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08-15-2007, 02:56 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Northern California
Posts: 764
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A muga test so soon?
My doctor is ordering another muga in September. It seems that he orders one every two months. Is that normal?
I wish it was not so often as I do not want to stop herceptin. I've always believed that herceptin is a godsend, its a miracle drug, and I want to complete it. The first one dropped from 67 to 58 but since I have been off A/C for 4 months could it possibly go up again?
I have the paperwork to schedule the muga. Maybe I'll intentionally forget and blame it on chemo brain. lol!
__________________
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
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08-15-2007, 03:44 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Southern California
Posts: 900
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I had an echo (instead of a muga) every three months while on Herceptin (my last treatment was in March) and will continue until I am one year out. My onc said that the new guidelines recommend continuing testing for that long after treatment is over.
These tests are for your protection to monitor your heart function while on Herceptin. Don't skip the test - your onc may deny you your Herceptin until you comply.
__________________
Gerri
Dx: 11/23/05, Lumpectomy 12/12/05
Tumor 2.2 cm, Stage II, Grade 3, Sentinel Node biopsy negative
ER+ (30%) /PR+ (50%), HER2+++
AC X 4 dose dense, Taxol X 4 dose dense
Herceptin started with 2nd Taxol, given weekly until chemo done
then given every 3 weeks for one year ending on March 16, 2007
Radiation 30 treatments
Tamoxifen - 2 yrs (pre-menopausal)
May 2008 - Feb 2012 Femara
Aug 2008 - Feb 2012 Zometa every 6 months
March 2012 - Stop Femara, now Evista for bone strengthening
********** Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. - Robert Brault
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08-15-2007, 04:41 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 82
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Muga
I started with a MUGA every 12 weeks, but because my LVEF dropped from 61% to 51% after 9 weeks of Taxol and Herceptin, I am now having a MUGA scan every 4 weeks. My LVEF rose to 60%; now it's 56%. I'm hoping that we both get to stay on Herceptin.
__________________
IDC Stage IIIA
Diagnosed Nov 2006 (routine mammogram), age 51
Lumpectomy, lymph node dissection Dec 2006
3 cm tumor, 8 cancerous lymph nodes
Grade 3, ER/PR -, HER-2/neu +++ (by FISH, average 20 copies per cell)
A/C x 4, Taxol x 12, Herceptin x 47 weeks
35 radiation treatments
Completed treatment on April 3, 2008
Chest port removed October 2009
11 years since diagnosis NED
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08-15-2007, 06:27 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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I get echocardiograms every 3 months. Please do not cancel your appointment as getting a MUGA or echo is very important while you're on Herceptin. If you do not have the test done your oncologist can hold off on giving you your Herceptin treatment. I know that my onc's office will not give me my Herceptin until they check the result of my echo.
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Kate
Stage IIIC Diagnosed Oct 25, 2005 (age 58)
ER/PR-, HER2+++, grade 3, Ploidy/DNA index: Aneuploid/1.61, S-phase: 24.2%
Neoadjunct chemo: 4 A/C; 4 Taxatore
Bilateral mastectomy June 8, 2006
14 of 26 nodes positive
Herceptin June 22, 2006 - April 20, 2007
Radiation (X35) July 24-September 11, 2006
BRCA1/BRCA2 negative
Stage IV lung mets July 13, 2007 - TCH
Single brain met - August 6, 2007 -CyberKnife
Oct 2007 - clear brain MRI and lung mets shrinking.
March 2008 lung met progression, brain still clear - begin Tykerb/Xeloda/Ixempra
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08-15-2007, 06:46 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 33
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After a drop in my EF earlier this earlier this year, I was also having MUGA's monthly. I did drop enough that I was given 1 month off of Herceptin. After that monthly my EF increased back to 54% so I was able to complete my year of herceptin. My post herceptin muga increase again.
Susan
__________________
dx IDC @ age 39 Feb '06
stage 2 er/pr-, her2+
neoadjuvant chemo 4 A/C completed April '06, 12 weekly taxol/herceptin completed 8/06, lumpectomy 8/15/06 NED!
33 rads completed 10/06
weekly herceptin thru May 2007 --Stopped herceptin 4/07 due to drop in LVEF. Started Herceptin again 5/07
Final Herceptin 6/12/07
Port Removed -8/13/07
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08-15-2007, 07:43 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Northern California
Posts: 764
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Kate & Gerri: Thank you for talking sense into me. I just didn't want herceptin to stop but the heart is important too and as you say, the onc may hault it without the test.
Hazel: I'm praying that we both can complete herceptin on time.
Susan: Congratulations on having your port removed. How wonderful. I can't wait for the day mine is out. However, being stage 3 I believe they will keep it in for a few years.
You are all so kind and concerned. You are a blessing. Thank you.
__________________
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
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08-15-2007, 09:27 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: southern california
Posts: 287
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I had echo's every 3 months while on herceptin. I had to stop herceptin when my LEF dropped by 20%. If you don't have the echo or mugua you could do more dammage and what is the point of surviving cancer if you are dammaged beyond repair. If you have dammage, it should resolve after the herceptin is stopped and sometimes just taking a break is all that is necessary.
Alice
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