New entry from Italy!
 

Melinda, very kind, told me I've post my first thread in the wronge place! Now I paste and copy it here! Thank you girls, you're great!

I'm Malena from Italy (sorry since now for my english)! I'm 37 (OK, I'm actually 36, 37 in May.......), I was diagnosticated in sept 05, I have mastectomy in feb 06 (ductal, 4 cm). I had 4 chemios before the surgery and 4 after the surgery. No rads. My cancer is hormone negative, but is HER2 positive. This seemed good for me in a first time.
I started Herceptin in July 06. I was happy because in italy herceptin was a very new drug (our government gave in january 06 the permission to use it on no metastatic woman before the approval of the european community). Unfortunately after 2 infusion of the drug I had a heart damage (I went to my local emergency room with 15% EF......). So I had to stop immediatly with herceptin.
Now my heart is OK, but I feel with no other changes to stop the cancer.......
I found your site and It is great!!!!!!!!
Malena

Welcome! you will find alot of support and valuable information and insights here!!!

Malena

Welcome to our group, here you will find love and support and someone who has been in your shoes. After being off Herceptin for a while, you may be able to go back on it as your heart strengthens. Did you have AC chemo prior to the Herceptin? That might have pushed the cardiotoxicity over the hill...time may change that.

Ciao Malena
 

Malena,
Please do not apologize for your English. I absolutely adored your post. I can assure you I would not even begin to start if I had to do it in Italian. However, I can absolutely cook in Italian! Welcome to the site. You will find lots of support and hope here.
Love & hugs,
Marlys

Where in Italy?
 

Hi Malena,

As others have suggested, you LVEF may come back up now that you're off herceptin. And then perhaps you can go back on herceptin. Some other things you might try:

25 grams of ground flaxseed every day and also flaxseed oil
(trial in Canada showed that flaxseed muffins suppressed the HER2 protein). I grind the flaxseed every three days or so to be sure it's fresh and add it to my morning oatmeal. It tastes best if you mix it in and then add lots of skim milk.
Also fish oil
Lots of olive oil (some studies in the US and Spain have shown that olive oil supresses the HER2 protein)

I wonder where you live in Italy. We lived in Umbria for a number of years, and have also lived in Venice and Florence, but mainly Umbria.

Also, perhaps you can answer a question. I've been trying to find out for six months if herceptin is approved for a cancer of 5mm, or does the cancer has to be at least 1cm to get approved for herceptin. I have medical insurance in Italy but have not returned mainly because I don't think I can get herceptin there. If you don't know the answer, don't trouble yourself.

And welcome!

When I had the heart problem the EF was very low (15%), the onc thinks is a high risk for me start again with herceptin. But in case.....(obviously metastasis)!
OK for flaxeseed! No problem for oliveoil (we use a lot in Italy).
But not fish oil, I'm vegeterian!
I live in Gorizia, It's a little place near Slovenia.
I don't know if there is some problem to have herceptin in Italy with a less than 1 cm cancer, I'll ask to my onc. But normaly Italy follows the European decision.I'll try to find it out.

Thanks
 

Malena,

Thanks, Malena, that would be great if you can ask your oncologist.

Do try the flaxseed. My tumor markers were elevated even despite my small cancer and stayed that way although I was on herceptin for months. It wasn't until I started with the flaxseed (faithfully every day) that my markers went down--not where I want them to be but still down. It can't hurt as it's good for lots of other things as well.

You might also try taking tumeric, either natural or in pill form.

There have been some recent studies regarding pro-Vitamin E, in Australia, that also showed some suppression of HER2. You should be careful, though, with Vitamin E as it also has its downside.

And you might try CoQ-10 for heart. Lots of others on this site swear by it.

Good luck.

Happy to see you found the forum
 

Malena,
I am so happy you took my advise. Reading from the posts you have already gained more sisters than what could fit around my dining room table! We welcome you with open arms and hearts. Already I see that you have more than just BC in common with us.... Italian, food, and possibly neighbors in common with Grace. Welcome again. Ciao
Melinda

Buone Giorno Malena
 

Welcome to our board. It is so nice to "meet" you and all the way from Italy.
I just think its amazing that we get to speak while being so far away to all of our sisters (sorelle's) all over the world.

I am sorry that you had troubles while on the Herceptin. Hopefully you will be able to get back on it in time. I was on it for 6 years and am now on the Tykerb/Xeloda trial.

I was in Italy (Cortona & Positano) last year an loved it so much. I can not wait to go back as we had a wonderful time and the people there were so warm and wonderful.

I am also Italian/Spanish but grew up in Tampa, Florida in the U.S. so it was a wonderful experience to visit your country.

Have a great day Malena and hope to talk to you again soon.

Take care