Short of breath on Herceptin

Dragonfly92127

I have been on Herceptin for 9 months.  I get really winded and find it hard to breath when I exert myself.  It feels like what I wold imagine an asthma attack feels like.  I struggle so hard to breath that I sweat and cant talk.  It's worse the week after my treatment.

I have had all of the usual tests to prove I am in perfect heath except for the obvious. Heart and lungs look good to ONC says it's not related.

Any one else having this problem on Herceptin?

Annaanne

Hi Dragonfly:

I had some of those se from herceptin, not severe, but definately like a constant allergy -- slight cough, constant drippy nose, shallow breathing.  Obviously, your onc needs to check it out, but it sounds like that's already been done.  When I finally finished herceptin, all side effects went away fairly fast.

Check Her 2 Support also -- I think there's a herceptin side effect thread.

Annaanne 

Diana1993

Hi Dragonfly,

I had similar breathing problems, but put it down to 'flu etc.  and because tumor makers were elevated, I was taken off herceptin.  I found an interesting topic on BOOP.  Just go to search and type in herceptin and BOOP.  It is an eye opener and take a copy of it to your onc.  My onc is always receptive to the info I take in.

Hope you feel better soon,

Hugs,

Diana.

jerseymaria

i'm off herceptin now but i did have that same se.  i have severe asthma and generally crappy lungs.  onc told me that usually premed steroid is not needed with herceptin after the 1st couple of infusions.  i had to have it all 16 months i was on it.  at the beginning i would get short of breath even with the decadron but i noticed towards the end that did lessen somewhat.

Brenda_R

I would see your family doctor and have them check your heart again, if needed.

Herceptin is hard on the heart and can cause congestive heart failure.

Better to have it double checked.

Allergic reations to Herceptin include those symptoms too. You may be having a reaction?

You are one of the few people I've run across that also has/had a positive IM node, like me.  I'm interested to know how they treat it.

DebbieB

Did you have a muga scan or echocardiogram?  There is also a BNP blood test which can detect problems with the heart.   These tests will show whether you are developing heart problems.   I developed congestive heart failure from adriamycin which is also toxic to the heart.  I went to doctors 6 times in 4 weeks and they all missed it.  You can't dx CHF by listening to your heart or lungs which is what the doctors would do.  I couldn't walk 4 feet without stopping to catch my breath.  I would wake up in the middle of the night unable to breathe.  By the end of the 4 weeks I couldn't get up out of a chair quickly without being out of breath.  Get it checked out because if you are developing heart problems you need to be on meds.  All the doctors had problems dx'ing me because I did not look like someone with heart problems.  I wasn't overweight, my bp was good, my cholesterol was good, I didn't smoke or drink.  I actually looked fine but when I ended up in the hospital my Ejection Fraction had dropped down to the 18-21% range.