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03-23-2010, 04:13 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 415
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Ixempra - good respoonse after only 3 weeks!
Hi Friends~
Just wanted to share some good news - seems like it's in short supply these days, so hope this helps.
I just finished my 1st cycle of qweekly Ixempra/Herceptin - 3 weeks on, 1 week off.
It's been a tough regimen, but I can report, with my doctor's confirmation, that the combo is WORKING!
After progressing on multiple other combos over the years (109 rounds of infused chemo to date) , and then not responding to Tykerb/Xeloda and Tykerb/Herceptin in the recent 8 months, we switched to Ixempra/Herceptin.I was really apprehensive about Ixempra because I'd heard so little about it from folks here, not to mention, little about how effective the drug is. I know, it's always a crapshoot, but it's nice to hear about other's successes on different meds.
My disease has recurred in my liver - after 4 yrs NED in my liver - and in the nodes in my belly, causing complications for GI & bladder, and a 2cm soft tissue met that is very superficial & palpable near my belly button.
I'd say there's been ~50% improvement/decrease in all my symptoms and the palpable met is significantly smaller! "Oh yeah, that's definitely smaller" were the words of my doc 
I started the 2nd cycle yesterday and will scan after this cycle. There's no reason to suspect we won't continue on this positive path, so I'm hoping and praying to see NED again very soon!
As for hairloss, the literature says 30% of people will experience 50% hairloss. So far for me, none, though I suspect I may experience some loss during this 2nd cycle. Or maybe I dodged the bullet - one can always hope!
This has been a tough combo for me - and I'm not accustomed to feeling this sick on treatment. But by the Grace of God and the resilience of the Human Body, the week OFF has been a blessing and I felt more like myself that I had in MONTHS. Wow is it a nice feeling to be OFF chemo!
Just wanted to share this little bit of sunshine. And a reminder that Ixempra works and that it's available in our arsenal to help us continue on this fight, until there's a CURE.
A positive response to treatment for any one of us is a VICTORY for all of us!
Keep the Faith~
Jessica |
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03-23-2010, 04:34 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 869
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Re: Ixempra - good respoonse after only 3 weeks!
Jessica, This is good news we needed to hear for sure!! Thanks for the thorough update....sorry, you have to endure this again, but it sounds like a winning combo for you. Wishing you NED and continued positive results. Ceesun
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03-23-2010, 04:35 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Newfoundland, Canada
Posts: 153
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Re: Ixempra - good respoonse after only 3 weeks!
Congrats! Keep us posted on how you are doing on this combo, Im on Xeloda now for liver mets but am always keep up to speed for my arsenal.
Dawn
__________________
Dawn
Mar 2006Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu 3+++, Er & Pr positive, 8 of 18 pos 03/14/06: Mastectomy 04/19/06 started Chemo adriamycin, chlophosphamide, taxotere 25 rads
Nov 1, 06: 3 years Tamoxifen, Herceptin (1yr)
Jan 2009 Femara mets to bone aromasin and aredia
June2009: Full Histerectomy
2/22/2010 6 spots in liver 2 mm-10 mm: switched to xeloda and Herceptin will continue with Aredia J
Scan February 2011 new onc, switch to abraxane
April 2011 NED clear organs, 3 spots on bone scar tissue.
Scans August 2mm spot on liver and lungs. now on to tykerb/xeloda
Dec 2011 scans nothing on lungs, liver down to 1 2 mm spot. j
une 2012 another spot on liver on to cisplatin/gemzar.
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03-23-2010, 09:43 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Misty woods of WA State
Posts: 4,128
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Re: Ixempra - good respoonse after only 3 weeks!
Dear Jessica -
Thanks so much for letting us know your good news. Always a real lift when you can feel/see the progress yourself and don't have to rely on scans so much.
You were a responder to the right drug in the past, and this one seems to be helping you a lot, even though it is harder on you physically - the cancer is taking it in the shorts!
__________________
"When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau
Live in the moment.
MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~
Found suspicious lump 9/2000
Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement
Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR -
Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds
36 rads - very little burning
3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum
Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED!
2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa
Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18
All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET
Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying
Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa
Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?)
2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava
2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec.
Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011
STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer
7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones
Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED
2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED.
Same news for 2016 and all of 2017.
Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018.
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03-24-2010, 04:17 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
Posts: 731
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Re: Ixempra - good respoonse after only 3 weeks!
Jessica, I've been thinking of you and wondering if ixempra side effects were getting any easier for you. I am glad to see your post and so happy you are seeing good results so quickly. I hope this can bring you to NED again soon. Hang in there on the side effects and fatique you are in my thoughts.
__________________
Pam
6/01 IBC er+ her2+stage IIIb; mastecomy
7/01 AC, taxol; radiation
2/02 tamoxifen
9/02 stage IV bone mets femara
1/03 taxotere/herceptin/aredia
6/03 herceptin, aredia & faslodex
1/04 navelbine, herceptin, aredia
2/05 herceptin/aredia
7/05 xeloda/herceptin/aredia
3/07 xeloda/tykerb/aredia
5/08 taxol/avastin/aredia
2/09 gemzar/herceptin/zometa
7/09 Taxol/Carbo/Herceptin, zometa
10/09 navelbine/herceptin & zometa
2/10 herceptin & tykerb & zometa
4/10 add xeloda &aromasin
10/10 dx with dermatomyiositis triggered by cancer
11/10 restart herceptin, tykerb, zometa
12/10 surgery-place rod in R femur to stabilize bone
1/11 radiation to R femur - 20 tx
2/11 2nd surgery - rod in Left femur
2/11 tx eribulen -- suspended dx brain mets
3/11 brain mets wbr 20 tx
4/11 halaven; discontine 8/11 not working
8/11 radiation to left femur 20 tx'
8-9/11 rad to lower spine
9/11 abraxane/herceptin/zometa
9/12 xeloda/herceptin/zometa
12/12 ablation of liver
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03-24-2010, 05:19 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Southern Indiana
Posts: 455
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Re: Ixempra - good respoonse after only 3 weeks!
Jessica,
Wonderful news. This drug is kicking!
Good news is like sun shine
__________________
Alice
04/08 age 50 III IBC Her2+++ ER/PR-8cm 14/14 Double M, Body and Brain CT/PET clear, ? on spine,Muga 53
06/08, 4 A/C, Neulasta
08/08, Herceptin/tax 12 every week
10/08, CT/PET clear, ? on pelvis, hips, MUGA 43, started Enalaprial for heart, Herceptin every 3 weeks
11/08 33Rads; 12/08 MUGA 48
2/09 MRI spine and bone scan, old mets to spine, Chest x-ray, blood work, IV NED,regular CPAP use,Zometa x6, first -flue like symptoms 2 days;Herceptin x3; stage 2 lymphoedema..sleeve and glove
4/09 Brain MRI - CLEAR; MUGA 54
7/09 chest ultrasound,
10/09 PET, brain and spin MRI NED Herceptin only. MUGA 59!!!
1/11 Hip replacement 7/11 Hip 2 replacement
4/12 4 years!! Herceptin
6/12 start reconstruction finish in 12/12
2/14 Herception - 6 years!!!
1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you
can stand up under it."
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03-24-2010, 05:29 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Evergreen, Colorado
Posts: 454
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Re: Ixempra - good respoonse after only 3 weeks!
Jessica,
So glad you shared your good news with us!! As you said, not too many on the site have talked much about Ixempra so you are blazing some trails for us all.
Sorry to hear that it has been a tough regime but let's hope that this is the trick that knocks out that met once and for all.
Keep us posted girl!! Lori
__________________
2007
Oct - Diagnosed - Stage IV 5 c.m. IDC - Left Side er/pr- Her2+++ Node + 2/14 - Single Liver Met Double Mastectomy Nov - Begin T+H 2008
Feb-Complete 6 cycles- T&H- NED
March - Continue - Herceptin Only
April - Rads for 6 weeks
2009
Continue Herceptin - Continue NED
April - Recurrance- 3 cm. Liver Met
May - Cryosurgery
June - November - Abraxane + Herceptin
Aug - PET/CT - CTC = 0 Back to NED
2010
January - Continue NED
July - Recurrance - 3 cm Liver Met CTC=1
August - Cryosurgery #2
August - November Navelbine
November - Back to NED - End Navelbine
2011
Feb - Recur - 4 cm Liver Met - Same Left Lobe
March Surgery it is -Couldn't get a clean margin
July - Confirmed continued liver involvement
August - Begin Herceptin + Tykerb
October - Mixed results from H+T
Add Abraxane + H + T - Nov - April
2012
January PET Scan - It's working!!
April - Back to NED
July - Recurrance
August - Begin TDM-1 Trial (Taxol + TDM-1)
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03-24-2010, 07:24 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Northern Calif.
Posts: 981
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Re: Ixempra - good respoonse after only 3 weeks!
Such good good news!! I am sorry that you are having some yucky se's, but so HAPPY that it is kicking that miserable ca in the butt!! Prayers for continued good news!
Lexi
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03-24-2010, 10:06 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Bayarea,CA
Posts: 679
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Re: Ixempra - good respoonse after only 3 weeks!
Thanks so much for sharing your good news and sharing your positive spirit. Adding my prayers for you to attain the NED status very soon!
hugs,
shobha
__________________
DX: 06-30-2007 - left breast -stage IIIB, Her2/Neu 3+++, ER weakly positive, PR-
Taxol+herceptin weekly for 3 months
FEC+herceptin every 3 weeks for 3 months
BRCA 1 and 2 - Negative
Jan 2008 - Bilateral mastectomy, prophylactic Rt. side.
Radiation for 5 weeks
Completed my yr of herceptin on 07-14-2008
Brain MRI - 3/2/09 Clean
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03-24-2010, 01:05 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 1,486
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Re: Ixempra - good respoonse after only 3 weeks!
Glad to hear your good news.
Amelia
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03-25-2010, 03:11 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,526
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Re: Ixempra - good respoonse after only 3 weeks!
Yeah jessica
Thanks for sharing. We need some good news that we are going to slay this beast!!
Ellie
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03-25-2010, 07:24 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Sardegna, Italy
Posts: 362
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Re: Ixempra - good respoonse after only 3 weeks!
Thank you for sharing - great to hear that you have a winning combination now. ;-)
Karen
__________________
Karen Wheelhouse Age: 46
Facebook id: Karen Wheel
2-09 – Age 44 -Biopsy-Cancer
3-09 – Right Quadrantectomy. Clear margins.
3 lymph nodes taken - all clear
Tumor results: Stage 1, 1.5 cm, Her2 +++
Est positive 80% - Prog 10% - Ki67 postive 30%
4-09 – Became a vegan! pH balance of body - cancer can't grow in neutral pH!
4-09 Started Herceptin & Chemo (9 weeks of Navelbine *)
* FYI - when coupled with Herceptin has the same results as more toxic chemo. No brainer!
8-09 - 30 RADS
9-09 - Said NO to hormone therapy
4-10 Finished Herceptin!!!!
7-10 PET Scan & other exams .... All clear! YIPPEE!!!!
11-10 Breast, organ Ultrasounds and lung x-rays all clear no changes ... NED!
2-25-2011 --- 2 years from surgery and NED!!!!!!
7-2011 Clear bone scan and full body and head MRI! NED! NED! NED! ;-)[/SIZE]
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03-25-2010, 06:29 PM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 14
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Re: Ixempra - good respoonse after only 3 weeks!
That's wonderful news! I'm so sorry it's taking a toll on you but at least it's kicking some cancer butt in the process. I'm hoping myself to get some positive results on my bone tumors. Doing Taxotere/herceptin and the taxotere is kicking me down hard! I thought it would be more like the Taxol that I did last year which was a cakewalk compared to this. Thanks SO much for sharing your good news. Hang in there!
Suzanne E.
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03-26-2010, 08:05 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 415
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Re: Ixempra - good respoonse after only 3 weeks!
Thanks for sharing & celebrating with me.
Feeling like I'm climbing out of the Rabbit hole today, after slipping, sliding way down on Day2 & 3 after treatment.
Suzanne E- I tolerated Taxol really well too - on a couple of occassions. In fact, the option was to try Taxotere this time around, but my docs decided we should go with Ixempra instead. I was not prepared for how truly sick & weak it can make me feel. Shocking, isn't it? But hang in there, the good cells will win and we'll both rebound with a little time. I hope you're having some good results. Please keep us posted on how you do okay?
Keep the Faith~
Jml
Last edited by jml; 03-26-2010 at 08:07 AM..
Reason: typos
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