Herceptin w/either Navelbine or Xeloda
The Herceptin Taxol regimen I've been on since last June has dramatically shrunk the tumors in my lungs but a recent CT scan has uncovered a completely new tumor that has grown from zero to 1.8 cm in 3 months in the lower part of my right lung while I was on the regimen so it's farewell Taxol now. My oncologist spoke of continuing Herceptin for now (last ejection fraction was slightly decreased so I'm checking it again in two weeks to see if I can stay on Herceptin :-( ) and adding either Navelbine (injections) or Xeloda (orals, twice daily) and described all the side effects. He explained that the effectiveness of either of these is only about 20 percent and that Tykerb is currently on trial here but that he couldn't get me into the trial as they need indigenous (Japanese) data. He said he expected the Tykerb to be available for him to legally prescribe for me by December.
So...I'm leaning towards the oral Xeloda but would love to hear some opinions. Sigh.
__________________
Kathy S in Tokyo (44)
11/2004 partial masectomy (clear margins) - ER/PR++ HER+++
12/2004 Tamoxifen
11/2005 Clavicle & neck lymph nodes mets
30 Days rads, 7 months CEF-T Chemo
6/2006 mid chemo lung mets oral toremifene
10/2006 changed hospitals
12/2006 Tamoxifen and monthly Zoladex
2/2007 Dramatic growth of mets! Stopped Tamoxifen and Zoladex
3/2007 Began weekly Herceptin
6/2007 Added weekly Taxol to regime
4/2008 More lung mets - stopped Taxol
5/2008 Xeloda - 3 weeks on 1 week off
8/2008 Got a port!
9/2008 Stopped Xeloda, started weekly Navelbine
12/2008 Tumor progression, stopped Navelbine
1/2009 Taxotere begins again, once in every three weekly Herceptin IVs
3/2009 Added Zometa pelvic bone met, lung tumors progressing, stopped Taxotere/Herceptin
4/10/2009 Whoa seizure! 6cm&3cm brain mets. craniotomy and gamma knife surgery 5/15/2009 Started Adria/Cyto stopped 9/15 due to progession. Brain mets back 10/28 surgery more gamma soon
Last edited by Kathy S in Tokyo; 05-13-2008 at 11:41 PM..
Reason: forgot some info.
|
Threaded Mode