Dr. Lemon's Blog

Relay for Life, Douglas County, Nebraska, June 2009. Oncology Associates, PC. ---------- "Caring Cabana Crew"
07/17/2009 - 13:29

Hope shines bright



Thanks to all our Cancer Survivors, Families, Friends, Doctors, Nurses, and Staff of Oncology Associates, PC, "Caring Cabana Crew" for a wonderful American Cancer Society Relay for Life fund raising event! The Caring Cabana Crew raised $8,492 for cancer research, education, advocacy and services for cancer patients and their families.



Nurses Tina, Patti, and Amber

Dr. Lemon

Survivors and families

Oncology Associates tent

Walking for life

Flamingos for hope

Family

It's hot!

Luminary

Dr. Lemon and breast cancer survivor Mary with breast cancer survivor bra

Survivors walking for life

Step right up! Only 25 cents! For a great cause!

Survivor bracelets

 

Journal Watch
07/17/2009 - 13:15

Metastatic Breast Cancer, Her2 Positive Journal of Clinical Oncology, April 20, 2009
What are treatment options for a patient with Her2 positive metastatic breast cancer that is no longer responding to Herceptin (trastuzumab)?

One option is to continue the Herceptin treatment. This works if a second chemotherapy drug is added to the Herceptin. If the patient is already on a chemotherapy drug with the Herceptin, then changing to a new chemotherapy drug is also effective. This approach can result in improved cancer response and improved disease free survival.

Von Minckwitz et al. report their study "Trastuzumab beyond progression in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive advanced breast cancer: a German Breast Group 26/Breast International Group 03-05 study" in the Journal of Clinical Oncology April 20, 2009. www.jco.org

They found that it was beneficial to keep using Herceptin and add the chemotherapy drug Xeloda (capecitabine). This resulted in a better cancer response and longer disease free survival than stopping Herceptin and using Xeloda alone. Overall survival was not changed.

Continuing Herceptin and using a second chemotherapy drug is a good treatment option. I have successfully used this strategy in my practice.

The future of cancer treatment is bright!
Dr. L

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