After "failing" the T-DM1 clinical trial a few months back, and then having problems with Tamoxifen plus Herceptin, I ended up on Arimidex plus Herceptin.
I began this regimen in early December, and so far it is a non-event--no problems, no side effects, no cancer symptoms either, although it is too soon to tell if I have further disease progression.
That was the reason I had to drop out (or was dropped from) the T-DM1 trial--disease progression. That simply means that my cancer started to grow again during the trial.
These days I take a one mg. tablet of Arimidex every morning, and then go to Dr. Lee's office once every three weeks for the Herceptin, which is delivered by IV, of course.
This is apparently not a new combination, I found sources dating back to 2006 (which is decades ago, in Cancer Time). A couple are listed below:
If I understood Dr. Lee correctly, he sees my current regimen as a placeholder, and is already planning the next one, which will include pertuzumab (Perjeta is the brand name). So today, while a staff person worked to fix the heat in my room, I read about a dozen pages of info on pertuzumab which Dr. Lee had given me.
When I see him at the end of the month I'll have my questions ready.
I like how Dr. Lee seems to try to be one step ahead of the cancer.
Posted by: Susan | January 16, 2013 at 12:12 PM
Delighted to hear you have a regimen with no side effects!
Posted by: Maggie | January 16, 2013 at 07:35 PM
Ann over at Breast Cancer?...But Doctor I Hate Pink just started the Perjeta drug, but in combination with other drugs than you'll be using, I think. She said she was the first at her oncologist's office to get it. Wishing you both good results.
Posted by: lopsided blogger | January 16, 2013 at 08:22 PM