[Mary Jo]

Hello everyone,

Just wondering if those of you who were on chemo and herceptin and are now finished have any long term side effects? I'm still battling with this left side ache/discomfort. My onc. thinks it's a bowel/intestine issue and isn't worried about it. I started with the "ache" in October of 05 while on chemo. I remember vividly mentioning it to my onc. at that time. I also remember that it started (I think so) after I got really constipated a few days out of a chemo/zofran treatment in Oct. of 05. That's when I remember my side hurting - near the rib area and down that side.

I did have a PET/CT scan the end of December 06 and nothing showed up their. I'd think that if it were cancer and causing discomfort we would have seen something there if it were cancer. I would think by this time a tumor would be large. But there was nothing.

I can't lie and say it isn't driving me nuts ONLY IN THAT I can't help but wonder why and then the cancer scares surface. I am avoiding seeing my regular doc because I'm hoping it will go away because I don't want to go in and DON'T WANT TO HAVE TESTS. I've had enough of those in the past year and half. And as we all know.....the reason I am afraid of more tests is I'm afraid of hearing the bad news. I never use to be fearful of that BUT once hearing it we all know it's possible and I don't want to hear any of that. So avoidance seems best. Maybe not smart BUT best.

I'm thinking that since this has been going on for well over a year (17 months) AND I've had a PET/CT scan and I'm not dead yet and have no terrible symptoms (other than the left side irritating me) and feel great that this must be a side effect I'm suffering from chemo damage to my intestines.

Have any of you had different "problems" to deal with since you've been out of chemo/herceptin for some time. I've been off of chemo for 16 months and herceptin a little over 5 months.

Thanks for your input.

Mary Jo