No Surrender Breast Cancer Foundation by Survivor ~ for Survivor Message Forum

scanxiety today!

MicheleS — Thur, 02 Feb 2012 14:53:07 GMT

PET today... onc vsit (with TM's tomorrow)... gonna be a xanax-filled couple of days!

Forum: THE WAITING ROOM (click to enter)

Coumadin with Arixtra for Blood Clot - any Edge CAM restrictions?

lpt64 — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 01:14:24 GMT

Dear Edge,

A blood clot was found today in the small vein that holds the tubing running out of my power port. I have been prescribed 5mg coumadin and 5mg Arixtra injection to begin tomorrow. I read that feverfew may increase the blood-thinning effects of coumadin. Are there any other components of the Edge-CAM that I should be concerned about? I am on Avastin/Taxol for lung/nodes TNBC mets and Xgeva for bone mets.

Thank you for any advice you can share!

Laura

Forum: WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION? (click for answers)

AVASTIN NEWS!

nosurrender — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:57:20 GMT

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46138425/ns/health-cancer/?ocid=twitter#.TyCWbCOkG2w

Forum: CHEMOTHERAPY: MEDICATED & MOTIVATED (click here)

HOPE UPDATE!

nosurrender — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:54:35 GMT

Roswell to play key role in cancer vaccine trial
By Henry L. Davis
Published:January 24, 2012, 10:19 AM

Roswell Park Cancer Institute is launching a clinical trial to evaluate a cancer vaccine designed to eradicate cancer cells and prevent relapse of disease.

The experimental dendritic cell vaccine, which was developed at Roswell Park, will be manufactured at the cancer center in a custom-made
unit that can maintain control of temperature and gases, officials were to announce today.

The immune system protects the body against harmful invaders, such as viruses. Dendritic cells, acting somewhat like messengers, play a key
role in this defense mechanism.

Dendritic cells are removed from a patient and stimulated with a specialized protein. The treated cells are then given back to the patient as a
vaccine designed to recruit killer immune cells that seek and destroy cancer, Dr. Kunle Odunsi, director of Roswel Park's Center for
Immunotherapy and principal investigator, said in a statement.

The new study will test the vaccine in combination with rapamycin, a compound used to prevent rejection of organ transplants. Research at
the cancer center indicates that rapamycin prevents the immune system from using up its cancer-killing T-cells in a quick burst.

The study is expected to enroll about 20 patients. The vaccine is being considered for a host of cancers, including ovarian, bladder, brain and
breast.

Forum: BREAKING BREAST CANCER NEWS (click for the latest news)

HER2 NEWS!

nosurrender — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:51:54 GMT

Galena starts registration for breast cancer vaccine trial

Galena Biopharma has started a phase III trial of its breast cancer vaccine NeuVax with the aim of preventing recurrence in women who are not eligible for treatment with Roches Herceptin.

The 700-patient study will enrol women with low or intermediate expression of the HER2 breast cancer biomarker, a group which accounts for around half of all breast cancer patients.

These patients are successfully rendered disease-free following treatment with current standards of care, and are then sent home to watch and wait with the hope their cancer never returns, said Beth Mittendorf of MD Anderson Cancer Center in the US, the principal investigator in the new trial.

Prior results from a phase I/II trial have suggested that NeuVax can maintain disease-free survival in these patients who have no other options, she added.

If successful, the new study called PRESENT could be sufficient in its own right to support marketing approval for NeuVax, according to Galena.

That could mean impressive returns for investors in the Oregon-based biotech, which currently has a market capitalisation of just $30m, according to analysts at Zacks Investment Research.

NeuVax could easily top $1bn in sales if it is approved for use in the 20,000 or so eligible breast cancer patients who are diagnosed each year in the US, the analysts added.

The company has also forged an alliance with Roche subsidiary Genentech to conduct a phase II study looking at the combination of NeuVax with Herceptin (trastuzumab) in 300 patients intermediate HER2 status patients who are currently not eligible for Herceptin treatment.

NeuVax consists of the E-75 peptide from the HER2/neu protein as an antigen, delivered alongside an immune stimulator (granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor/GM-CSF). Galena acquired rights to the vaccine from the US military in July 2011.

Forum: CHEMOTHERAPY: MEDICATED & MOTIVATED (click here)

HOPE?

nosurrender — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:03:08 GMT

BUFFALO, N.Y. A Buffalo cancer center is set to announce development of an investigational vaccine that has the potential to eradicate cancer cells and prevent relapses.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute says the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given approval for the center to produce the experimental therapy for clinical study.

Hospital officials plan to provide details at a news conference Tuesday.

Forum: BREAKING BREAST CANCER NEWS (click for the latest news)

Edgy! Your opinion for Our Lee??

nosurrender — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 00:14:20 GMT

Dearest Constantine,
Our Lee, Energybunny, was just dx'd with cancer cells in her lung fluid and one node behind the sternum. She has no tumors anywhere else. She is 4 years out from TNBC.
She would like your opinion on Xeloda monotherapy that they want to start next week....

THANK YOU DEAR ONE!!!

Forum: CLUB METS (click here for more)

x2nd round od whole brain radiation

mrsb — Thur, 19 Jan 2012 20:22:56 GMT

i cant belive that tommoroow i start my 2nd round of WBR for extensive brain mets. My first bout was completed in july 2010. unfortunately cyperknife or steriataxic was not an option. The radiation oncologist has put a good medication plan(i hope) to get me through the 12 treatments . Alll prayers and goood wishes would be appreciated.Shelagh

Forum: RADIATION (click to open)

Consumtion of Vit D 2 with D 3 possible or not?

Calico — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:08:10 GMT

Hi Constantine,

So much about protecting offspring from diseases.

Just found out that my daughter has a low vitamin D level of 24. This is with supplementation of Vit D 3 2000 plus 500 in the Calcium supplement.

So her doc prescribed 50,000 Vit D2 once a week for 12 weeks and then re-test. I forgot to ask if she could/should continue the Vit D3.

This test was done because she's starting on Nexium for upset stomach, to make sure all is well (incl. thyroid, cbc)....now this....it was unexpected. She has a history of synovial tumor (PVNS) at age 14 and hip replacement at age 16, which now seems to could have been brought on or accelerated by the low level of Vit D (at least to me it seems like it)?

Wanting to protect her in the first place from cancer (DH is a prostate cancer survivor, I'm bc, sister colon, my mom bc), never would have assumed the Vit D would be low with supplementation of D3.

But...better to find out now at age 19 than later....I wish this test would be mandatory for everyone once a year.

Of course, the Nexium can now suppress the absorption of Vit D and Calcium which are crucial for bone health.

Your thoughts are much appreciated

She is on the CAM with Turmeric, Fishoil, Vit B Complex, Calcium/Mag/Vit D3 (which I think helped the bone building after hip replacement), Vit C

Thank you so much!!!

Forum: WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION? (click for answers)

Fulvestrant Adds Punch to Anastrozole for HR+ Breast Cancer

Calico — Thur, 12 Jan 2012 19:38:56 GMT

Fulvestrant Adds Punch to Anastrozole for HR+ Breast Cancer

Elsevier Global Medical News. 2012 Jan 4, D Mahoney

SAN ANTONIO (EGMN) Combination therapy with anastrozole and fulvestrant might be a new first-line treatment option for postmenopausal women with hormone receptorpositive breast cancer. Phase III trial results demonstrated a statistically significant progression-free survival benefit with the combination therapy, compared with anastrozole monotherapy, Dr. Rita S. Mehta reported at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Tamoxifen-naive patients, in particular, appear to reap the most benefit.

Among the 694 patients analyzed in the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG)-S0226 trial of anastrozole (Arimidex) vs. anastrozole plus fulvestrant (Faslodex), the median progression-free and overall survival rates of the 349 women randomized to combination therapy were longer by 1.5 months and more than 6 months, respectively, than in 345 women randomized to monotherapy, according to Dr. Mehta of the University of California, Irvine.

The combination therapy is the first new treatment in more than a decade that gives women with hormone receptorpositive metastatic breast cancer an overall survival benefit, she said.

Further, in a subset analysis, tamoxifen-naive patients randomized to combination therapy survived more than 4 months longer without disease progression than those in the monotherapy group, Dr. Mehta said, noting that, among tamoxifen-pretreated women, the progression-free survival benefit was nearly the same as that observed in the overall study population.

All of the study patients, median age 65 years, were postmenopausal with estrogen or progesterone receptorpositive metastatic breast cancer, and none had been previously treated for metastatic disease, Dr. Mehta explained.

Women with a history of previous adjuvant aromatase inhibitor therapy or neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy were eligible for inclusion only if their prior treatment was completed more than 12 months prior, she said. Previous tamoxifen treatment was also allowed, but approximately 60% of the study population was tamoxifen-naive.

From 2004-2009, eligible patients were randomized to receive 1 mg of anastrozole daily, either alone or in combination with an intramuscular injection of fulvestrant, dosed as follows: 500 mg on the first day; 200 mg on days 14 and 28; and 250 mg monthly thereafter. The primary study end point was progression-free survival, Dr. Mehta said. Upon disease progression, patients randomized to monotherapy were encouraged to crossover to combination therapy, unless they were candidates for immediate chemotherapy, she explained.

During the period of analysis, 287 of the monotherapy patients and 261 of the combination therapy patients experienced disease progression after a median 13.5 months and 15.0 months, respectively. Median overall survival was 41.3 months in the monotherapy group and 47.7 months in the combination group, reported Dr. Mehta.

Randomization was stratified by adjuvant tamoxifen to assess a possible differential benefit of fulvestrant in the two strata, Dr. Mehta said. In a subset analysis of the 414 tamoxifen-naive patients, median progression-free survival was 12.6 months for monotherapy and 17.0 months for combination therapy; median overall survival was 39.7 months and 47.7 months, respectively, she said.

Among the patients pretreated with tamoxifen, median progression-free survival was 14.1 months with monotherapy and 13.5 months with combination therapy; median overall survival was 44.5 months and 49.6 months, respectively. The observed survival benefit was independent of age, HER2 status, sites of metastasis, time since primary diagnosis, disease measurability, and adjuvant chemotherapy, Dr. Mehta stated.

Although it is possible that prior tamoxifen treatment may predict outcomes, its too soon to say, according to Dr. Mehta. The findings require prospective validation, she noted: We need to better understand other possible factors, because the prior tamoxifen factor could be a false lead from an unplanned analysis.

Treatment-related adverse events in the combination group included three deaths two attributed to pulmonary embolism and one to cerebrovascular ischemia; one grade 4 pulmonary embolism; and one grade 4 neutropenia and lymphopenia, Dr. Mehta stated. Four patients in the monotherapy group experienced grade 4 toxicities, including thrombosis/embolism, arthralgia, thrombocytopenia, and dyspnea, she said.

Grade 3 toxicities, including musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and gastrointestinal symptoms were reported in approximately 13% of the combination group and 11% of the monotherapy group, but very few patients stopped treatment because of adverse events or side effects, she said.

The findings suggest that combination anastrozole and fulvestrant therapy amps up the anti-estrogen benefits of anastrozole alone in postmenopausal breast cancer when used as a first-line therapy, Dr. Mehta stressed.

This is in contrast, she noted, to previously reported first results from the randomized FACT study in which the combination therapy did not improve overall survival among postmenopausal women with hormone receptorpositive advanced breast cancer in first relapse. The next step for researchers will be to try the combination in even earlier stages of breast cancer to test whether long-term cures could be increased at those stages, Dr. Mehta concluded.

Dr. Mehta disclosed receiving grant and research support from AstraZeneca.

http://www.oncologystat.com/news/Fulvestrant_Adds_Punch_to_Anastrozole_for_HR_Breas t_Cancer.html;jsessionid=418EB4BA088BD3D480075E449F9FE655

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Forum: ENDOCRINE & HORMONAL THERAPY (click to open)

z pack and supps

bottkota — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:01:23 GMT

The doctor I saw today is putting me back on another z-pack actually back 2 back z-packs so 10 days worth of antibiotics 2 see if we can get me over this crud I got after Christmas. My question is......is it okay 2 continue the Edge CAM along w/ the antibiotics? When I was on the z pack after xmas I stopped my supps....now since I will have 10 days of this again I don't want 2 have to quit them. Please let me know. My platelets are having a tough time again. So I took last week off from treatment and the platelets went up to 245000. It has been a long time since they have been that high. Sucks that I have to delay treatment in order to get them to that level.

Cathi

Forum: CLUB METS (click here for more)

Waiting to see if the beast is back - ugh.....

LRM216 — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 03:47:02 GMT

Will be three years since my triple negative BC diagnose next month, and now I find myself goiing for a CA-125 test with my gyno tomorrow and have been given the telephone number of a very good gyncologic oncologist that I need to call and schedule an appt. with tomorrow. I feel as though I am in a black hole with no light whatsoever. Scared as crap.

It all started at my last gyno annual last June. I have had numerous large fibroids for the last 20 years or so, totally without any symptoms or problems, so a hysterectomy was always ruled out. She decided that since it had been 5 years since my last "hospital" sonargram and Transvaginal, she felt it was time to have another. She always checks them herself, but her machine does not mark the actual size of each fibroid, etc. So off I went. Came back that one fibroid "may" have grown a bit. Since I'm menopausal by 10 years this was a flag to check it our. My fibroids are very large and gnarly, so doc wasn't sure if it was new growth or just a part of another, so off for a pelvic MRI. Pelvic MRI showed no growth whatsoever (good) but did show a small amount of free fluid in pelvis that a woman my age would not usually have. Also showed a tarlov cyst in sacro area which no one cared about at all. Was scheduled for another sonar and tv in three months. Had it, nothing changed - same amount of free fluid. Had another two weeks ago (3 more months later) and the jerk that read that one decided I now had a "cystic adnexa mass" on left side - still small amount of fluid. gyno did n't know who was reading them so she had all of the reports and scans given to her friend an interventional radiologist with a great rep to re-read. He said to have another pelvic MRI for clarity, which I did last friday. He read it as it was being done and went over it carefully. No adnexa mass - turned out to be a small pocket of fluid. Cannot explain the fluid that should not be there, and remarked that it was a small amount more than the MRI in August. He suggested waiting another 6 months to redo tests. Gyno said no, she was e-mailing a renowned (in this area) gyno onc to see what they think. Naturally - they think, since the ovaries are never seen due to the large fibroids, that perhaps they may have to look around in there, so I now have to call him tomorrow and make an appt. with him, right after I have the CA-125 with onc tomorrow. Naturally, my mind is going towards mets to ovary(ies) and I am beyond frightened. My Gyno keeps telling me that not seeing the ovaries isn't bad, as that means they are still small and hidden behind the large fibroids. Yeah, good try, doc. My reasoning thinks that if they are hidden all the time, who the heck knows what they look like? There has to be a reason, and I'm sure not such a good one, that there has been fluid in my pelvis for these last 7 months. So it appears I am on this rotten train ride once again. I have no symptoms, no pain, nothing, but then again - that's why ovarian cancer is so sneaky and deadly.

Sorry this is so long, but I just know that anyone reading this can relate to my anxiety and fear. My family, as much as I love them and they, me, just don't get the fear and anxiety I am going through. I guess they just don't want to face it and I can understand that. Soooooooo, if any of you have any extra prayers - I'll sure take them - in a heart beat!

Linda

Forum: THE WAITING ROOM (click to enter)

TNBC

1piper — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 03:05:00 GMT

Having trouble dealing with TNBC and looking for some perspective/hope.

Forum: TRIPLE NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER (click to find hope)

Tocotrienol (or other antiox) with DHA?

Rich66 — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 00:57:22 GMT

Hello,
I understand there was a phase II study demonstrating benefits of DHA wit FEC chemo for BC. In related research, the lead on that had seen vitamin E Tocopherol negating the chemosensitizing effect of DHA, at least in the lab. It seemed to suggest it was the antioxidant effect of Tocopherol that caused the interaction. Tocotrienol forms of Vit E seem to have special benefit in BC. There are some forms (eg. Unique Tocotrienol) that claim to have no Tocopherol. Any thoughts on whether Tocotrienol form of E or other antioxidants for that matter would negate benefits of DHA?

Forum: WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION? (click for answers)

Let's Do IT! 2012 shape up!

nosurrender — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 14:13:28 GMT

OK- heeeeeere we go again! Another new year, another new chance to lose those lbs.

A few things I have learned recently:
1. don't starve yourself- especially if you are in chemo-or-menopause. Our metabolism is already slowed down, and when we skip meals, nature takes over and slows it down even more. eat small meals a few times a day: caveat- emphasis on SMALL. Here are some examples from Fitness Magazine:

"By Lisa Kovalovich Whitmore

Think you can't snack when you're trying to lose weight? Think again. These healthy, low-calorie snacks will satisfy your diet cravings and help you reach your weight-loss goals. For many women, dieting equals food restriction. Snacks? They usually get eliminated in the name of saving calories. But snacking when you're watching your weight is actually a good idea. "When dieting, people often wait too long in between meals, so by the time they eat, they're so hungry, their portions or choices are out of control," says Linda McLachlan, RD, CDN, a New Jersey dietitian with Nutrition Matters, LLC. "Snacking helps keep you satisfied and wards off cravings." Here, seven low-calorie snacks to help you with your diet goals:

Apple Slices with Lowfat Cheese

Packed with fiber, water, and antioxidants, fruits and vegetables are great choices for diet-friendly snacking. A sliced apple with a lowfat cheese wedge, like Laughing Cow Light. "Having a little extra fat is good in a snack because it sustains you longer," says McLachlan. ( I also recommend Weight Watchers Cream Cheese-g)

Recommended serving size: 1 medium apple with 1 Laughing Cow Light cheese wedge
Calories: about 105

Graham Crackers with Peanut Butter

Feeling in the mood for cookies? While one standard Oreo or Chips Ahoy won't likely derail your diet, it's tough to stop at one. That's where a good substitute comes in. McLachlan recommends 2 graham cracker squares spread with light peanut butter. You'll get a mix of sweet and salty flavors, plus a protein and fat boost from the peanut butter, which will keep you full till your next meal.

Recommended serving size: 2 graham cracker squares with 1 tablespoon light peanut butter
Calories: 155

Tomato Soup with Baby Carrots

A mini-meal snack is a good idea when dinner is a long way off. The combo of tomato soup and baby carrots is not just filling; it also gives you lots of body-healthy nutrients, like potassium, cancer-fighting lycopene, and beta-carotene. Try a microwavable soup cup that you can stash in your car's cup holder. (Concerned about sodium? Pour about a quarter of the soup down the drain and dilute the rest with water, says McLachlan.)

Recommended serving size: 1 Campbell's Soup at Hand Tomato Soup and 1 cup baby carrots
Calories: 190

Frozen Tamale Pie

Believe it or not, a calorie-controlled frozen meal can be a great afternoon snack! Amy's Mexican Tamale Pie, for example, is chock-full of great carbs (in the form of beans and polenta) to give you energy; protein, to keep you satisfied; and veggies, to contribute antioxidants and vitamins. What's more, it's low-fat and filling!

Recommended serving size: 1 Amy's Mexican Tamale Pie
Calories: 150

Egg Salad

If you need your snack to have real staying power, go for a combo of good protein and a little bit of fat. A homemade egg salad is a great choice. Chop up one whole egg and one egg white, then mix with a tablespoon of reduced fat mayonnaise. The high-quality protein in the eggs will fuel your body for hours, while the fat helps slow digestion, so you'll feel full and energized longer.

Recommended serving size: 1 whole egg and one white plus 1 tablespoon reduced-fat mayonnaise
Calories: 145

Canned Mandarin Oranges with Light Whipped Topping

For a sweet fix, try mixing mandarin oranges canned in their own juice with a couple tablespoons of light whipped topping. The oranges give a great hit of vitamin C and other antioxidants, and the light whipped topping gives the snack an indulgent feel (a feeling you often miss when you're watching what you eat). "This is a good substitute for ice cream when you're dieting," adds McLachlan.

Recommended serving size: 1/2 cup canned mandarin oranges with 2 tablespoons light whipped topping
Calories: 50"

(I don't know about the frozen tamale pie- but maybe there is a Lean Cuisine that you can substitute.)

EXERCISE EXERCISE EXERCISE! What goes in must be expelled OUT. Walk, dance, jump rope, ride, do anything... but just try to MOVE at least 30 minutes a day.

WEIGHT LIFTING- did you know if you life weights your body burns calories for the rest of the day as the muscles try to repair themselves???? You don't have to be muscle man- but light repetitions all add up.

Forum: YOUR NEW LIFE AS A SURVIVOR (click to open)