Mrs Carol W

I found Herceptin was far nicer than the chemo drugs and their side effects or the side effects of Arimidex. It just was a pain going in for an infusion every third week and having some swelling for a week - again nowhere near as bad as with chemo. 

I now have lymphoedema which is an expensive chronic condition requiring constant vigilence tp prevent further tick & mozzie bites or nicks, burns etc which result in further swelling then massage, creams & bandaging and for me a month of intensive treatment with complex manual therapy.

Thanks Rennay!

That's the spirit TWH keep positive ... I'm thinking of you ...

I'm through and out the other side and I look at myself in the mirror and say 'well done girl, you did it!' lol  There are lots of folk around to help ... you're not on your own. Big hugs and kisses xxx Rennay

Hi All,  I start chemo shortly and am HER2+. Its good reading all these blogs to get a realistic idea of what really happens and all the side effects.  Herceptin sounds like a really nasty drug so I'm not looking forward to that one!  On the upside so far I've felt pretty upbeat about it all and looking at the positves, hope it stays that way. Cheers.

Hi All,  I start chemo shortly and am HER2+. Its good reading all these blogs to get a realistic idea of what really happens and all the side effects.  Herceptin sounds like a really nasty drug so I'm not looking forward to that one!  On the upside so far I've felt pretty upbeat about it all and looking at the positves, hope it stays that way. Cheers.

Hi all, I was first diagnosed in Feb 09. I had Chemo and then Herceptin for 12 months.  Tolerated all very well and was glad to finish.  In Feb 11 my surgeon found a lump on my mastectomy scar line which turned to just be a local recurrence.  When I say "just" - it was scarier this time than the first.  I had to have a PET scan - it showed up nowhere else.  So I am now on Herceptin for the forseeable future.  I have had a port inserted and am having no dramas.  Some days it is hard to be positive - but my friends and family keep me going. 

Hi all, I was first diagnosed in Feb 09. I had Chemo and then Herceptin for 12 months.  Tolerated all very well and was glad to finish.  In Feb 11 my surgeon found a lump on my mastectomy scar line which turned to just be a local recurrence.  When I say "just" - it was scarier this time than the first.  I had to have a PET scan - it showed up nowhere else.  So I am now on Herceptin for the forseeable future.  I have had a port inserted and am having no dramas.  Some days it is hard to be positive - but my friends and family keep me going. 

Hi all, I was first diagnosed in Feb 09. I had Chemo and then Herceptin for 12 months.  Tolerated all very well and was glad to finish.  In Feb 11 my surgeon found a lump on my mastectomy scar line which turned to just be a local recurrence.  When I say "just" - it was scarier this time than the first.  I had to have a PET scan - it showed up nowhere else.  So I am now on Herceptin for the forseeable future.  I have had a port inserted and am having no dramas.  Some days it is hard to be positive - but my friends and family keep me going. 

Hi Kath, I know exactly how you are feeling having been in that exact situation myself. I had been told that towards the end of my treatment I would start to feel very low and even though i didnt want to believe it, the person who told me was correct. I think we all go through our highs (wonderful to be alive days) and lows (how long will it last). To have friends lose their battle really does bring it close to home. I finished chemo & rado in 2008 and Herceptin in Jan 2009 and everyday is a new day.  I tolerated both the chemo and the herceptin without to much trouble - a small price to pay to stay alive. I have a saying on my desk 'Unless its life threatening, it doesnt matter' and that keeps me from sweating the small stuff. Kath, accept your low days and enjoy your high days. Pretty soon, you will have more highs than lows and hey, isn't life  just wonderful. !!!!

Stay positive kathm ... I finish my Arimidex in a month or so and after 5 years I simply can't wait. Last week my heart surgeon told me my heart was back to normal at last after my 'Herceptin' fiasco ... it's only taken 4 years! LOL

Some days are better than others ... I too have lost dear friends to Cancer and when that happens you question your own mortality wondering what's around the corner for you ... but I try to shake off the worries and stay focussed on all the good things in my life rather than the irritations.

The network of caring professionals that are around us all is amazing and the knowledge that there are others out there trudging along on the very same journey as myself inspires me and I am truly in awe of the strength of women and how well they deal with everything.

God bless you all.

Rennay