heart problems after chemo

[Guest guest]

Hello to everyone.

My name is Deborah. I was diagnosed with IIA breast cancer last

January (big tumor but negative nodes). I did 5 courses of Cytoxin,

5FU and adriamycin. After the 5th I had lost all resistance and was

in the hospital for over a week. I was not able to complete the

course of 6 treatments. Then 6 1/2 weeks of radiation. I have been

on Herceptin since July. My cancer was positive for 2 estrogen

receptors and one HER2 receptor.

I have survived every one of the curve balls thrown at me over the

past year, I worked every day during chemo until I ended up in the

hospital. I went back to work after I got out of the hospital. And

I have smiled through it all.

Of course you know there is a big BUT coming, don't you.

I started getting short of breath about a month ago. It wasn't

going away so I finally went to the MD and I have congestive heart

failure. It seems my heart muscle was damaged by the chemo. I knew

this was a possibility, but now that it is real, I am upset. I also

know the herceptin, which increases my chance of survival by over

50% is damaging to the heart muscle.

Anyone out there have any experience with this type of problem? If

not, could I at least get a pat on the head and an it's gonna be

alright?

Thanks for reading my pitifulness.

Deborah