 |
10-09-2008, 08:18 PM
|
#1
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
Posts: 731
|
Update on heart issues
A bit of good news from my oncologist. He got the report on the stress test I had on Tuesday. He said the report looks good & doesn't think 'there's anything to worry about'; of course he wants to 'consult with the cardiologist on her assessment.'
And I'm actually breathing better than I was 2 weeks ago. The only 2 things that have changed: 1) I haven't had a tx of avastin now for 4 weeks, and 2) my blood pressure has come down to close to normal since I've been on the b/p medication (a condition caused by the avastin).
I think avastin is the cause of theshortness of breath, the pericardial fluid, the low LVEF, and the compromised heart wall pumping that showed up on the echo. I'll have another echo next week to see if anything is better.
I assumed that I'd be discontinuing the avastin. But my oncologist said that he'd like me to be able to resume the avastin with the taxol since the combo is working well on the cancer. He thinks by regulating the b/p with meds & taking a beta blocker - newly prescribed, that the avastin shouldn't cause harm. I'm not so sure I'm comfortable with that - this was a pretty big scare for me. However, I sure don't want to stop a cancer fighting drug that is working well. No simple choices. I'll see what the cardiologist thinks when I see her after the next echo.
And - more good news -- my grandbaby, Alma was born on 10-8. And, of course, she's perfect!
__________________
Pam
6/01 IBC er+ her2+stage IIIb; mastecomy
7/01 AC, taxol; radiation
2/02 tamoxifen
9/02 stage IV bone mets femara
1/03 taxotere/herceptin/aredia
6/03 herceptin, aredia & faslodex
1/04 navelbine, herceptin, aredia
2/05 herceptin/aredia
7/05 xeloda/herceptin/aredia
3/07 xeloda/tykerb/aredia
5/08 taxol/avastin/aredia
2/09 gemzar/herceptin/zometa
7/09 Taxol/Carbo/Herceptin, zometa
10/09 navelbine/herceptin & zometa
2/10 herceptin & tykerb & zometa
4/10 add xeloda &aromasin
10/10 dx with dermatomyiositis triggered by cancer
11/10 restart herceptin, tykerb, zometa
12/10 surgery-place rod in R femur to stabilize bone
1/11 radiation to R femur - 20 tx
2/11 2nd surgery - rod in Left femur
2/11 tx eribulen -- suspended dx brain mets
3/11 brain mets wbr 20 tx
4/11 halaven; discontine 8/11 not working
8/11 radiation to left femur 20 tx'
8-9/11 rad to lower spine
9/11 abraxane/herceptin/zometa
9/12 xeloda/herceptin/zometa
12/12 ablation of liver
|
|
|
|
10-09-2008, 10:08 PM
|
#2
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Northern California
Posts: 764
|
Congratulations on your new grandchild.
I hope the other issues get resloved quickly for you.
Tonya
__________________
DX 02/01/07
2.5 cm, Er/Pr-, Her2+++
18/20 Nodes
03/07 CT & Bone scan - Clear
AC x 4, Taxol x 4, Added Herceptin
Radiation until 09/07
Herceptin every 3 weeks until 06/08
01/10/08 local recurrence -IBC
01/28/08 CT & Brain MRI - clear
02/08 - Navelbine & Herceptin
05/08 -MRM
05/08 - Gemzar & Herceptin - didn't work
09/08 - Hyperthermia rads
03/09 - Tykerb/Xeloda
05/10 - Tram flap to fix wound
|
|
|
|
|
10-09-2008, 10:43 PM
|
#3
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 2,077
|
Hi Pam! Thanks for sharing the good news. You keep doing what you're doing and give little Alma a peck on the fore-head for me.
__________________
For Nicola
|
|
|
|
|
10-10-2008, 04:04 AM
|
#4
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Morris, IL
Posts: 3,507
|
Pam
I woke up this morning wondering how you were doing...you were on my mind and here is your post...I am so happy everything appeared normal. We have enough on our plate...we don't need extra worries. I had very high B/P on Avastin....it continued even on the meds and continually rose. After 6 months, I went off Avastin, my onc. felt i had received maximum benefit. I could always revisit it if needed. Hoping that the new B/P meds will make a huge difference. I seem to get shortness of breath the day of and a day or 2 after the Taxol lately....I am now on Lasix the day after...seems to help get rid of extra fluid. Don't be surprised that while you are on a beta blocker, you will feel very tired...it really slows the heart action down. Also, it is a drug you cannot quit taking abruptly, you must be weaned off of it. Congrats on the new grandaughter....what a lucky little girl to have such a great Grandma!
Love and Big Hugs Pam!
__________________
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Hugs & Blessings
Sheila
Diagnosed at age 49.99999 2/21/2002 via Mammography (Calcifications)
Core Biopsy 2/22/02
L. Mastectomy 2/25/2002
Stage 1, 0.7cm IDC, Node Neg from 19 nodes Her2+++ ER PR Neg
6/2003 Reconstruction W/ Tissue Expander, Silicone Implant
9/2003 Stage IV with Mets to Supraclavicular nodes
9/2003 Began Herceptin every 3 weeks
3/2006 Xeloda 2500mg/Herceptin for recurrence to neck nodes
3/2007 Added back the Xeloda with Herceptin for continued mets to nodes
5/2007 Taken Off Xeloda, no longer working
6/14/07 Taxol/Herceptin/Avastin
3/26 - 5/28/08 Taxol Holiday Whopeeeeeeeee
5/29 2008 Back on Taxol w Herceptin q 2 weeks
4/2009 Progression on Taxol & Paralyzed L Vocal Cord from Nodes Pressing on Nerve
5/2009 Begin Rx with Navelbine/Herceptin
11/09 Progression on Navelbine
Fought for and started Tykerb/Herceptin...nodes are melting!!!!!
2/2010 Back to Avastin/Herceptin
5/2010 Switched to Metronomic Chemo with Herceptin...Cytoxan and Methotrexate
Pericardial Window Surgery to Drain Pericardial Effusion
7/2010 Back to walking a mile a day...YEAH!!!!
9/2010 Nodes are back with a vengence in neck
Qualified for TDM-1 EAP
10/6/10 Begin my miracle drug, TDM-1
Mixed response, shrinking internal nodes, progression skin mets after 3 treatments
12/6/10 Started Halaven (Eribulen) /Herceptin excellent results in 2 treatments
2/2011 I CELEBRATE my 9 YEAR MARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7/5/11 begin Gemzar /Herceptin for node progression
2/8/2012 Gemzar stopped, Continue Herceptin
2/20/2012 Begin Tomo Radiation to Neck Nodes
2/21/2012 I CELEBRATE 10 YEARS
5/12/2012 BeganTaxotere/ Herceptin is my next miracle for new node progression
6/28/12 Stopped Taxotere due to pregression, Started Perjeta/Herceptin
|
|
|
|
|
10-10-2008, 07:47 AM
|
#5
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: OH
Posts: 385
|
Things are getting
better for you Pam, and congratulations on a new grandbaby, it doesn't get sweeter than that. I'm glad you are doing well breathing wise, and just feeling better overall. Take care and enjoy Alma! Is she the cutest angel baby in the world? I thought so.
__________________
Diagnosed 4/03/03, age 50
3.5 cm, 0/19 positive nodes
Stage IIA
Her2++, ER & PR++
RB Mastectomy, 4 AC,
|
|
|
|
|
10-10-2008, 08:01 AM
|
#6
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: me & my three HANDSOME grandsons!!Jacksonville, Arkansas
Posts: 354
|
Pam,
Thank goodness you are doing better!
Congrats on the Grandbaby! I'm about to be a Grammy for the first time in December! I'm starting to get a little excited!
__________________
Terri B.
46 yrs. young
Dx IDC 3/6/08
1.5 cm & .6 cm grade III, Stage IIA
es/pr- Her2+++, 9/9 richardson
Double Mast w/expanders 4-14-08
3/9 nodes positive.
additional excision rt breast 4-25-08
weekly T/H x 12 (6-2-08) Done!
FEC x4 (9-8-08) Last one 11-10-08!
Herceptin complete 8/10/09!!
33 RADS DONE 2/13/09!
rt. breast biopsy 3/20/09 .. B9!!
reconstruction complete!
DEEEEEEported on 5/19/10!!
almost 5 YEARS NED!!
|
|
|
|
|
10-11-2008, 06:32 PM
|
#7
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: indianapolis, indiana
Posts: 1,544
|
congratulations on the grandbaby. we want pix as soon as you can. glad you got good news from your onc.
__________________
dxd 9-04, lumpectomy,
st 1, gr 3, er,pr-, her2 +,
2 tac,33 rads,6 cmf
1 yr herceptin,
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:20 AM.
|
Linear Mode
