Pause in Herceptin treatment and schedule for follow-up mammogram
Hi everyone
I am coming up to six months since my diagnosis. I've had surgery, finished chemo, just about to start 30 sessions of radiation and have 13 cycles of Herceptin for HER2+ to go. Last Wednesday I was told that after a few more cycles I will probably have to stop Herceptin because my last heart test showed big decrease in LVEF after only 3 treatments. After this shock, I am getting mentally prepared for a break - I just hope I don't freak out too much when that happens as I am worried about what a break will do to my chances of a recurrence.
I would love to hear from any other women who have paused or stopped Herceptin, how you mentally handled it, and what you were told by your oncologist about how it would affect your chances of a recurrence.
I am also confused about the schedule for follow up tests such as mammograms/ultrasounds. Is it standard to have a mammogram at 6 months post diagnosis, or does this happen after radiation?
Take care everyone,
Nadine