HERCEPTIN and Aranesp Red Blood Booster

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

Hi y'all! Missed you for awhile. Glad to report that I'm still here, though! Diagnosed 4th stage in '95 at age 50. Metastasized into liver in '98 -- multiple tumors. Taxotere (Sept. '98 thru May '99) adding Herceptin every wk in Nov. '98. Went to every 3 wks Herceptin in '02. Sticking w/the plan! NED (no evidence of disease). CTs (chest/abd/pelv), ECHOs, pelv. sonos, etc.

Major fatigue. Drippy nose. Dry eyes. Poor nails. (Had turned black and lifted off the nailbeds w/oozy stuff peeking out, but just frail little girl nails now.)

Worst of all -- red blood cell count keeps dipping! AM I THE ONLY ONE? They used to give me Procrit. Now Aranesp. A $7,000 injection. Does the trick. Peps me up. Makes me feel perky. My red blood cell #s go up. Then slowly creep back down. NOW big hullaballoo over possible dangers, giving this if your over 12. Okay. BUT -- Medicare (which I am not yet on) won't approve NON CHEMOTHERAPY PATIENTS for this treatment any more. Insurance cos. following suit! HECEPTIN is, after all, a monoclonal antibody. So am I to wait until I'm crawling and in need of a blood transfusion, or go into renal failure, to get some attention?

IS ANYONE ELSE HAVING THIS ISSUE? What to do...? Throughout it all I have remained absolutely positive. I meditate. I pray. I read up. I keep in touch w/all you wonderful women. I inspire others. Now, I'm feeling like I'm falling through the cracks and in desperate straits.

The social worker today, at the chemo center, is usually wonderful. I told her I'm tired. Well, we're all tired. I find getting dressed an effort. I need to lie down afterwards. Can hardly move. Well, I'm not that tired! Hello? Great, I'm not a "chemo" patient, but Herceptin means I'm still out here in uncharted waters. CAN ANYONE ADVISE ME RE THIS MESS?