Before chemo?

Options
etnasgrl
etnasgrl Member Posts: 650
edited February 2020 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

Hey ladies!

Having my lumpectomy tomorrow and after that, moving onto chemo/Herceptin. I'm just curious.....what type of tests are run before chemo begins? I like to be as prepared as possible, although with breast cancer, I have learned that's a bunch of cr@p, lol!

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited February 2020

    Hmm, you should get a heart scan every three months while receiving Herceptin. (Some women on Herceptin will have a loss of heart function during treatment.) Otherwise, you should get a baseline CDC and CMP (via a blood test) before you start your infusions so your doctors can monitor your white blood cells, liver function, etc. (Typically, you'll get a CDC and CMP before each infusion as well.) Othewise, that's about it unless your pathology from surgery reveals something unexpected. For example, if a few of your nodes come back cancerous, your doctor may order a PET scan to see if the cancer has gone anywhere else.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited February 2020

    If you will be getting red devil, you may do a MUGA test. Depends on what chemo cocktail you get, what tests are ordered.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited February 2020

    MUGA test = heart scan. From what etnasgrl has written previously, she's getting Taxol.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited February 2020

    etna - I'm trying to follow you but it would be much easier if you pick one thread and ask all your questions in one place. That way we can all read your progress & not answer on several different threads. Good luck tomorrow.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories