Herceptin with Fibrosis

MaryW66

Does anyone have or know someone who was diagnosed with "Fibrosis" while undergoing treatment with"Herceptin", Taxotere", etc.  Our friend is experiencing "shortness of breath" and has been scheduled with a Pulmonary doctor.  Her appointment is next Wednesday (April 29th).

Thanks for any help you can give me.

Mary W66

rosesinwinter

Hi Mary-

I am one of the unlucky patients who did have pulmonary complications from Herceptin. I had received it from 10/07 until 5/08, alone and with chemo. In April, my oncologist could hear slight crackles in the base of lungs. A chest Xray did not show anything significant at that time. In fact, a very small infiltrate was evident on my chest CT that was already routinely scheduled for later in April but it was treated as a minor infection. On June 14, I started running a fever and went to the ER. The local community hospital was sure that it was pneumonia but the standard antibiotics did not bring my temp down and I needed 02 by then. So, I was transferred by ambulance to University Hospital in Cleveland where they spent the next 7 days trying to figure out the problem. At times, my BP went down to 80/40 and I was on 3 antibiotics at a time. When the fever resolved, they discharged me but brought me back as an outpatient for a pulmonary workup. When the pulmonary specialist did a bronchoscopy with cell washing, she found interstitial lung disease that was indicative of drug-induced reaction.  It was also obvious on a high-resolution CT scan of the chest. This pulmonologist followed me every 3 months until a couple of weeks ago when she finally signed off on my case. My latest CT scan showed the area of concern had resolved by 60% and they are pretty sure that I will not have permanent damage.

Shortness of breath when receiving Herceptin can more frequently result from loss of cardiac function with a reduced ejection fraction. Both side-effects have prominent warnings on the package inserts for the drug. 

Hope this helps!   Welcome to the message boards!!

MaryW66

Hi Janet:  Love your sign-on "rosesinwinter"!  I can't thank you enough for such an informative reply.  I have forwarded your information to my friend Cheryl and she is taking your information to her doctor.  They have not yet diagnosed her shortness of breath. The "problem" they have found in the lower lobe of her right lung, in the back is also not yet diagnosed.  The pulmonmary doctor said they would need a biopsy of the area to get a diagnosis.  Her condition is not well enough for the biospy just yet and she needs a blood transfusion tomorrow (5/1) due to the red blood count being low.  Cheryl is so relying on the Herceptin to cure her cancer and is so afraid she will have to discontinue the treatments.  Cheryl may have questions to ask you and I will post them as soon as I hear from her.  Thanks again!!  Mary.