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10-22-2006, 10:34 PM

Hi Louise
Your diagnosis sounds like a mirror image of mine, including the heart valve problem. I am nearly 64 and fit, not overweight. I exercise regularly.

I am also Stage II. I am American, but I live in Switzerland, and over here, after lumpectomy with clear margins, they have put me on chemo for six cycles of doxorubicin (epirubicin), 5-fluorouracil, and cyclophosphamid, to be followed by radiation for six weeks (5 x wk) and then Herceptin. I think, but I am not sure yet, that the Herceptin may be just plain Herceptin. Thus far the first round of chemo was uneventful. The worst part was the fear surrounding it. I had periodic waves of very slight nausea, not even worth mentioning, and I slept more than usual. My face was puffy for 3-4 days from the pre-medication. I am not sure how it will progress though, but so far - nothing to worry about.

The FDA would not have allowed Herceptin to be used in non-metastatic breast cancer, i.e., early stage, if there had not been adequate and controlled trials in early stage breast cancer. It was only approved last year for this use. Previously, it was only used in metastatic breast cancer. It looks promising, and I am excited that we get to receive this treatment!

I have worked in the scientific field for 30 years, of late, I was the regulatory affairs manager for a Swiss vaccine company, the FDA contact person for our company. Even though I have a solid scientific background, I let the doctors decide how to manage my treatment. I do ask questions, and ask their opinion for consideration of some topics, but in the end, they are the experts. However, having said that, the hands-on experience from this site has proved invaluable to me in the last six weeks, in terms of education, trust, and loving friendship. The women here are so smart! Reading at this site has helped me ask the right questions!

I guess my message is not to be afraid - it is just extra stress which you don't need.

It sounds as though your doctors are making good decisions. Personally, if the doctors suggested chemo, I would go for it, and blasts those micro-metastatic buggers, wherever they are lurking, but that is only my opinion.

I hope this has been helpful, and I do wish you all the best.

Kind regards,
Nedra

10-22-2006, 10:34 PM	#4
Nedra Guest Posts: n/a	Hi Louise Your diagnosis sounds like a mirror image of mine, including the heart valve problem. I am nearly 64 and fit, not overweight. I exercise regularly. I am also Stage II. I am American, but I live in Switzerland, and over here, after lumpectomy with clear margins, they have put me on chemo for six cycles of doxorubicin (epirubicin), 5-fluorouracil, and cyclophosphamid, to be followed by radiation for six weeks (5 x wk) and then Herceptin. I think, but I am not sure yet, that the Herceptin may be just plain Herceptin. Thus far the first round of chemo was uneventful. The worst part was the fear surrounding it. I had periodic waves of very slight nausea, not even worth mentioning, and I slept more than usual. My face was puffy for 3-4 days from the pre-medication. I am not sure how it will progress though, but so far - nothing to worry about. The FDA would not have allowed Herceptin to be used in non-metastatic breast cancer, i.e., early stage, if there had not been adequate and controlled trials in early stage breast cancer. It was only approved last year for this use. Previously, it was only used in metastatic breast cancer. It looks promising, and I am excited that we get to receive this treatment! I have worked in the scientific field for 30 years, of late, I was the regulatory affairs manager for a Swiss vaccine company, the FDA contact person for our company. Even though I have a solid scientific background, I let the doctors decide how to manage my treatment. I do ask questions, and ask their opinion for consideration of some topics, but in the end, they are the experts. However, having said that, the hands-on experience from this site has proved invaluable to me in the last six weeks, in terms of education, trust, and loving friendship. The women here are so smart! Reading at this site has helped me ask the right questions! I guess my message is not to be afraid - it is just extra stress which you don't need. It sounds as though your doctors are making good decisions. Personally, if the doctors suggested chemo, I would go for it, and blasts those micro-metastatic buggers, wherever they are lurking, but that is only my opinion. I hope this has been helpful, and I do wish you all the best. Kind regards, Nedra