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Hi Ron,
Is your wife receiving decadron before treatment? Steroids are used to reduce the possibility of this reaction. Taxotere is known for causing pleural effusions and herceptin can cause fluid around the heart. So it's up to the dr to decide what the risks are. Has she had the fluid tapped yet and had a cytology report done?
that may help determine why the fluid is building up - from the cancer or the chemo.
I had to stop taxotere due to pleural effusions. I did end up NED but have major lung damage and to make a long story short, I am on oxygen and currently weaning off prednisone. I can't take herceptin at this point because of fluid build up (due to the prednisone).
Talk to the oncologist and see about ruling out other causes of fluid (echo, ct's etc).
In answer to the other question, many women become NED and go on to take herceptin alone as a precaution.
el
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