Breast Cancer Support Group

Hi all.I hope everyone is doing ok,it's been awhile since I've been on.I wanted to share my story and maybe it will give someone hope.I don't know if anyone here has gotten heart damage and I pray that no one does but I was one of the unlucky few that did.

My cancer was HER2+++ so I considered myself very fortunate since that gave me Herceptin in my arsenal.I had some positive nodes so I did 4 AC treatments followed by 4 Taxotere.I finished chemo in November 2006 and started weekly Herceptin infusions in December 2006.On the MUGA scan that I had prior to treatment my ejection fraction was 76.Three months into Herceptin treatments,another MUGA showed EF of 52.My oncologist was concerned,not because of the number,but because of the percentage of the drop in the EF.That was March 2007.In June 2007,I had another MUGA.This time the ejection fraction was 28.The oncologist pulled me off Herceptin and said no more,EVER!My heart couldn't withstand anymore chemo either so I was up the creek without a paddle if I had a recurrance.I was sent to a cardiologist and he said that sometimes the damage reverses itself within a year.What really scared me was when I asked if it doesn't and the meds don't work then what.His answer was "a heart transplant".I knew that my body had already withstood all it could take.He prescribed 4 meds and after I had been taking them for a year my EF was still only 38 so I resigned myself to living not only as a cancer patient but as a heart disease patient as well.I had my checkup appointment and ECG in February,Friday the 13th to be exact.My ejection fraction is now 59!!!I was floored and so very happy.So don't ever commit yourself to a time frame because God is good and works mysteriously sometimes.

For those of you that are still in treatment,please pay attention to symptoms and tell your Dr.I ignored my shortness of breath for some reason.I got so weak that walking through a grocery store was impossible.The heart damage from chemo can occur anytime,even years later.

Lisa

Thank you so much for sharing!!!!! It's nice to prove the doctors wrong isn't it!!!! Stay strong, keep fighting!!!! There are lots of other chemos (and they are working on other HER2 drugs in addition to Tykerb and Herceptin); so you still have options if there is a recurrence!!!! I do not know why they give HER2 gals AC, I was on FEC. FEC is less heart toxic. I started off at 64, went down to 52 during chemo; as soon as chemo was done I bounced back to 64!

Stay healthy!

xoxo

jessi

Jessica, what is FEC?

thanks for the post its nice to hear how people are doing

Post edited by: carolyn2, at: 09/21/2010 05:22 PM

Lisa - try Co-enzyme Q10, many use it to help their hearts recover.

ebuening - FEC is the chemo cocktail I was on, 4 cycles every 3 weeks. fluorouracil (5FU); epirubicin (Ellence); and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan). Epirubicin is the sister drug to doxorubicin (Adriamycin)otherwse known as "the red devil". I see that red syringe and I still want to vomit. After FEC most of my cancer was gone, followed up with 12 weekly doses of Taxol then it was all gone, very rare for metastatic disease.

http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/chemo- regimen.html

I was taken off Herception due to low heart function. I had a scan last week and looks like I need to go back on chemo. I went for another heart ultrasound and my heart looks like it is much improved. I see doc tomorrow who plans on putting me on Tykerb and Zeloda.

good luck with the Tykerb and Zeloda

http://www.xeloda.com/ should explain a few things

I went to my first enjection with xeloda and oxceplaintin my chest was hurting I told my oncoglogist he said I would be fine so he said he would change it to 5fu and oxceplaintin and this time with the pump 24hrs. So same thing happens again back to the er with chest pain this time heart faliure I'm 30 years old this really just tttops every thing I first was told I had divertiultis and uclers 2years ago then my colon br ust they found cancer stage3 did chemo now this I pray that the angles in heaven see how much we want to live may god open his heart and help us god bless you and your family may the angles be with you