Jun 19, 2014 05:26AM tryn2staycalm wrote:

Thanks hoping I get the real thing too!  Scans were clear but the lungs and one lymph node in/by lungs.  Going today again and hopefully if all goes well will get my first drug trial treatment!

Cathy

Jun 20, 2014 04:10PM Adnerb wrote:

LiquidBiopsy Result:

This is intended only for those of you who showed interest.

I was shown a graph that illustrated the number of tumor cells in every milliliter of blood that was collected from me.

I am copying, word for word what I read under "result" on page 1 and page 2.

Page 1:

"Result Interpretation: Result numbers below the reference line indicate that sample tested revealed the quantity of nucleated cytokeratin positive and CD45 negative cells is within the range found in general population. Purity numbers above 10% represent good candidate samples for further analysis, if such analysis is selected. 1.9 target cells per ml were identified in the analysis. Results below 9 cells/ml show greater variation upon repeat analysis and hence are reported as <9 cells/ml."

Page 2:

"Results: No Mutation(s) detected."

So I am being told once again that I have no disease or not enough disease to evaluate so I can use more targeted treatment approaches.

This happened to me before. I was 4 weeks into treatment when I went to the imaging place to get a ct-guided needle biopsy of the numerous tumors in the lining of my left lung. Alas, the tumors were all gone and there was nothing to biopsy.

I know I should be glad that the blood biopsy did not say I had 200 mutations and no known available treatment. But when will I get to know this beast better?

My MO said if (God forbid) I progress again, we shall do another liquid biopsy even before treatment starts.

Thank you for your interest.

Hugs,

Brenda

Jun 20, 2014 09:20PM GatorGal wrote:

Brenda,

Sounds confusing but overall good news.  I always have trouble deciphering the medical jargon when I read my scans.  Somehow they always sound worse to me than my onc relates.  No progression is always a good thing!

Glena

Jun 20, 2014 11:38PM Adnerb wrote:

Thanks, Cathy, Glenna and Susan.

So it looks like the Carbo/Gemzar combo is working very well.  Do I keep doing it until it stops working?  I don't know.  My hemoglobin was dangerously low last week.  I had to have my first blood transfusion last Monday.  But now I am afraid to stop because it is working so well.

My MO's plan is to move on to monthly faslodex if I show major regression or NED.  Do I take that chance?

Brenda

Jun 21, 2014 11:58AM Adnerb wrote:

Thanks, Cathy.  My MO says if I show major regression (which is what I think is happening) I move on to faslodex, which has less side effect and not infused, just shot on a monthly basis.  If this does not work I will on a different chemo.  How's the trial going?

Brenda