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

Andrea Barnett Budin · 09-28-2007, 02:08 PM

Jamie, Any questions you have shoot them over to me, as the poster child for Vit H, I have accumulated a lot of knowledge, hanging out in chemo rooms for the last 12 yrs.

I grew up in Rockville Centre. Got married, lived in Manhattan (22nd & 2nd), then an apartment in Lynbook, till we could afford (or stretch to afford a house). Had to go way out to Dix Hills to achieve that. Lived there 29 yrs raising my babes and my Silky Terriers. Now have 2 Maltese bros that we rescued 4 yrs ago.

Moved to Manhasset as I was initially dx in '95. That was interesting. Then moved full time to our part time town Boca. Moved from NY and from southern Boca large apartment to northern Boca house -- so I could take all my *stuff*. That move was just after finishing 9 mnths of Taxotere. That was impossible. It's amazing what you can do when you have to. And here I be. Or, as Flori, morning glory, says -- HERE AM I!

With loving energy going out to my Sisters and Bros... Andi

09-28-2007, 02:08 PM	#12
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	Long Island Jamie, Any questions you have shoot them over to me, as the poster child for Vit H, I have accumulated a lot of knowledge, hanging out in chemo rooms for the last 12 yrs. I grew up in Rockville Centre. Got married, lived in Manhattan (22nd & 2nd), then an apartment in Lynbook, till we could afford (or stretch to afford a house). Had to go way out to Dix Hills to achieve that. Lived there 29 yrs raising my babes and my Silky Terriers. Now have 2 Maltese bros that we rescued 4 yrs ago. Moved to Manhasset as I was initially dx in '95. That was interesting. Then moved full time to our part time town Boca. Moved from NY and from southern Boca large apartment to northern Boca house -- so I could take all my stuff. That move was just after finishing 9 mnths of Taxotere. That was impossible. It's amazing what you can do when you have to. And here I be. Or, as Flori, morning glory, says -- HERE AM I! With loving energy going out to my Sisters and Bros... 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...