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Jackie07 · 12-16-2009, 07:02 PM

My take is that the doctor was just trying to get you to finish more Herceptin sessions before you are 'forced out' because of lowered MUGA.

My MUGA started out low (don't know the exact number, had to be in the upper or mid 50's.) When I had a swollen left knee (I have left-side weakness because of my previous brain tumor surgery 17 years before then) just a couple of months into chemo, my oncologist did not order the MUGA scan. He waited till I had completed 18 weeks of chemo plus 4 weekly Herceptin.

The chemo room staff did not even know about it - I called them in my doctor's room - but the preparation was already done and had to go to waste.

I then realized that when I had a swollen knee after 'walking' exercise it already showed lowered heart pumping function.

I asked for another MUGA a couple of months after my Herceptin had stopped, but the score went 2 points lower despite my not-very-strong effort to improve it.

There is at least one lady here on the Board who has improved her MUGA by taking 'enalapria'. You might want to check into how to improve your heart function. Your body will know any problem before a scan or test reveals it.

Good luck to you.

12-16-2009, 07:02 PM	#3
Jackie07 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: "Love never fails." Posts: 5,808	Re: Herceptin/MUGA Scan My take is that the doctor was just trying to get you to finish more Herceptin sessions before you are 'forced out' because of lowered MUGA. My MUGA started out low (don't know the exact number, had to be in the upper or mid 50's.) When I had a swollen left knee (I have left-side weakness because of my previous brain tumor surgery 17 years before then) just a couple of months into chemo, my oncologist did not order the MUGA scan. He waited till I had completed 18 weeks of chemo plus 4 weekly Herceptin. The chemo room staff did not even know about it - I called them in my doctor's room - but the preparation was already done and had to go to waste. I then realized that when I had a swollen knee after 'walking' exercise it already showed lowered heart pumping function. I asked for another MUGA a couple of months after my Herceptin had stopped, but the score went 2 points lower despite my not-very-strong effort to improve it. There is at least one lady here on the Board who has improved her MUGA by taking 'enalapria'. You might want to check into how to improve your heart function. Your body will know any problem before a scan or test reveals it. Good luck to you. __________________ Jackie07 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2011/06/doctors-letter-patient-newly-diagnosed-cancer.html http://www.asco.org/ASCOv2/MultiMedi...=114&trackID=2 NICU 4.4 LB Erythema Nodosum 85 Life-long Central Neurocytoma 4x5x6.5 cm 23 hrs 62090 semi-coma 10 d PT OT ST 30 d 3 Infertility tmts 99 > 3 u. fibroids > Pills CN 3 GKRS 52301 IDC 1.2 cm Her2 +++ ER 5% R. Lmptmy SLNB+1 71703 6 FEC 33 R Tamoxifen Recc IIB 2.5 cm Bi-L Mast 61407 2/9 nds PET 6 TCH Cellulitis - Lymphedema - compression sleeve & glove H w x 4 MUGA 51 D, J 49 M Diastasis recti Tamoxifen B. scan Irrtbl bowel 1'09 Colonoscopy 313 BRCA1 V1247I hptc hemangioma Vertigo GI - > yogurt hysterectomy/oophorectomy 011410 Exemestane 25 mg tab 102912 ~ 101016 stopped due to r. hip/l.thigh pain after long walk DEXA 1/13 1-2016 lesions in liver largest 9mm & 1.3 cm onco. says not cancer. 3-11 Appendectomy - visually O.K., a lot of puss. Final path result - not cancer. Start Vitamin D3 and Calcium supplement （600mg x2) 10-10 Stopped Exemestane due to r. hip/l.thigh pain OKed by Onco 11-08-2016 7-23-2018 9 mm groundglass nodule within the right lower lobe with indolent behavior. Due to possible adenocarcinoma, Recommend annual surveilence. 7-10-2019 CT to check lung nodule. 1-10-2020 8mm stable nodule on R Lung, two 6mm new ones on L Lung, a possible lymph node involvement in inter fissule. "I WANT TO BE AN OUTRAGEOUS OLD WOMAN WHO NEVER GETS CALLED AN OLD LADY. I WANT TO GET SHARP EDGED & EARTH COLORED, TILL I FADE AWAY FROM PURE JOY." Irene from Tampa Advocacy is a passion .. not a pastime - Joe Last edited by Jackie07; 12-16-2009 at 07:07 PM..