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janet11 · 07-09-2008, 06:45 AM

The hospital where I got my MUGAs also said they did not use ports for this because of the radioactivity. However, I ALSO learned that they didn't have anyone trained to USE ports nor did they have the special needles, so whether that is the chicken or the egg, I don't know.

After I stopped the Herceptin due to low EF, I started going to a cardiologist who said I had had "too many MUGAs" and I should be getting echocardiograms instead. Of course, that's what HE gave :-) BUT, I was MUCH happier getting echos. NO needles. Wonderful.

And for those of you who had low EF figures: Mine went from 63 to 48 during Herceptin and dropped to 44 3 months AFTER stopping it, including showing damage beyond just the lvef. But, after 18 months on CoReg (actually, the generic carvedilol), my heart is now totally normal. Even my cardio was surprised -- he said that he normally did not see this type of damage reversing. Yippee.

07-09-2008, 06:45 AM	#7
janet11 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rowlett, TX Posts: 138	The hospital where I got my MUGAs also said they did not use ports for this because of the radioactivity. However, I ALSO learned that they didn't have anyone trained to USE ports nor did they have the special needles, so whether that is the chicken or the egg, I don't know. After I stopped the Herceptin due to low EF, I started going to a cardiologist who said I had had "too many MUGAs" and I should be getting echocardiograms instead. Of course, that's what HE gave :-) BUT, I was MUCH happier getting echos. NO needles. Wonderful. And for those of you who had low EF figures: Mine went from 63 to 48 during Herceptin and dropped to 44 3 months AFTER stopping it, including showing damage beyond just the lvef. But, after 18 months on CoReg (actually, the generic carvedilol), my heart is now totally normal. Even my cardio was surprised -- he said that he normally did not see this type of damage reversing. Yippee. __________________ Janet in Rowlett Texas Dx July 2006 IDC 1.8cm, ER-/PR- HER2+ (FISH 7), KI67 High (60%) grade 3, TOPO II neg Aug2006: lumpectomy, SNB (4 nodes neg), Stage 1 Jan 2007: Finished 6 cycles of TCH (Taxotere, Carboplatin, Her ceptin). Then Herceptin every 3 weeks. Feb 2007: Completed Radiation May 2007: Stopped Herceptin due to low LVEF (49%) July 2007: LVEF now 44% -- starting Coreg May 2008: Heart NORMAL! Yippee.