Life AFTER Herceptin

[Olivia]

Rhonda,

I finished my last Herceptin on May 17th. So almost 3 weeks ago. I was nervous and excited. Feel like I am hanging out there now. ER- so I figure all I have is exercise and a healthy diet as drugs.

I have noticed my nose has stopped running..... still have insomnia.... and am hoping it was the Herceptin that caused weight gain and NOT a screwed up metabolism from chemo.

I exercise 5-6x a week and have been TRYING to eat healthy and NOTHING!!

ANyway, there is life out there after. I thought I would be more of a basket case but I am ok.

Take care,

Olivia

[cadams]

Hi Rhonda,

I was in the two year arm of the HERA trial and had my final treatment on April 6th. The most exciting part of finishing was having my port removed on April 11th. I am now shamelessly wearing low cut tank tops, scars & all! In terms of diminishing side effects, the biggest difference has been that I am SLEEPING. Insomnia was a real problem for me, especially in the second year. I still don't have 100% energy but I do think it is slowly improving. My constantly dripping nose has also decreased substantially and I will say with cautious optimism that my fingernails are improving.

Congratulations to all on your final treatments! It is quite a change not having to go to the 'chemo joint' every 3 weeks.

Christine Adams (Vancouver, B.C.)

[MCS]

Rhonda,


That is just a great question. We are so worried that once we are off, this will come back, sice like others here, I also feel it's a security balnket. I wish I could take it every three months or something like that as a vaccine.

And once i'm closer to the end I will have the same concerns.

But I am just so happy for you that you can see this at the end of the tunnel. Maybe you will be the guiding light to give us more information. I always read your comments on diet too.

Lots of love

MCS ( maria)

[janet/FL]

Hi Ronda
Good question. My last treatment is next month. I too wonder what changes theere will be. I was diagnosed 11-2004 with lumpectomy 12-2004. 9 mm tumor, no nodes positive. ER/PR negative, Her2, FISH postive. Turned down the recommended A/C. Had 35 rounds of rads and finished those in March of 2005. Changed oncolologtists and began Taxotere/Herceptin in August 2005. Now on every three week plan.
Very much looking forward to being off Herceptin and having my port out. As stage one. my doctor does not recommend any particular follow up other than seeing him every three or four months to see if I have any new complaints. He feels there is no difference in survival rate for those that are caught with mets before or after symptoms. I don't have the energy to fight him over it right now. I just want all of this OVER! I will have a mammo and bilateral breast MRI in December, but that is because my breast surgeon is recommending it.
I hope to lose the weight I am just now piling on. Four pounds in the last three weeks! And be able to sleep again. Also, my eyesight has changed so. Much more far sighted than before.
I am interested in everyones response.
Janet

[Susan Rankin]

Hi Janet,

I also have had decreased vision since being on Herceptin. I hope it will improve when I finish up in two weeks. My fingernails are so thin. I have put on extra weight also. My nose is runny all of the time but this started when I had my first chemo in September 2004.

I will be happy to be off of the herceptin but will be scared to death I will have a recurrence. My oncologist says I should be more positive and the Arimidex will be working to keep the cancer from returning.

I was diagnosed in July of 2004 so I am coming up on two years.

I will post on how I am doing when I finish up with the Herceptin.

Susan

[sherri]

Hi Rhonda,

I finished my last Herceptin on May 11. DX December 23, 2004, Chemo 6XAC+T every 2 weeks, 10 days after the last one had Mastectomy On April 15, Radiation and Herceptin started on May 15, 2005. Now I feel good, and I have more energy, hoping to lose the extra weight and planning to do the reconstruction by the end of this year and climb Mount Everest next year. I enjoy every moment of my life, I spend a lot of time in nature, I go to a Boot Camp every other day at 6:00 AM and hike 3 to 4 times per week. It seems I'm becoming more normal every day. I think about recurrence some times, but try to be positive and if it comes back I'll deal with it then not now. As someone else said "Life is good" and beautiful!

Big hug,

[margaret]

I fininshed my last treatment of herceptin in March 2003. I've had no medicine since then and I'm extremely grateful. I was stage 3b in Nov. 2001 and told I had a poor prognosis. Right now, I feel completely cured and am living each day to the fullest with much gratitude and very little fear. I had gained about 10 pounds on the herceptin so after I was done I was able to lose weight fairly easily. I work hard at keeping a strong immune system. To me, my health is all about my immune system and there are many factors to having a strong immune system. There's the basic eating well, exercise and sleeping well. Also there's emotional and spiritual wellness that contribute to the immune system. I work hard at clearing away negative emotions, not holding things in, and filling up on the positive. Stress is also a major factor. I find ways to keep my life as stress free as possible.
I highly reccomend yoga and meditation. It's shown me a whole new way to take care of myself and feel free of fear and I'm learning ways to fill my life with love and joy.
Good luck,
Margaret

[kat in the delta]

Has anyone here had reconstruction after chemo and rad. ??
I would love to look a little sexy after my last Herceptin,. and take out this port. and wear something a little lower.
Right now, I feel depressed over the shorter hair and big port., no right breast... etc... plain UNATTRACTIVE !!!!! what are some options for me---really depressed. kat in the delta

I had my last herceptin treatment 5/26. I hope the side effects such as insomnia, weight gain, joint pain and constantly breaking nails will disappear.Oh, and my energy level get back to normal. I have never felt so tired in my whole life as I have this past year.
However, I feel very fortunate that I was able to be on herceptin and now am a bit anxious about...... " what now" ??
Dx 3/04 2.2cm tumor .. 4/18 nodes pos. ...partial mastectomy and axillary nose dissection A/C and Taxol dose dense and 33 rads.
Feeling good ( except tire more easily ) and frankly I look pretty darn good for an "ole girl of 65.
I haven't logged on for a while.... good to be back.
My best to all of you.
Carol

[kat in the delta]

Unregistered guest,
Register ! You sound like me. I am 52 but had a port. Some people are resistant to herceptin, has anyone heard that???? Were you ER positive(+) and what about PR ?? Will you take an aromatose inhibitor??like aromasin(my spellings are probably wrong), or tamoxifen ??? Kat in the delta