Why Stay On Herceptin?
<HR style="COLOR: #aa8799" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->Dr. Pegram says that if you have no physical, psychological or financial reason to go off Herceptin -- stay w/it. Slamon concurred. 3 of my oncs said the same, absolutely. My ev 6 mnth ECHOs show good EF, all good heart-wise. Little drippy nose. Fatigue. But my onc in NY who specializes in nutrition and supplements has me on some new ENERGY boosters that are kicking in. I have flagging Hemoglobin/red bld cells. My old normal was 13-15. My new norm is 12 ish. Then I dip into the low 11s. I feel like a slug. Miserable. Aranesp wd boost that for mnths. Even the 1/2 dosage (250) worked that way. But new rules on that. Must be under 11 to get shot. I know the studies that show scary scenarios re this.
I was on Herceptin wkly from '98 - '01. Then went to triple dose ev 3 wks. It's a party. It's like insulin for a diabetic. It's like bld press meds for those w/such issues. My defective HER2 gene overexpresses and causes radical cell growth = cancer. I had bc dx in '95. Chemo to '96. Mets into liver in '98. I do not want any more mets any where! Herceptin fixes the defective Her2 and keeps it stable. My insur co has not denied coverage. I have met all of Pegram's qualifications for staying on. Actually saw him in Ca in Feb '06 personally, to confirm this. Also saw Slamon, by accident. Gave him a giant hug and thanked him for saving my life. We had a mini party celebrating the gd news. They put me on a UCLA study on Survivors for a yr to try and figure out why I am a success story. Hr long interviews on phone, multiple questionnaires, indepth issues and places to essay, 3X a day swabs for 3 days (checking seratonin levels) -- all 3 X throughout the yr.
I HAVE A QUESTION -- WHEN YOU GET YOUR BRAIN MRI DO YOU GET IT WITH CONTRAST? My doc wrote the script for this but my isur co denied WITH. Said ok to without, if something shows up, then they'll cover WITH. Report says they see no evidence of ca but very difficult to read without contrast! I am very exasperated. Insur co making decisions contrary to top med advice! An outrage!! Any one having issues re this? Please tell me.
Wishing you much success in making your way to wellness. Sending loving, healing energy always to all my Sister Souls... ANDI
<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->__________________
Why Stay On Herceptin...?
Threaded Mode