HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Please post your two cents on Herceptin "side effects" real or perceived!

Andrea Barnett Budin · 07-17-2007, 11:10 AM

My hairline never returned with the 2nd round of chemo. My hair is way thinner and weird, like it's not mine. I want my widow's peak back, or at least I want not to have a receeding hairline, or a *high forehead* all of a sudden. I want to put my hair back with a headband like I used to, only now that isn't *normal* looking.

I have 17 eyelashes on the top of my left lid and 14 on the top right. I have 6 eyelashes on the bottom left and 8 on the bottom right. Not that I'm counting...

I have NO eyebrow! They didn't grow back after the 2nd round of chemo (mean old Taxotere that did the dirty work of annihilating every tumor in my liver, but...).

I now have a mustache.

I never could go without shaving my legs, even midst chemo and being totally bald.

I'm just saying.

Astrid's post gave me a chance to whine a bit. I thank God for the gift of every new day! I live in gratitude and love, elated to be alive. But, I'm just saying...

I want my thick long lashes back that everyone used to ask, Are those YOURS? I have to draw and create eyebrows every morning, another little reminder that cancer's been here. Then I inform my body -- NO MORE CANCER! STAY WELL AND HEALTHY!, with as much passion and resolve as I can muster. All of which is obviously the good news. But sometimes complaining is so relieving...

Thanks for listening. Sending loving, healing energy to all my Soul Sisters, hoping you're hairy wherever you want to be and most importantly STABLE!

ANDI

07-17-2007, 11:10 AM	#225
Andrea Barnett Budin Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: LAND OF YES! w/home in Boca Raton, Florida Orig from L.I., N.Y. Ever hovering IN THE NOW... Posts: 1,904	Hair Counts My hairline never returned with the 2nd round of chemo. My hair is way thinner and weird, like it's not mine. I want my widow's peak back, or at least I want not to have a receeding hairline, or a high forehead all of a sudden. I want to put my hair back with a headband like I used to, only now that isn't normal looking. I have 17 eyelashes on the top of my left lid and 14 on the top right. I have 6 eyelashes on the bottom left and 8 on the bottom right. Not that I'm counting... I have NO eyebrow! They didn't grow back after the 2nd round of chemo (mean old Taxotere that did the dirty work of annihilating every tumor in my liver, but...). I now have a mustache. I never could go without shaving my legs, even midst chemo and being totally bald. I'm just saying. Astrid's post gave me a chance to whine a bit. I thank God for the gift of every new day! I live in gratitude and love, elated to be alive. But, I'm just saying... I want my thick long lashes back that everyone used to ask, Are those YOURS? I have to draw and create eyebrows every morning, another little reminder that cancer's been here. Then I inform my body -- NO MORE CANCER! STAY WELL AND HEALTHY!, with as much passion and resolve as I can muster. All of which is obviously the good news. But sometimes complaining is so relieving... Thanks for listening. Sending loving, healing energy to all my Soul Sisters, hoping you're hairy wherever you want to be and most importantly STABLE! ANDI __________________ Andi BB '95 post-meno dx Invasive LOBULAR w/9cm tumor! YIKES + 2/21 nodes. Clear mammo 10 mnths earlier. Mastec/tram flap reconst/PORT/8 mnths chemo (4Adria/8CMF). Borderline ER/PR. Tamoxifen 2 yrs. Felt BLESSED. I could walk and talk, feed and bathe myself! I KNEW I would survive... '98 -- multiple mets to liver. HER2+ 80%. ER/PR- Raging, highly aggressive tumors spreading fast. New PORT. 9 mnths Taxotere Fought fire w/fire! Pronounced in cautious remission 5/99. Taxotere weekly for 6 wks, 2 wks off -- for 9 mnths. TALK ABOUT GRUELING! (I believe they've altered that protocol since those days -- sure hope so!!) + good old Vit H wkly for 1st 3 yrs, then triple dosage ev 3 wks for 7 yrs more... The "easy" chemo, right?! Not a walk in the park, but not a freight train coming at 'ya either... Added Herceptin Nov '98 (6 wks after FDA fast-tracked it for met bc). Stayed w/Vit H till July '08! Now I AM FREE! Humbly and eternally grateful for this life-saving drug! NED since '99 and planning on keeping it that way. To hell w/poor prognosis and nasty stats! STOPPED VIT H JULY '08...! REMAIN STABLE... Eternally grateful...Yes is a world & in this world of yes live (skillfully curled) all worlds ... (e e cummings) EVERY DAY I BEAT MY PREVIOUS RECORD FOR # OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS I'VE STAYED ALIVE. Smile KNOWING you too can be a miracle. Up to me and God now...