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Andrea Barnett Budin · 09-02-2007, 11:50 AM

Alice, That side effect can come from Aranesp or the like. Did you recently have one of those injections? You can read my experience w/Herceptin in my signature. Been on it since '98 -- almost 9 yrs. Fatigue, which may or may not be from Vit H, could be leftover shock and awe chemo or just me getting older, is my major side effect from Herceptin.

It keeps me well and stable, and I can live w/pretty good QOL on it. Let us know how you do, please. We all care and want to help if we can.

It's so hard not to panic with new symptoms when you are in our position, but once I can find logical explanations I'm good. When I had the major pain you refer to (from my neck down to the base of my spine) my husband mentioned about Procrit (which was the red bld booster I was then on) and it's possible side effects. I thought I was dying for sure, then I settled down. Hope this is all it is w/you.
Andi

09-02-2007, 11:50 AM	#4
Andrea Barnett Budin Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: LAND OF YES! w/home in Boca Raton, Florida Orig from L.I., N.Y. Ever hovering IN THE NOW... Posts: 1,904	Bad Back Pain Alice, That side effect can come from Aranesp or the like. Did you recently have one of those injections? You can read my experience w/Herceptin in my signature. Been on it since '98 -- almost 9 yrs. Fatigue, which may or may not be from Vit H, could be leftover shock and awe chemo or just me getting older, is my major side effect from Herceptin. It keeps me well and stable, and I can live w/pretty good QOL on it. Let us know how you do, please. We all care and want to help if we can. It's so hard not to panic with new symptoms when you are in our position, but once I can find logical explanations I'm good. When I had the major pain you refer to (from my neck down to the base of my spine) my husband mentioned about Procrit (which was the red bld booster I was then on) and it's possible side effects. I thought I was dying for sure, then I settled down. Hope this is all it is w/you. Andi __________________ Andi BB '95 post-meno dx Invasive LOBULAR w/9cm tumor! YIKES + 2/21 nodes. Clear mammo 10 mnths earlier. Mastec/tram flap reconst/PORT/8 mnths chemo (4Adria/8CMF). Borderline ER/PR. Tamoxifen 2 yrs. Felt BLESSED. I could walk and talk, feed and bathe myself! I KNEW I would survive... '98 -- multiple mets to liver. HER2+ 80%. ER/PR- Raging, highly aggressive tumors spreading fast. New PORT. 9 mnths Taxotere Fought fire w/fire! Pronounced in cautious remission 5/99. Taxotere weekly for 6 wks, 2 wks off -- for 9 mnths. TALK ABOUT GRUELING! (I believe they've altered that protocol since those days -- sure hope so!!) + good old Vit H wkly for 1st 3 yrs, then triple dosage ev 3 wks for 7 yrs more... The "easy" chemo, right?! Not a walk in the park, but not a freight train coming at 'ya either... Added Herceptin Nov '98 (6 wks after FDA fast-tracked it for met bc). Stayed w/Vit H till July '08! Now I AM FREE! Humbly and eternally grateful for this life-saving drug! NED since '99 and planning on keeping it that way. To hell w/poor prognosis and nasty stats! STOPPED VIT H JULY '08...! REMAIN STABLE... Eternally grateful...Yes is a world & in this world of yes live (skillfully curled) all worlds ... (e e cummings) EVERY DAY I BEAT MY PREVIOUS RECORD FOR # OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS I'VE STAYED ALIVE. Smile KNOWING you too can be a miracle. Up to me and God now...