Chemotherapy doesn't always work |
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CarynRose 
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Joined: Aug 04 2007 Location: Robbinsville, NJ, USA Status: Offline Points: 960 |
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 Posted: May 01 2008 at 7:36am |
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Elizabeth, My oncologist has the same thinking about EFGR. Since 65% of basal cell cancers overexpress EFGR, he's got me on suppressant therapy that includes Erbitux (EFGR 'inhibitor'). They say you know it's working because of the acne that shows up. If so, then it's working like mad on me. I'm NED and have zits all over my face and body. Whoopie???!!! Yes, Whoopie!!!
Here's to more progress!!
Caryn
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Orig dx 6/03 - St.2a, IDC
gr.3,0 nodes, TNBC/BRCA1+ 7/07 St 4 mets to nodes/lungs. PACA/Rads NED 11/07-10/08 Lepto mets 10/08 Rads for 4 brain tumors 4/10. Leptomets return 6/10 |
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EWKSeattle
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Joined: Oct 25 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 218 |
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Posted: May 01 2008 at 7:45am |
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Yep, I'm on Tarceva (erlotinib) and I've got zits all over my nose! For the first month the acne rash was everywhere on my face and neck and scalp, but it's mostly cleared up. Except for the nose. It's also made my nose all swollen and red, so I suddenly bear a stronger resemblance to my various alcoholic uncles. I've clearly evolved as a woman when I'm happy to see each new zit. . . |
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Dx 05/06 Stage IIIC
Local Recurrence 01/07 Mets in opposite side axilla nodes 12/07 Mets to mediastinal nodes confirmed 11/08 NED March 2009-March 2010 Brain met March 2010. |
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elenasabo
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Joined: Nov 24 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 14 |
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Posted: May 01 2008 at 12:43pm |
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Hi all,
Does anybody have the name of the test for the chemo sensitivity or a lab that does that. I can't seem to explain that to my dr. Is this something very new?
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chicklitzz
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Joined: Jun 16 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 11 |
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Posted: May 01 2008 at 2:34pm |
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Elizabeth and Caryn, get this. About a year before I was diagnosed I stopped taking Accutane for acne, I was on accutane for over a year. Come to find out that Accutane is an efgr suppressor. My personal belief is that accutane was suppressing my efgr and when I stopped it, my cells just went haywire and out of control and hello bc diagnosis. I wonder if suppressors shouldn't be easily backed away from concerning intake so the body doesn't do the roller coaster thing and go out of control. What do you think?
Vitamin D deprived in Washington,
Michelle  Edited by chicklitzz - May 01 2008 at 2:35pm |
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EWKSeattle
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Joined: Oct 25 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 218 |
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Posted: May 01 2008 at 3:24pm |
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Wow, Michelle, that is fascinating! Makes ya wonder. . .
Along similar lines, it turns out aspirin has anti-angiogenic qualities, so it's perhaps a poor man's Avastin. Same with Cytoxan, apparently.
elenasabo, my test was done by a company called Precision Therapeutics in Pittsburgh PA. Theirs is called the ChemoFX Assay. They are easily found on the internet. Others have used one called Weisenthal, I think. Yes, they are relatively new and many oncs won't be familiar. Knowledge is power!!!
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Dx 05/06 Stage IIIC
Local Recurrence 01/07 Mets in opposite side axilla nodes 12/07 Mets to mediastinal nodes confirmed 11/08 NED March 2009-March 2010 Brain met March 2010. |
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steve1
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Joined: May 13 2008 Status: Offline Points: 1 |
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Posted: May 13 2008 at 7:36am |
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You need to be very careful with Precision Therapeutics Elizabeth. There is no data behind their technology and the company is NOT new. They have been around for over 10 years and have never successfully published any validation for their technology in an American medical journal. Thier test is extremely expensive and there is, unfortunately, no evidence that it even works. Readers - do your homework before throwing your support behind unproven technology.
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chicklitzz
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Joined: Jun 16 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 11 |
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Posted: May 13 2008 at 6:25pm |
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Hi Steve, from what I understand the chemosensitivity testing is fairly accurate, about 80% accuracy on the low end. I don't know about Precision therapeutics but the Weisenthal assay worked really well for me. My onc thought it would be a good option for my case as well. I only wish I had known about it sooner. I had already tried Abraxane during neoadjuvant therapy and the tumor grew larger while I was on chemo. After surgery I had the Weisenthal assay done and it did show that Abraxane would not be a good option for me. I wish I would have had the Weisenthal in the beginning, it would have saved me alot of heartache and possibly prevented mets. As far as I'm concerned 80% accuracy is pretty darn good when you've been playing the number game after diagnosis. Just my personal opinion.
Michelle
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