HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post

Lolly · 12-08-2006, 11:05 PM

Sue;

Your'er RIGHT to feel shortchanged. If you want to finish your prescribed course of Herceptin, your cardiologist is your friend at this point. Several ladiies have posted here in the past about CHF while on Herceptin and being prescribed Beta blockers and/or ACE inhibitors in order to continue on Herceptin. One of these women was actually in a clinical trial and was quite insistent that she receive treatment in order to stay in the trial.
Bottom line: this is a treatable condition which should not preclude you from remaining on Herceptin to finish your course of treatment.
Also, some women have been able to take a short break from Herceptin(a month or so) and then been able to resume treatment.

Your and your onc need to have a "come to Jesus" conversation.

<3 Lolly

12-08-2006, 11:05 PM	#2
Lolly Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,756	Sue; Your'er RIGHT to feel shortchanged. If you want to finish your prescribed course of Herceptin, your cardiologist is your friend at this point. Several ladiies have posted here in the past about CHF while on Herceptin and being prescribed Beta blockers and/or ACE inhibitors in order to continue on Herceptin. One of these women was actually in a clinical trial and was quite insistent that she receive treatment in order to stay in the trial. Bottom line: this is a treatable condition which should not preclude you from remaining on Herceptin to finish your course of treatment. Also, some women have been able to take a short break from Herceptin(a month or so) and then been able to resume treatment. Your and your onc need to have a "come to Jesus" conversation. <3 Lolly __________________ 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.