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Old 01-14-2008, 02:36 PM   #4
Andrea Barnett Budin
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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
This Was My Experience...

Hi Krista,

You can read my tale in my signature. I do not have any pains from the Herceptin. However, during Taxotere -- and for yrs after -- I felt deep muscle pain in both my legs (calves and thighs) and my arms (lower and upper). My onc said that was common w/Taxotere. I was reassured. It was a deep aching and throbbing that left me in a constant state of unrest. Seeking another place to put myself. It was a daily thing during the tx and for mnths after. Then it became intermittent. Sev YEARS after Taxotere tx, I mentioned to my onc, I know this sounds crazy, but occasionally I get the same deep muscle pain I had when on Taxotere. But it's been yrs!

No, that is not crazy. I have had the same thing reported by sev of my patients who were on that chemo, said my wonderful onc. So I felt sane, and was therefore better able to deal. I am grateful to be alive! I hope this helps you rest easier...
Andi
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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...
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