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03-19-2007, 06:03 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Stockton, NJ
Posts: 4,179
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For those with Lumpectomy - How Often do You see your Radiologist
For those of you who had rads because of a lumpectomy (as the "rules" for rads with masectomy may be different) - how often and for how long did you see your radiology oncologist. I see mine every 6 months but I don't know how long. Does it go to once a year like you do for the surgeon and when does that happen (at 2 yrs post surgery the surgeon said that I was on once a year from every 6 months). I am just wondering because my radiologist heads up a new office that is far from my home but still comes to the cancer center one day a month to do his follow ups. However, its tricky getting appointments with him (on time) because of this schedule (and that I never know in advance what day it will be). So, I was thinking of changing to another radiologist who is in the practice but is at the cancer center. However, if I am only going to see him one or two times more, I will put up with it. But if I have to see him every 6 months until I am 5 years from rads and once a year after that, it will be easier to see someone who is at the cancer center a couple of days every week.
The rads receptionist is not with it and can't answer the question. I've missed the "April" visit because they apologized that they forgot to call me. I don't want a May visit because I see my PCP, oncologist and gynecologist all in May (and let's face it, how many breast exams does a girl really need in one month - so I'd like to space it out and stay on track with an April appt with the rads man - my guy or a partner). Likewise, I'd rather stay with my original if there are only one or two more visits.
Thanks
__________________
Kind regards
Becky
Found lump via BSE
Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45
1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side)
2 micromets to sentinel node
Stage 2A
left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg
lumpectomies 9/7/04
4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol
Used Leukine instead of Neulasta
35 rads on right side only
4/05 started Tamoxifen
Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to
trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations
Oophorectomy 8/05
Started Arimidex 9/05
Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06
Arimidex Only
Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia
NED 18 years!
Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"
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03-19-2007, 06:07 PM
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#2
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 9
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Becky,
I only saw my radiation oncologist at a 6 month follow-up appointment. She didn't seem to think she needed to see me again after that. I'm interested to see how others reply.
Regards,
Karen
__________________
Diagnosed 7/05 at age 32
IDC - 1.5cm tumor, Grade 3
ER+PR-, HER2 3+
Stage 1 with Vascular Invasion
Negative Sentinel Node
4 AC, 12 weekly Taxol with Herceptin
1 year total Herceptin
SOFT Trial - Ovarian Suppression with Exemestane
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03-19-2007, 06:08 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 161
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I had a 6 month follow-up visit and then that was it. Why do you need to see the radiologist so long after radiation is over?
__________________
Diag. Oct. 2004 age 54 left breast
Stage 1 grade 3; 6mm IDC; unknown amount of DCIS
with comedo necrosis; node neg.
Nottingham Grade 7/9
ER 91% PR 62%; Her2 3.6 by ICH; KI-67 35%
Nov 2004 Lumpectomy; SNB failed so had
full axillary clearance;
Dec 2004 2nd lumpy for clean DCIS margins.
Jan/Feb 2005 4 A/C dose dense;
33 rads finished 6/2005;
Began 5 years Arimidex in 6/2005
No Herceptin
9/2007 Quit Arimidex due to severe side effects.
NED
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03-19-2007, 06:10 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Sheboygan, WI
Posts: 2,582
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Hi Becky,
I had mastectomy but also had 28 rads. My radiation oncologist says he will see me until the 5 year mark. I finished rads Feb. 06 - and have seen him 3 times since. I will see him in June and then (I think) only once a year till I reach the 5 year mark.
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
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03-19-2007, 06:16 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 1,516
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Becky...
I see mine right after my mammo in August and she has made no mention of my ever stopping. I just go with the flow.
Rhonda
__________________
Rhonda
Dx 2/1/05, Stage 1, 0 nodes, Grade 3, ER/PR-, HER2+ (3.16 Fish)
2/7/05, Partial Mastectomy
5/18/05 Finished 6 rounds of dose dense TEC (Taxotere, Epirubicin and Cytoxan)
8/1/05 Finished 33 rads
8/18/05 Started Herceptin, every 3 weeks for a year (last one 8/10/06)
2/1/13...8 year Cancerversary and I am "perfect" (at least where cancer is concerned;)
" And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."- Abraham Lincoln
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03-19-2007, 06:36 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Alaska
Posts: 2,018
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just once
Becky, I originally didn't have a follow up because I live in Alaska and had my rads done in California for my lumpectomy -- but otherwise I would have been scheduled for a 6 mo follow up only.
I eventually did go back after my surgeon identified rads necrosis. When I went back to the rads onc after seeing the surgeon, she had no idea what the lumpy hard tissue was that I had. I think in general rads docs don't see patients often enough when they are a year or more out from rads, so they probably aren't familiar with the real results that far out from treatment.
A.A.
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03-19-2007, 07:00 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: IOWA
Posts: 243
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I had my lumpectomy at Mayo Clinic Rochester, but did my rads at Mayo Scottsdale when we were staying there last winter. I had a follow up with my oncologist just before we went back north last year and that was the only time. I never had a follow up with my surgeon, either, all of my exams have been with my oncologist.
__________________
Andi
-- ------------------------
Stage IIIC, 17 of 20 Nodes +, E+, Her2+++
Diagnosed 6/30/05
Lumpectomy 7/13/05
Dose Dense A/C x 4
Weekly Taxol + Herceptin x 12
Remainder of year Herceptin Every 3 weeks (completes 9/13/06)
Radiation completed 2/28/06
Currently on Tamoxifen
Dec 06 - Pleural effusion treated with pleurodesis
Now er/pr-, her2++
1/07 started weekly Navelbine plus Herceptin
Discontinued Tamoxifen
4/27/07 CTshowed progression
5/01/07 Began Tykerb/Xeloda + Zometa
5/22/07 Stopped treatment due to great progression
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03-19-2007, 07:05 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 138
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I saw mine every three months for a year and then, every six months for another year and now, I have graduated to once a year for the next three years. I see my surgeon every six months until the five year mark and my onc every three months until the five year mark. My surgeon and onc said after that it will once a year for life.
Karen
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03-19-2007, 07:06 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Sheboygan, WI
Posts: 2,582
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I suppose I'm getting a little off topic but had to reply. Just wanted to say that I don't have scheduled appointments with my surgeon either. She does like to follow up but she leaves the choice as to who you want to see with me. As long as I see my onc. regularly she doesn't mind if I skip her. She says there is no need to see my onc. every 4 months and her as well. Even though I like my surgeon very much I don't want to do double duty with the docs so skip her usually.
That's all
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
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03-19-2007, 07:15 PM
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#10
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Guest
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I finished radiation at the end of December and my radiologist suggested I check in with her in April (four months). I completely forgot to make an appointment until I read your post. Thanks for the reminder.
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03-19-2007, 08:18 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 3,154
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Interesting thread....
I saw my rad dr. a month after completing rads, then 6 months after that,
have not seen him since....now I will call his office and ask him if I should
come in....all looks good and feels good. I didn't get the impression from
him that I would continue to see him for years, now I am wondering also?
Thanks for this thread Becky,
Jean
__________________
Stage 1, Grade 1, 3/30/05
Lumpectomy 4/15/05 - 6MM IDC
Node Neg. (Sentinel node)
ER+ 90% / PR-, Her2+++ by FISH
Ki-67 40%
Arimidex 5/05
Radiation 32 trt, 5/30/05
Oncotype DX test 4/17/06, 31% high risk
TOPO 11 neg. 4/06
Stopped Arimidex 5/06
TCH 5/06, 6 treatments
Herceptin 5/06 - for 1 yr.
9/06 Completed chemo
Started Femara Sept. 2006
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03-19-2007, 08:25 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: northshore suburb of chicago
Posts: 1,093
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I had a lumpectomy and I had my first follow up with my rads onc 3 weeks post rads, then 6 weeks after that and then she said 6 months. Not sure if she will still want to see me following the 6 month check up.
__________________
~Rina~
Dx:3/06 had a lumpectomy April 19, 2006
Her2+ er/pr- Stage I Grade 3 tumor size 1.4 cm, node negative
AC 4 dense doses
34 radiation treatments including booster doses
receiving herceptin every 3 weeks since late August 2006 for 12 months
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03-19-2007, 08:59 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 312
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I am 2 years out and have an appointment to see the rad doc for a one year follow up. I missed one appointment that was cancelled because of a hurricane. I called months later to reschedule and the rad doc said he wanted to continue, but I don't know for how long. I talked with him about getting good breast exams--my onc didn't give a good one--so he said to alternate seeing the surgeon (who also gives a good exam) and him so I would have a good exam every 6 months. My new, young, onc--right from the start--I told him that I grade breast exams. His exams greatly improved for the next exam as he read up how to do them. Needless to say, I am not going to an onc that specializes in breast cancer! But I do appreciate the fact that he listened to my complaint. Now to talk him into checking the lymph glands. I don't think he did.
__________________
Janet
Endometrial Cancer 2002
Mammogram 11/2004
Lumpectomy 12/2004
Stage 1, 9mm DCIS, grade 2, Her2+++, ER/PR negative
Refused A/C as recommened by two oncs.
35 treatments of radiation that ended March 4, 2005
Changed oncologists and began
Taxotere/Herceptin August 2005. Finished Herceptin July 2006
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03-19-2007, 09:23 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Boise, Idaho
Posts: 758
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Becky,
I saw my radiation oncologist every 3 month for the first year, then her FNP after 4 months and will see her(the Dr.) again after 4 months. I have mammograms on the affected side every 6 months and bilaterally every year. Curiously, I have not seen my surgeon at all post op except to remove my port. Being a retired O.R. nurse that's O.K. with me. Never cared much for surgeons!
Marlys
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03-19-2007, 10:36 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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I had a bilateral mastectomy and had 35 radiation treatments. I saw my radiation oncologist once a week during treatment and then I saw him a month after I was finished. At that time he said he saw no reason why I'd have to come back -- unless, of course, I had a problem. I see my surgeon every three months for the first year, then every six months until year two and then once a year until year five.
__________________
Kate
Stage IIIC Diagnosed Oct 25, 2005 (age 58)
ER/PR-, HER2+++, grade 3, Ploidy/DNA index: Aneuploid/1.61, S-phase: 24.2%
Neoadjunct chemo: 4 A/C; 4 Taxatore
Bilateral mastectomy June 8, 2006
14 of 26 nodes positive
Herceptin June 22, 2006 - April 20, 2007
Radiation (X35) July 24-September 11, 2006
BRCA1/BRCA2 negative
Stage IV lung mets July 13, 2007 - TCH
Single brain met - August 6, 2007 -CyberKnife
Oct 2007 - clear brain MRI and lung mets shrinking.
March 2008 lung met progression, brain still clear - begin Tykerb/Xeloda/Ixempra
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03-20-2007, 06:19 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Wilmington, Del.
Posts: 1,126
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I saw my radiologist once after I completed rads. It was two or three months later. Can't remember. Also saw surgeon three months after lumpectomy. Doctors did not give me another appointment, so I don't plan to see them.
__________________
MJO
IDC, Stage I, Grade 2
Oncotype DX Score 32
Her2++ E+P+, Node Neg.
Lumpectomy 11/04/05 Clear Margins
3 Dose dense AC (Couldn't tolerate 4)
4 Dose dense Taxol & Herc. (Tolerated well)
36 weeks Herceptin (Could not complete one year due to decrease in MUGA score)
2 years of Arimidex, then three years of Femara
Finished Femara May 2011
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03-20-2007, 06:20 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,380
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I am participating in the study of whole vs. partial breast irradiation, so I will see the radiation onc per the schedule for the study. The first appointment was 6 weeks post rads, the next one (in three weeks) is 6 months post. I think the next one will be at the one year mark, not sure what happens after that, but we are followed for five years.
Hopeful
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03-20-2007, 07:59 AM
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#18
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 8
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I see my rad onc evey 6 months. This if offset with my surgeon who sees me every 6 as well. So I'm seeing one of them every 3 months. I just hit my 2 yr mark though, so this schedule may change. I see my med onc every 4 months.
Interesting to read how varied follow up appts are for all of us.
__________________
Cindy
Dx Feb 23, 2005 Age 40
R breast lumpectomy/ax dissection. Stage 2a Grade 3 IDC/DCIS
ER-/PR- HER2+++
2 out of 9 nodes +
DD A/C x4 Taxotere x4 with Herceptin
Herceptin started 12 weekly then every 3 weeks.
Rads 36
Finished Herceptin May 24, 2006!
R 4mm lower lobe lung nodule -stable"watching"
R breast lymph node/nodule -stable "watching"
2-14-08 Left breast reduction mammoplasty/abdominoplasty
Now I have a new perky boob to match cancer boob!
Oh and a flat tummy. :>)
3 Years!
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03-20-2007, 08:24 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: NYC
Posts: 250
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I haven't seen my Rad Onc since my 6-mos check-up. Given that I see the Med Onc every four months, and the surgeon every 6 months, I feel well covered. Unless the Rad Onc contacts me, I probably won't initiate a visit.
Jen
__________________
dx 4/05 @ 34 y.o.
Stage IIIC, ER+ (90%)/PR+ (95%)/HER2+ (IHC 3+)
lumpectomy-- 2.5 cm 15+/37 nodes
(IVF in between surgery and chemo)
tx dd A/C, followed by dd Taxol & Herceptin
30 rads (or was it 35?)
Finished Herceptin on 7/24/06
Tamox
livingcured.blogspot.com
"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow." -- Helen Keller
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03-20-2007, 01:14 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Rowlett, TX
Posts: 138
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My rad onc says to come in 1 month post rads and that's it (probably because I didn't have any rad-induced problems). Actually, I probably won't even make that appointment. I didn't like him much (felt he didn't care one way or another) and I DO see my med onc regularly. I also told her I didn't plan to make the follow up rads appointment and she didn't give me any specific reason to go (other than asking me why) (*grin*).
I just learned that I should schedule a radiation-side mammogram 6 weeks after completion of radiation treatment, and then sched an appointment with my surgeon. Apparently this is my new 'baseline' mammo.
Janet
__________________
Janet in Rowlett Texas
Dx July 2006 IDC 1.8cm, ER-/PR- HER2+ (FISH 7), KI67 High (60%) grade 3, TOPO II neg
Aug2006: lumpectomy, SNB (4 nodes neg), Stage 1
Jan 2007: Finished 6 cycles of TCH (Taxotere, Carboplatin, Her ceptin). Then Herceptin every 3 weeks.
Feb 2007: Completed Radiation
May 2007: Stopped Herceptin due to low LVEF (49%)
July 2007: LVEF now 44% -- starting Coreg
May 2008: Heart NORMAL! Yippee.
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