Hi Nick,
Just read your Blog post from Sept. this year. Why am I replying to a Blog on New Year's Eve? On Monday I heard news I did not want to hear - I have a small cyst with cancer cells where they removed lymph nodes three years ago. In that time they've checked the liver, lung, thyroid, pancreas and all have been 'clear' but the recent fine needle biopsy showed 'those' cells. My oncologist said the Herceptin will contain it. Hard to hear as I want 'elininate' or 'kill'.
I've been on Herceptin for 3yrs 3 mths as well as taking anastrozole daily. The fatigue is a real nuisance and I find social events very tiring. I seem to have cycles of mouth ulcers, headaches and severe fatigue. My nails flake and split - I pretend I'm a pianist for that one. The worst side effect is peripheral neuropathy of my feet which started about 15 mths ago and arrived overnight - excruciating pain in the soles of my feet - it took both my GP and Oncologist 12mths to pay attention and I'm now on Celebrex twice a day which makes a huge difference - I can walk! I felt so good I joined the gym and use the walking machine and do weights.
What keeps me going? I'm very careful about sharing my 'news' and do not apologise for down days or cancelling an outing. I like 'me' time and read, sew, crochet, cuppa with a friend - all low key and at my pace. I like to take a practical approach and focus on the task at hand, ie, this is what I'm doing right now. I also know that life is full of mysteries and we just never really know what tomorrow will bring - however, I do work on what I call 'futuring' myself by planning what I will make next or the next meal with friends. If we don't do that then we are living in limbo and that's not healthy.
I also changed my diet and went to a Naturopath - but that is expensive and I balance my budget to manage.
I have infusions every three weeks and one woman who attends the same day as I do has been on Herceptin for three years - she had a masectomy with an outbreak in her collar bone which is 'contained' and has been all this time. She did have a bad reaction with her heart and her energy is down. Yes, I had a radical masectomy of left breast Dec. 2011.
Another positive is the excellent health care I receive as a public patient in a city hospital - I believe it must be amongst the best in the world.
