Response to Sdhaem on LVHF
Sdhaem, Yes my heart function has returned to normal. No, I have not restarted Herceptin at this point. Both my Oncol and Cardiologist do not want to restart the Hercepting until it is warranted. I started taking Coreg 6.25mg and Lisinopril 10mg when I first had issues w/ Herceptin induced Cardiomyopathy. Coreg was upped to 12.5 mg 3 mos later to lessen the strain on my heart. Nine months after discontinuing Herceptin my heart function returned to normal. (Nov/Dec 2006). Cardiologist decreased Coreg back to 6.25, and reduced Lisinopril to 5mg at this time. He wanted to keep me on beta blocker and ace inhibitor just give my heart some extra time to rebound from treatment. At appointment this past June, he was going to discontinue meds if I had no symtoms. I said I was still a little short of breath when it was muggy outside. He said to stay on low dose Coreg and Lisinopril for another 6 mos and see him again.
I have asked both my Oncol & Cardiologist about Herceptin or Tykerb in the future. They both do not want to broach this subject until the need arises. My cardiologist did not know what Tykerb was, so there maybe some education needed there in the future. Hope this helps. Peace Karen
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04/05 Onset 49, DCIS, solid, Hist 2/3, Nucl 2/3, 7cm R Brst
04/05 E & P + HER2+++
05/05 Mediport
05/05 Cytoxan & Adriamycin every 3wk x4
08/05 Taxol every 2wk x 4, Herceptin every wk x1yr
10/05 Bilat Mast - my Choice
10/05 3/19 lymph nodes Pos, Stage IIIa
11/05 Rad x 37 Rx, R Brst & Axcilla
02/06 Herceptin stopped (L vent HF 40)
03/06 Started & Stoped Arimidex after 2 mos.-QOL side effects
05/06 Started Tamoxafin
06/06 Bilat Free Flap Reconstruction
12/06 Cardiomyopathy reversed-HF normal
01/07 Bilat Saline Implants
07/07 CA 27-29 steadily rising from 28 in 12/06 to 46 in 7/07
07/07 PET Scan NED, but inflamation at prev surg site.
09/07 Started Femara
10/07 CA 27-29 down to 39
06/08 CA 27-29 down to 32
09/08 Lg joint pain & QOL side effects from Femara, will live w/ to keep CA markers within normal range.
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