HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Her-2 and hormone therapy?

Cannon · 09-05-2009, 06:47 PM

I am also in the camp of, if it is likely to help prevent recurrence, and I can live with the side effects, I'm doing it. I had terrible side effects with Arimidex, switched to Femara and very little issue (some achiness, I take Glucosamine and Chondroitin, that seem to help a lot).

Yes, it sucks to take a lot of pills, but some of us do not have enough of the right stuff, or too much of the wrong stuff, in our bodies, and medication can improve those issues.

Many of us have been diagnosed WAY too young, and I want to do everything I can to keep living without cancer, and then if I have to, to keep living with cancer.

Regarding the idea that "we need hormones," -- no, not if we have ER+ cancer. In fact, the rate of breast cancer has descreased significantly since drs have stopped giving estrogen replacement to women as a treatment for menopausal symptoms.

Everyone should, and will, make her own decision, but I am "in for a penny, in for a pound."

Rebecca

09-05-2009, 06:47 PM	#36
Cannon Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 203	Re: Her-2 and hormone therapy? I am also in the camp of, if it is likely to help prevent recurrence, and I can live with the side effects, I'm doing it. I had terrible side effects with Arimidex, switched to Femara and very little issue (some achiness, I take Glucosamine and Chondroitin, that seem to help a lot). Yes, it sucks to take a lot of pills, but some of us do not have enough of the right stuff, or too much of the wrong stuff, in our bodies, and medication can improve those issues. Many of us have been diagnosed WAY too young, and I want to do everything I can to keep living without cancer, and then if I have to, to keep living with cancer. Regarding the idea that "we need hormones," -- no, not if we have ER+ cancer. In fact, the rate of breast cancer has descreased significantly since drs have stopped giving estrogen replacement to women as a treatment for menopausal symptoms. Everyone should, and will, make her own decision, but I am "in for a penny, in for a pound." Rebecca __________________ Dx 8/06 Age 43 Stage IIIA multifocal throughout breast, largest tumor 5 cm, grade 3, comedo, ER+PR+HER+++ Neoadjuvant A/C 4X Dose Dense 11/06 Bilateral Mastectomy (no choice on the right, my choice on the left) Taxol+Herceptin weekly x12, continuing with Herceptin, finished one year in 12/07 33 Rads Femara for 5+ years, staying on (started with Arimidex, switched after about a month, much happier) Abnormal brain MRI shows no cancer, but "extensive white matter diease" - unknown cause BRCA negative - lots of cancer in my family survivor of thyroid cancer also have Crohn's disease CT and bone scan say NED as of 5/13 dx with severe cardiomyopathy 5/12 (likely due to chemo and Herceptin), ejection fraction in low 20's, now up to 40, went to 50, latest read 12/13 is back down to 35 1/13 Acute pancreatitis - are you kidding me? 9/13 started Humira for Crohn's. starting to have some energy again B12 and Vit D both needed supplementation Cataracts in both eyes noted 6/12 - surgery in the next 2-4 years? 4/14 Kidney stones/blockage/infection - related to Crohn's Disease 5/14 My aunt passed away - she was diagnosed after I was with Stage I - not Her2+, then Stage 4 for about one year 6/14 Scans - still NED, thank God. However, broken rib (I didn't notice) lots of bone degeneration osteopenia/osteoporosis. I also still have cardiomyopathy secondary to chemo.