Yesterday I met with my oncologist. I haven't seen her since October because I've been working out the issues with my heart. Now that we've determined my heart is fine, I can get back on Herceptin. She was ready for me to get a dose yesterday, but my schedule was tight. Instead, we agreed to start on Monday, December 21. Mondays will work better for me in January & beyond so I wanted to be intentional about which day of the week I start. It's important because I'll need to get the transfusion on the same day of the week. I need a total of 52 treatments and I've only had 9. I still have a ways to go. If I stay on-track, I will finish Herceptin in early October 2010. Initially, I will start with the 30 minute transfusion time every week. After about 6 weeks of this treatment, we'll check my heart with a stress echo test. If my heart is holding strong, then we'll move to the triple dose of Herceptin with a 90 minute transfusion time once every 3 weeks. We agreed to use the stress echo test as the measurement to assess my heart's health instead of the MUGAscan. I requested this because the MUGAscan requires an injection of a radioactive dye. I would much rather walk on a treadmill with electrodes on my chest than have more chemicals injected into my body. Call me crazy!!
My surgery date is set for Thursday, February 4th at some ridiculous time in the AM. I will have tubes, ovaries & uterus taken out. It will require an overnight in the hospital.
About 4 weeks after my surgery, my oncologists wants to do my first baseline PET scan to check for any cancer activity. This will happen in early March.
So, Monday morning I'll get a dose of Herceptin and in the afternoon I see my radiation oncologist for a follow-up. I expect both appts to be uneventful.
Have a wonderful weekend! Starting your day with a grateful heart will make all the difference.
Live BIG!! Love ya, srb
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