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My personal theory about the aches and pains associated with Herceptin use is that Herceptin, being an antibody, basically "fires up" the immune system and what we are experiencing are mild to moderate autoimmune disorders. I think it's telling what Kate reports, that when she stops Herceptin the pain goes away, and when she's back on H. the pain is back.
Anyway, just my personal theory. Emelie, I hope as time goes by that your body will recover and you'll be your old self again; in the meantime, anti-inflammatories will help, and ask your doc if you should be on a low dose of aspirin(81)mg as there have been some reports that even at that low dose one gets the benefit of the Cox2 inhibiting effect. Cox2 is one of the bad guys in the inflammatory process.
<3 Lolly
<3 Lolly
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Sept.'99 - Dx.Stage IIIB, IDC ER/PR-, HER2+++ by IHC, confirmed '04 by FISH. Left MRM, AC x's 4, Taxol x's 4, 33 Rads, finishing Tx May 2000. Jan.'01 - local/regional recurrence, Stage IV. Herceptin/Navelbine weekly till NED August 2001, then maintenance Herceptin. Right Mast. April 2002. Local/Regional recurrence April '04, Herceptin plus/minus chemo until May '07. Gemzar added from Feb.'07-April '07; Tykerb/Abraxane until August '07, back on Herceptin plus Taxotere and Xeloda Sept. '07. Stopped T/X Nov. '07, stopped Herceptin Dec. '07, started Avastin/Taxol/Carboplatin Dec. '07. Progression in chest skin, stopped TAC March '03, started radiation.
Herceptin has served as the "Backbone" of my treatment strategy for over 6 years, giving me great quality of life. In 2005, I was privileged to participate in the University of Washington/Seattle HER2 Vaccine Trial.
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