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Triple positive, so aggressive but thankfully gives you more treatment options! I'm glad you are taking such an aggressive treatment plan; hopefully the side-effects will subside. You may want to discuss with your doc starting Tykerb instead of Herceptin. http://www.tykerb.com/understandingher2.html It's my understanding that A/C increases Herceptin's heart toxicity; so now that you're done and recovered it may no longer be an issue and you can go back on Herceptin. Another thing to ask is whether or not your hormone treatments (anti-estrogens) effect your heart health. I think coenzyme Q-10 is recommended to help reverse heart effects, but discuss with your doctor before taking to make sure it'll be beneficial and not interact with your treatment. I also wonder if you would benefit from a hysterectomy if you're interested in having one? Another question for the doc, they probably don't want to go there due to your age; but since they want to stop your periods anyway... I've found that light exercise has helped with my pain, it seems like there is always something wrong! I use to take Neurontin to help with nerve damage/numbness/pain. I don't know if that would help you out. Seems like everything makes you sleepy though... I'm also on Effexor XR, they perscribed it to help with the hot flashes (Neurontin will also help with this) and some mild depression. With everything going on, happy pills are warranted. Good luck, please feel free to send me a note whenever you need to chat, vent, ask a question or whatever! I'm sure your kids are a source of great encouragement as mine are! Oh, FYI - don't let anyone make you feel like you run the risk of becoming a drug addict. You are taking narcotics as treatment not recreational reasons! It is very rare that cancer patients become addicted; you are interested in survival and quality of life! One of the perks of being a cancer patient is you get whatever you need to make you feel better! Hugs Jessi 6/9/06 - biopsy positive for cancer 6/23/06 - DIAGNOSIS: stage IV (T4d N2 M1) invasive ductile carcinoma NOS with bone and liver mets; 17 cm mass (primary tumors), inflammatory breast cancer(IBC); HER2/neu+, HR- 6/26/06-12/11/06 - Chemo FEC/Taxol w/Herceptin & Aredia 12/20/06 - right modified radical mastectomy, 7 of 13 removed nodes showed evidence of prior disease 12/21/06 - No Evidence of Disease (stage IV/NED); complete remission 2/6/07-3/22/07-Radiation 28+5 boost, 6040cGy. CURRENT: Still NED, taking Herceptin and Zometa without end. Heart and kidney function remains normal.  |
