HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Kidney issues -anyone else?

DianneS · 09-22-2009, 06:34 PM

Michka,

I'd be really interested in knowing what your test results are. Please keep me posted. Did you finish all herceptin tx's?

I finished 16 herceptins Sept. 17 and am not going to do the last one. I don't know how the drugs you're taking might affect your kidneys, but I do know that the Arimidex that I started and stopped within 3 weeks comes with a warning about taking it with kidney disease. The benefit I would get is only 4-6% because I am weak ER+ so I really don't think I want to take the risk.

One thing about GFR that my nephrologist said - there are many things that affect it, and it can go up & down during the day. Drugs, exercise and diet can affect it. I guess the one thing to look at is creatinine levels. Mine was only one point above normal so I really don't know why my GFR would be at 50. There is a formula that labs use to calculate GFR and many labs use different formulas, making it hard to determine the GFR - which is why they are going to do a blood GFR with radioactive tracer this Thurs. to get real time kidney function. I hope you get some good news and get to the bottom of your kidney issues! We kinda need our kidneys!!
Dianne

09-22-2009, 06:34 PM	#14
DianneS Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 327	Re: Kidney issues -anyone else? Michka, I'd be really interested in knowing what your test results are. Please keep me posted. Did you finish all herceptin tx's? I finished 16 herceptins Sept. 17 and am not going to do the last one. I don't know how the drugs you're taking might affect your kidneys, but I do know that the Arimidex that I started and stopped within 3 weeks comes with a warning about taking it with kidney disease. The benefit I would get is only 4-6% because I am weak ER+ so I really don't think I want to take the risk. One thing about GFR that my nephrologist said - there are many things that affect it, and it can go up & down during the day. Drugs, exercise and diet can affect it. I guess the one thing to look at is creatinine levels. Mine was only one point above normal so I really don't know why my GFR would be at 50. There is a formula that labs use to calculate GFR and many labs use different formulas, making it hard to determine the GFR - which is why they are going to do a blood GFR with radioactive tracer this Thurs. to get real time kidney function. I hope you get some good news and get to the bottom of your kidney issues! We kinda need our kidneys!! Dianne __________________ Three years and 5 months NED Dx: Aug 2008 right breast IDC with 50% of tumor DCIS, Stage II or IIA, tumor size: 2.1 cm Grade 3 8/9 Richardson/Bloom test ER+ weakly positive Alred Score: 4 (suggesting I would strongly benefit from hormone therapy) PR-, HER2 positive +++ No vascular invasion No lymph nodes involved Surgery: Sept. 9, 2008 -Modified radical mastectomy, right breast. I chose to have a simple mastectomy on the left. Began Taxotere/Carboplatin/Herceptin November, 2008. Finished T/C March 2009. Finished #16 Herceptin Sept. 09. AI's and Tamoxifen made me sick. Began natural Tamoxifen which is Quercetin, I3C and a combo of other supplements. I am also a DES Daughter. There is now a link between DES exposure in utero and breast cancer!