stage IV at age 30 - extensive mets to liver, lungs, and bones. Er/Pr-, Her2+++
April 08-Aug 08:Taxotere, Cytoxan, Herceptin, Zometa - complete response!
Sept 08-Dec 08: Herceptin +Zometa for maintenance.
Jan 09-April 09: Brain mets. Add Tykerb. Watch and wait.
April 09: Gamma Knife 10 brain mets, add Xeloda.
Sept 09: Gamma Knife to 1 brain met.
Nov 09- April 10: Lung progression, add Gemzar to Herceptin, Zometa.
May 10- Sept 10: HER2 Vaccine Trial
Sept 10: Add Tykerb for more brain mets.
Oct 10: Gamma Knife to 7 brain mets.
Dec 10: Switch from Zometa to Denosumab.
Jan 11: Gamma Knife to 3 brain mets.
March 11: Gemzar/Herceptin for lung/bone progression.
April 11: More brain mets - Intrathecal Herceptin
June 11: Ixempra/Herceptin for lung, soft tissue progression.
Aug 11: Gamma Knife
Sep 11: Abraxane/Herceptin
Future: NED
Send me a PM if you'd like to follow my journey on Caringbridge.
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10-12-2010, 08:04 PM
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#33
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: New Boston, NH
Posts: 275
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Re: Courtney, how are you?
Time to do the happy dance! That's incredible news! So excited for you.
__________________
-Sarah-
Jan '07 felt lump (PCP "thought" it was a cyst)
Nov '07 "bloody nipple discharge" (OB-GYN "thought" I had fibrocystic breasts and told me to take 400 IU's of Vitamin E)
Note: Mother was dx w/BC in 2004 (ER/PR+ & HER2+) & mets to brain April 2007 (she passed away June 17, 2008)
2/1/08: Biopsy Dx: DCIS (age 34)
2/22/08: Surgery R-side Mast
2/28/08: 1st Path Rpt Dx: IDC 1.8cm tumor & DCIS 2.1cm
2nd Path Rep DFCI - IDC (0.9cm) & DCIS (2.1cm)
Stage 1b/Gr 3; ER+(5%), PR+(2%), HER-2+++
5/5 nodes NEG; Clear Margins
Chemo: AC 4 rnds (1st one 3/31/08) finished 6/2/08
TH (Taxol/Hercepin) 12 weeks (1st one 6/25/08) finished 9/8/08
Herceptin 9 mos (every 3 weeks) finished 6/8/09
BRCA 1/2 NEG
Bio: Age 39, married to James 1999, 2 boys 12 & 10 yo
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10-13-2010, 06:13 AM
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#34
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 1,486
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Re: Courtney, how are you?
Courtney,
I am so glad to hear your good news.
Amelia
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