Herceptin - Quick Side Effects Poll
Comments
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JulieLynn...check out the Herceptin Heart Attack thread. You will find others with similar stories there who are very knowledgeable and can help you.0
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*thud* Forgot about that thread! Thanks dancetrancer!
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I know a bunch of us were having MUGA or echo recently. Anyone heard results? I had mine more than a week ago and haven't heard, I'm guessing that is good as I will have had two herceptins since the MUGA. If it dropped I would think they would have stopped at least this one tomorow. I see my mo next thursday for my next big tx.
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Mine dropped 11% down to 50 so am having a break right now. Next Muga May 17 hopefully it will show a good increase
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has anyone had problems with their teeth?? I have two cracked molars ouch!
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I found this in Dr Blaylock's newsletter on cancer prevention, part 1:
"A recent study found that extra-virgin olive oil not only prevented new cancers but could also be used to fight those that had already developed. Researchers found that the principle fat in olive oil, oleic acid, inhibited a gene (Her-2/neu) known to make some breast cancers extremely aggressive. Oncologists use a drug called Herceptin to do the same thing, but it produces a significant number of complications."0 -
Moonflower- three weeks ago my Muga result was 77. Granted, I finished chemo over a year ago when my Muga was 72. Since then I bike a lot. I don't do a whole lot every day, but had been biking for the past year daily for about 20 minutes for sure. I sometimes add more time to it. I think it helped my heart. But we are all different.
Starella- yes, I had been having teeth/jaw aches. It alternates with joint aches. I know, it is weird, but true. I also had a large cavity after I finished chemo, which was not there before.
Carolynp- Thanks for the olive oil update. I eat a lot of it, but will eat more with my salads.
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I'm glad you mentioned about the warm blanket. I have some comfort that I will still be at my onc dr once every three weeks. It is definately a sense of security for me.
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Just getting here ladies......I have been on herceptin since dec 2011..every 3 weeks. i finished taxal and carbo( thank goodness) I am now also doing radiation. I have a runny nose all the time, and joint pain in my hips and knees..walk like a 90 year old when i first stand up. I had severe muscle pain also but that seems to be getting better. the Dr had me start magnisium for that. My nails are also a mess but I assume that was from the chemo. I love when they tell you the joint pain isnt from the herceptin!
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Welcome Jittersmom..
They told me the joint pain was not from Herceptin as well.. ya right.. I have been on a break from Hercceptin since April 3 and feel sooo much better I did not realize how bad I felt until now that I feel better ...My Muga showed an 11 % drop last test therefor the break.. Had my follow up Muga yesterday.. now waiting for results to see if I can continue Herceptin... Only have five treatments left and would really like to have them.. Have to do all I can to keep the monster at bay..
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I was so hopeful that Herceptin was causing my constantly runny nose ut now that I finished my year about 6 wks. ago there hasn't been any change. sob Still runny. ugh
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I believe I read this but I wanted to make sure: Is hair growth while on Herceptin only SUPER slow for all?
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yup
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Herceptin stays in the system about six months after last infusion.
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tc9876-my hair barely grows. I just finished Herceptin #11. I have 7 more to go. It has been over a year since I finished chemo. In between starting Herceptin and finishing chemo I also did Tykerb. So, yes, I think both Herceptin and Tykerb retards hair growth. Big time. But you what ? I don't care as long as it also retards the her2+protein, too.0
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I remember hearing the the beginning that Herceptin retards the hair growth which really stinks. I will probably be heading back to work in 1 1/2 months and it would be lovely to have some hair on my head. I finished chemo on 3/26 and will have Herceptin until December and I barely have any fuzz on my head. I don't want to go back to work and have 150 staring at me, going back to work will be difficult enough. (ps a wig is not for me!)
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I have been wearing a wig for the past year and a half. This will be my second summer wearing a wig. I know how you feel beachbum. But let's think positively that after we are done with Herceptin our regular (adult) hair will come back, too.0
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beachbum..I finised chemo March 20th and will be on Herceptin until December also. All i have on my head at this point is like 5 o'clock shadow! I was hoping it would grow a little faster. I have a wig but it is so hot this time of year.
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Thank you for your feedback.
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I was suppose to have another infusion today (started Herceptin in January), but my last echo showed my EF is 40-45%. So, no Herceptin for me. :-( My Onc is having me take a 4 week break at which point we will repeat the echo and hopefully my EF will come up enough that I can continue on.
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Kim - I started my herceptin in December and had to take four weeks off secondary to an EF of 48%. Last Monday was my first treatment back after it raising up to about 55%. My MO said she will never have me go to every other week or every third week because of the drop so I'll stay on weekly (as long as the EF stays good) for another 32 weeks. I was really upset initially about the break but I started feeling a lot better during it so it ended up being a "good" break. I go for another echo on June 16. Hope you're able to continue in four weeks!
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Still no treatment for me. My EF dropped another 3% Now at 47% MO is sending me to a cardiologist.. got an appointment for June5th.. then another muga on June 13 hopefully it will show an increase
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OSSA...what is a muga? Is that another form of heart test? So far I have only had to have Echocardiograms.0
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Jittersmom... A Muga scan is a nuclear medicine test of the heart.. When you go to the lab they take some blood. mix it with nuclear meds. give it back to you half hour later.. Then in th a machine for pictures of left ventricle of the heart.. It hows how many % blood the left ventricle pumps with each beat (50-75 is normal) Even though I am just below normal the MO was worried about the big % drop I have had... Copied the following from Wikipedia
Both test are similar and done for the same reason. Don't know why some doctors use Muga and some Echo
A MUGA scan (Multi Gated Acquisition Scan) is a time-proven nuclear medicine test designed to evaluate the function of the right and left ventricles of the heart, thus allowing informed diagnostic intervention in heart failure. It is also called radionuclide angiography, or gated blood pool imaging, as well as SYMA (SYnchronized Multigated Acquisition) scan. This modality uniquely provides a cine image of the beating heart, and allows the interpreter to determine the efficiency of the individual heart valves and chambers. MUGA/Cine scanning represents a robust adjunct to the now more common echocardiogram. Mathematics regarding acquisition of Q is well served by both of these methods as well as other inexpensive models supporting ejection fraction as a product of the heart/myocardium in systole.
An echocardiogram, often referred to in the medical community as a cardiac ECHO or simply an ECHO, is a sonogram of the heart. (It is not abbreviated as ECG, which in medicine usually refers to an electrocardiogram.) Also known as a cardiac ultrasound, it uses standard ultrasound techniques to image two-dimensional slices of the heart. The latest ultrasound systems now employ 3D real-time imaging.
In addition to creating two-dimensional pictures of the cardiovascular system, an echocardiogram can also produce accurate assessment of the velocity of blood and cardiac tissue at any arbitrary point using pulsed or continuous wave Doppler ultrasound. This allows assessment of cardiac valve areas and function, any abnormal communications between the left and right side of the heart, any leaking of blood through the valves (valvular regurgitation), and calculation of the cardiac output as well as the ejection fraction. Other parameters measured include cardiac dimensions (luminal diameters and septal thicknesses) and E/A ratio.
Echocardiography was an early medical application of ultrasound. Echocardiography was also the first application of intravenous contrast-enhanced ultrasound. This technique injects gas-filled microbubbles into the venous system to improve tissue and blood delineation. Contrast is also currently being evaluated for its effectiveness in evaluating myocardial perfusion. It can also be used with Doppler ultrasound to improve flow-related measurements (see Doppler echocardiography).
Echocardiography is performed by cardiac sonographers, cardiac physiologists (UK) or doctors trained in cardiology.
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OSSA: wow thanks for the info..my brain always seems to be on overload so much to remember, meds treatments etc>!0
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I finished chemo drugs Carbaplatin and Taxotere in late February. Continuing with Herceptin every three weeks until the end of September. Was told I would have "hardly any" side effects. That doesn't seem to be true I continue to have:
#1 Urinary Pain # 2 Fatigue #3 Insomnia #4 Constipation # 5 Runny Nose #6 Funny Taste
Any feedback? The insomnia is really becoming a problem.
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I also had carbo and Taxotere with the Herceptin. My last "triple cocktail" was march 20th. 3 weeks later I had such muscle pain I could barely walk or stand or turn over in bed. Theys aid it was left over side effect from Chemo. # wekks after that I went for my herceptin, still severe issues with my muscles, I said you have to do something. They gave me an IV of magnesium. And i took tablets every day also. it finnally let up. I still have weak leg muscles and joint pain but not bad, I also have the runny nose, my taste is off too..so much for "no SE's"
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MJ0919- I finished chemo the end of March and I still am having trouble sleeping. Sometimes I fall asleep for about two hrs then I'm up till morning. I'm sorry you are having the same issue but I'm glad to know I'm not alone.
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4th Herceptin only on Tuesday.
Slept through part of the morning treatment -- that has never happened.
OK the next day except I slept 11 hours last night.
So tired today -- unfortunately was meant to drive 13 hours with my son but had to stop at 7.
Hoping tomorrow will be better as I must complete the drive -setting an early alarm.
I wish I could articulate the difference between this fatigue and being tired or sleepy. There is no mistaking it for me though -- it is treatment fatigue.
I've looked back at my posts, and there is definitely this exact pattern. I'll plan better next time0 -
First Herceptin only this afternoon but because of the pneumonitis I've got we are sticking with weekly for a few weeks before moving to three weekly.
My infusion was 7 hours ago and so far I've just got a bit of an achy shoulder that I can't really attribute to it...
Jenn0
