WHY the bone pain with Herceptin?
Happy new year to all of you!
I am very curious if anyone knows the "why" behind the bone pain some of us get with Herceptin. I'd have to say that I the pain I experience is more of a dull pain, and it's usually in my mid to lower back. It's an unusual pain...very slight, doesn't feel like any other type of pain I've experienced before. So it might be bone pain, but it's been hard for me to pinpoint where it originates.
I am so curious WHY we feel this pain--what is the scientific reason for it? What is it about Herceptin that causes this? Part of my curiosity came from what I read on my most recent PET scan results. My scan was clear of cancer, but the radiologist commented that I have slightly more bone degeneration (osteoporosis) in my spine than I did on my last scan. My first thought was to wonder if that is related to the Herceptin, since that is where my low grade pain is felt. That got me thinking about what the specific reason is for this particular side effect.
Val
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Dx 11/04, Age 42, ER-/PR-, HER2+++
3 months weekly Herceptin, Taxol. Carboplatin
Significant tumor shrinkage
Mastectomy 3/05; Stage 3b, 9 cm tumor, 5/8+ nodes
3 more months weekly Herceptin, Taxol. Carboplatin
7/05 30 radiation treatments, IMRT planning approach
Started 1 year of Herceptin 9/05
9/06 Began quarterly triple doses Herceptin. Brain & breast MRIs semi annually.
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6/08 Right breast, intraductal carcinoma, high nuclear grade associated with comedo necrosis; extensive diffusely involved the entire biopy specimen. ER+, PR-, Her2 unknown at this point, 07/08 mastectomy.
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