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04-16-2007, 09:20 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 27
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Tests for your heart before chemo?
I've had my second chemo treatment of A/C. The first one went really pretty well, other than being very tired and sleeping a bunch, some heartburn, not too bad, and constipation, which finally got better. The second one, not so well. I just feel lousy. Anyway, my question is, I asked my doctor since I've read that A/C can be hard on your heart if I needed any type of scan. He said since I didn't have any indication of heart disease and was otherwise healthy, it wasn't necessary. I thought maybe I needed something before starting chemo to have a baseline. Did any of you have any type of test for your heart, and if so, what and when?
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04-16-2007, 09:38 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 212
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Hi Sheryl, sorry to hear you're feeling lousy after chemo. Make sure to drink lots of water before and after your treatment, so you don't get dehydrated. I did have a baseline test for my heart function, something called an echo-which is like an ultrasound of the heart (painless and fascinating). I thought this test (or the alternative, called a MUGA) was standard for all patients prior to starting A/C, since it can be heart toxic. I'm surprised your doctor did not test you--I would speak up and ask for one or else get a second opinion. I'm pretty certain you will hear from other women on this board who will tell you they had their heart function tests prior to A/C. Best of luck to you with your remaining treatments.
__________________
Audrey
diagnosed July 2001, at age 36
large tumor, 11+ nodes
Stage IIIb, er/pr-, Her2+
treated with A/C, weekly Taxol
radiation, + year of Herceptin
on clinical trial. double mastectomy
followed by reconstruction
NED!!
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04-16-2007, 01:16 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Sheboygan, WI
Posts: 2,582
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Hugs Sheryl,
I ditto what Audrey said and drink LOTS AND LOTS of water. I kind of overdosed on water the 24 hours prior to a chemo treatment. I also drank water contnually before the treatment, (while I waited in the wiating area for chemo to begin) and drank it throughout the treatment and REALLY drank it afterwards and the next day. I pictured the "nasty's" from the chemo being flushed right out of me. I handled chemo pretty well and often wonder if all the water I drank helped.
Also, yes, I did have my heart checked before chemo begain. They did an echocardiogram on me prior to ever beginning chemo. I also did the A/C and Taxol. I started herceptin with taxol and by my 4th treatment of herceptin my onc. ordered a MUGA. That was the last one I had.
I hope you are feeling better soon.
Mary Jo
__________________
"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
Dx. 6/24/05 age 45 Right Breast IDC ER/PR. Neg., - Her2+++ RB Mast. - 7/28/05 - 4 cm. tumor Margins clear - 1 microscopic cell 1 sent. node No Vasucular Invasion 4 DD A/C - 4 DD Taxol & Herceptin 1 full year of Herceptin received every 3 weeks 28 rads prophylactic Mast. 3/2/06
17 Years NED
<>< Romans 8:28
Last edited by Mary Jo; 04-16-2007 at 03:21 PM..
Reason: spelled Sheryl's name wrong
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04-16-2007, 01:47 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Thornhill, Ontario
Canada
Posts: 2,320
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Hi Sheryl,
I had a MUGA scan before chemo - although I am on FEC- T (Taxotere), a different chemo than you. My onc. says I will have another MUGA befoe I start Herceptin, and then I will get a few MUGAs during the year long Herceptin treatment.
I agree with the other gals, you should definitely get some kind of heart scan - either a MUGA or I believe an ECHO ( short for echocardiagram?).
All the best
Caya
__________________
ER90%+/PR 50%+/HER 2+
1.7 cm and 1.0 cm.
Stage 1, grade 2, Node Negative (16 nodes tested)
MRM Dec.18/06
3 x FEC, 3 x Taxotere
Herceptin - every 3 weeks for a year, finished May 8/08
Tamoxifen - 2 1/2 years
Femara - Jan. 1, 2010 - July 18, 2012
BRCA1/BRCA2 Negative
Dignosed 10/16/06, age 48 , premenopausal
Mild lymphedema diagnosed June 2009 - breast surgeon and lymph. therapist think it's completely reversible - hope so.
Reclast infusion January 2012
Oopherectomy October 2013
15 Years NED!!
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04-16-2007, 02:51 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Naples FL
Posts: 1,744
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I also had a MUGA scan before I started A/C. I had terrible side effects from the A/C...and only did 4 treatments instead of 6. My heart, yay, stayed strong through everything! And now, those bad side effects are but a distant memory. Good luck to you!
__________________
 Suzan W.
age 54 at diagnosis
5/05 suspicious mammogram-left breast
5/05 biopsy-invasive lobular carcinoma with LCIS,8mm tumor,stage 1 grade 2, ER+ PR+ Her2+++
6/14/05 bilateral mastectomy, node neg. all scans neg.
Oncotype DX-high risk
8/05-10/05 4 rounds A/C
10/05 -10/06 1 yr. herceptin
arimidex-5 years
2/14/08 started daily self administered injections..FORTEO for severe osteoporosis
7/28/09 BRCA 1 negative BRCA2 POSITIVE
8/17/09 prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy
10/15/10 last FORTEOinjection
RECLAST infusion(ostoeporosis)
6/14/10 5 year cancerversary!
8/2010-18%increase in bone density!
no further treatments
Oncologist says, "Go do the Happy Dance"
I say,"What a long strange trip its been"
'One day at a time'
6-14-2015. 10 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!
7-16 to 9-16. Extensive (and expensive) dental work done to save teeth. Damage from osteoporosis and chemo and long term bisphosphonate use
6-14-16. 11 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!!
7-20-16 Prolia injection for severe osteoporosis
2 days later, massive hive outbreak. This led to an eventual dx of Chronic Ideopathic Urticaria, an auto-immune disease from HELL.
6-14-17 12 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!!
still suffering from CIU. 4 hospitilizations in the past year
as of today, 10-31-17 in remission from CIU and still, CANCER FREE!!!
6-14-18 13 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!! NED!!
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04-16-2007, 04:03 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: indianapolis, indiana
Posts: 1,544
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I had a muga scan before I started chemo. And I agree, drink lots of water. You will have problems down the road if you don't
__________________
dxd 9-04, lumpectomy,
st 1, gr 3, er,pr-, her2 +,
2 tac,33 rads,6 cmf
1 yr herceptin,
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