I had to have a ECHO before starting chemo also. They want to make sure your ok to start...plus it gives them a baseline to go by. I really don't understand why your onc wouldn't want you to have a ECHO or MUGA before starting AC? I would nicely push the issue and tell your onc you would feel more comfortable if you had an ECHO. I'm glad your doing ok and hanging in there during your AC. Just think...that's two done and out of the way. Sending positive thoughts.
Chelee
__________________ DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes. Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs. Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06 Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07 3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07 9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV. 9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa 9-29-09 Power Port Placement 10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head. 11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed 12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa. 3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed. 4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone. 5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy. Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time. 7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.
My surgeon ordered my Muga before I ever saw my oncologist. The oncology nurse looked up my results before giving me my first A/C. She said she wouldn't have given me any if the results were low.
I've had 4 since I've been on herceptin. Last November, my ejection fraction was 65%, in February it was 49%, and in March 47%. I was told 50% was the low end of normal. Mine is decreasing because of the herceptin.
I had no indications of heart disease either. I was diagnosed when I was 39. As it was suggestion, politely ask for an echo or a muga. My understanding is that echo's are a little less invasive.
__________________
dx IDC @ age 39 Feb '06
stage 2 er/pr-, her2+
neoadjuvant chemo 4 A/C completed April '06, 12 weekly taxol/herceptin completed 8/06, lumpectomy 8/15/06 NED!
33 rads completed 10/06
weekly herceptin thru May 2007 --Stopped herceptin 4/07 due to drop in LVEF. Started Herceptin again 5/07
Final Herceptin 6/12/07
Port Removed -8/13/07
Hybrid Mode
