|
Marily, some on this board have reported that after a break from Herceptin, they've been retested and been able to resume treatment as their heart recovered. I remember one woman reported that she was in a clinical trial with Herceptin, and in order to continue on the trial consulted a cardiologist and was put on beta blockers to help with her heart function, which enabled her to continue in the trial.
You might consider seeing a cardiologist, or at least asking to have your heart retested in a month or so to see if it's recovered and if your onc will allow you to resume Herceptin.
I've been on Herceptin since Jan. 2001, so going into my 6th year now. I've only had problems with muscle cramps when we've had to add Navelbine, which I started again in October. In January started having pretty bad muscle cramping in fingers, hands, feet and especially diaphram so my onc had me start taking 400mg magnesium twice daily in addition to my 1500 mg calcium supplement, taken in 500mg doses 3 x's daily. I was amazed, this has stopped the cramping cold. If I forget a dose of magnesium, the cramps start up again.
I don't know what the connection is between Herceptin and magnesium, but for me the combo of chemo/Herceptin seems to create a real deficiency of calcium/magnesium. I eat a banana or two daily.
Sheila, I also have very "thin skin" now, go around with bandages on the ends of my fingers as I'm always getting little cracks that hurt like mad!
<3 Lolly
|