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Re: Bad heart news.....wah!!!!!!!!
Good Morning!
Yes, indeed! I had to take a Herceptin Holiday in February. After 4 weeks of walking, and two different meds (Coreg and Enalipril)
my EF jumped from the low 40s, back to 60%.
Ironically, my blood pressure was never actually "high"...I think my highest ever was 140/80...but that was high for me, since I usually hover around 95/60. The cardiologist said for me, the 140 was high and was putting strain on my heart...not allowing it to heal between Herceptin infusions.
I honestly just did NOT want to take heart or blood pressure meds...but then I never thought I'd need cancer meds either... anyway... I have to admit...I feel more energetic than I have in quite a while...so I guess the doc was right. She also recommended fish oil. I think her exact words were, "Every adult would benefit from fish oil, heart problem or no", and although she doesn't believe CoQ10 will have any benefit...she okayed that too.
Are you under the care of a cardiologist? Luckily I had agreed to be part of a study regarding Herceptin and heart health...so she was watching over me anyway. If your insurance will allow it, it might give you peace of mind to check in with a cardiologist who is familiar with the whole "Herceptin thing". Maybe your onc could recommend one?
I hope your heart bounces back as quickly as mine did! And good luck with TDM-1!!
Denise
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1/11-needle biopsy
2/11-Lumpectomy/axillary node dissection - Stage 3c, ER/PR-14/17 nodes
3/11 - Post-op staph infection,cellulitis, lymphedema,seroma,ARRRGH!
4/12/11-A/C x 4, then T/H x 4, H only,Q3 weeks
8/26/11 finished Taxol!!!
10/7/11 mastectomy/DIEP recon
11/11 radiation x28
1/12/12 1st CANCER-VERSARY!
1/12 Low EF/Herceptin "Holiday" :(
2/12 EF up - Back on Herceptin, heart meds
4/2/1212 surgery to repair separated incision from DIEP recon
6/8/12 Return to work :)
6/17/12 Fall, shatter wrist,surgery to repair/insert plate :(
7/10/12 last Herceptin
7/23/12 Brain Mets %$&#! 3cm and 1cm
8/10/12 Gamma knife surgery, LOTS of steroids;start H/Tykerb
8/23/12 Back to work
12/20/12 Injure back-3 weeks in wheel chair
1/12/13 2nd CANCER-VERSARY!
1/14/13 herniate disk in back - surgery to repair
1/27/13 Radiation necrosis - edema in brain - back on steroids - but not back to work - off balance, poor cordination in right arm
5/3/13 Start Avastin to shrink necrosis
5/10/13 begin weaning steroids
6/18/13 Brain MRI - Avastin seems to be working!
6/20/13 quarterly CT - chest, abdomen, pelvis - All Clear!
7/5/13 finally off steroids!!
7/7/13 joined the ranks of the CHEMO NINJAS I am now Tekuto Ki Ariku cancer assassin!
7/13/13 Symptoms return - back on steroids
7/26/13 Back on Avastin - try again!
8/26/13 Not ready to return to classroom yet :( But I CAN walk without holding onto things! :)
9/9/13 Brain MRI - fingers crossed
“ Life is a grindstone, and whether it grinds you down or polishes you up is for you, and you alone, to decide. ” – Cavett Robert
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