Some Good News - More than I was Hoping For

[caya]

I have finished my 5th out of 6 chemos - 3 x FEC, and 2 x Taxotere - my last Taxotere is scheduled for May 10th. My. onc. wants me to have a 4 week break before I have my loading dose of Herceptin on June 7th. I will be on the 3 weekly dose for a year. He will schecule another MUGA scan for me during this month break.
I had a great meeting with him yesterday. We went through everything - my pathology reports, tumour characteristics, treatment etc. and in a nutshell, he predicts a "a well over 90% cure rate" for me. - he actually used the word cure. I questioned him on this, and he confirmed it. He explained to me he is basing this wonderful news on two basic principals;

1. Prognostic factors - i.e. what God gave you - in my case, 1.7 and 1.0 cm. tumours, stage 1, grade 2 - ER+ (90%), PR+ (50%), mucinous or colloid type - this is a rare, under 3% tumour feature, but a good one - slow growing, low grade, node negative - these are all the "good" features. The one "poorer" prognostic factor is that I am Her 2 neu +++ ( which still confounds him, with all the other many "good" features.)

2. Predictive factors - this is what you do with what God gave you. He explained how becuase I received an anthracyline chemo drug, in my case - Epirubicin, the E in FEC, along with the taxane drug Taxotere, this cancels out the 20% lower prognosis factor with the Her 2 neu amplification. I will also be receiving Tamoxifen and or an A/I. He also said that while the Her 2 neu + amplification is a "poorer prognastic factor", it is now being looked up as an advantage, because we can treat it with Herceptin, with great results for many of us early stagers. He says this will improve my chances by another 40% for a good outcome.

When we first saw him in early Nov. 2006, he was not as optimistic because of the Her 2 neu status. However, based on the lasted recently released trials and other medical reports, reflecting the excellent results of Herceptin in early stagers, the whole outlook and prognosis for me has really improved.

I just wanted to share this news with everyone, for the early stagers as well as the later stage gals. I think we are winning this war. Are we there yet? Maybe not yet, be there sure have been great strides made lately to beat the HER 2 beast - and I intend to win this war.

All the best
Caya

[Louise O'Brien]

That's great news Caya. I notice you're from Thornhill. I had exactly the same regimen - 3 FEC followed by 3 Taxotere and then a month's break. Having that month off was really a treat. I'm told the treatment, recommended by Cancer Care Ontario is consistent across the province. I just finished my second Herceptin treatment and find that my sense of taste is returning, my old energy is on its way back and there's a fuzzy growth of new hair. Enjoy your free month!

[TriciaK]

Caya, what an inspiring post! Thank you for sharing it---you must have a really great oncologist! Best wishes on your month off, and hope the herceptin works as well against the cancer for you as it did for me. I will be watching for more posts from you! Hugs, Tricia

[skye]

Caya, I've read your post several times now and it sounds better each time. It's great to be able to know what other oncologists are saying about different situations, kind of like having our own private doctor alliances to consult. If only they all knew! :-) Thanks again, Skye

[Jean]

Many thanks Caya for your news. You made me smile

Each day we get a little bit closer.
Hugs,
jean