Introduction

My Cancer Story -- Continues

My original diagnosis of ER/PR positive, Her2 Negative Stage2b - BRCA1+ with 5 positive nodes was in 2014. I had Chemotherapy, 4 AC and 4 Taxol, Bilateral Mastectomy, Oophorectomy, Hysterectomy, Expanders and full reconstruction - along with 35 radiation treatments. I was then declared "Cancer Free" in March 2015.

I was on Letrozole, daily, which I was told I would remain on it for 5 to 10 years.

However, on Groundhog Day 2017, I was re-diagnosed with Stage IV Triple Negative (TNBC) Metastatic Breast Cancer with a breast cancer tumor in my liver. As my first line of treatment, I joined a Clinical Trial - TOPACIO sponsored by Tesaro, which is a combined treatment of Immunotherapy and a Parp Inhibitor. The drugs are Niraparib (Parp) and Pemprolizumab (Immunotherapy). I have been on this trial since March 2017. ... Read More

Friday, March 1, 2019

Update from Boston

We had a great and informative trip to Boston. 

Here are the highlights:

Dr. Mayer reviewed my Feb 11th scans with her radiologist and the radiologist said to her that there is NO signs of cancer! 😳 
Dr. Mayer then asked her to look at my Feb 2017 scans, from original diagnosis, and compare to these scans, at that point they were able to see the same small something in the area where we know the tumor was. She said it is most likely scar tissue but there is no way to know if there is any cancer cells in there without an MRI or PET but not worth doing.
She puts me at NED and considers me at complete response on the trial to date! 💕💕💕💕💕*Note, my Mayo oncologist takes a much more conservative approach to this diagnosis, while the radiologist report at Mayo also states No Definitive Evidence of Metastatic Disease, Dr. Colon currently officially does not call it NED as while he agrees it is probably scar tissue, wants to be exact as I am in trial and would not want to risk my participation in the trial and reports accurately that we can still see this TINY spot on the scans where the known tumor was located.

Still lots of unknown about going off Keytruda at the 2 year mark. Overall, if I can find a way to get Merck to give me the drug off trial, I will but most likely I won’t have success in those efforts. 
Bottom line, we are just data blind in Keytruda or any immunotherapy regarding length of time to be on it longer than 2 years especially for breast cancer and the FDA has only approved the drug for other cancers with the 2 year limit.

With all that said, I am thrilled and beyond amazed at my progress on these drugs and will stay on trial and continue to pray and trust in my doctors at Mayo Clinic and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, as well as Tesaro. These drugs have given me much more than I could have hoped for with Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer with the BRCA1 gene. 

Thank you for following my journey and all your love and prayers! 💕💕💕


#tnbc #brca1 #stageivneedsmore #allforlucy