Hercepton Heart damage

tobyholic

I went for my hercepton treatment yesterday and they told me I had to stop because my readings on my echocardiogram dropped below the "normal" reading. The doctor said he was giving me a 3 month break to see if my heart recovers. He said this happens a lot but that doesn't make me feel any better. I'm really scared. He also said that if my heart doesn't change, he will stop the hercepton because I've already had almost 8 months of the drug. He said that would be enough, but is it really enough???? Geez............last Christmas was terrible because thats when I started all this mess and now I have to worry about this. Will it ever end?????

MarshaMay

About 4 to 5 percent of women experience cardiotoxicity from Herceptn and Perjeta and the damage IS reversable. When I experienced a low LVEF and had to go off Herceptin, I saw a cardiologist who put me on meds to help my heart recover and had me take an echocardiogram every month until my heart recovered sufficiently and I could resume the Herceptin. It took me about 4 months but my LVEH was very low. I've been on Hercept since Oct. 2011 and plan to stay on it as long as it works for me. There are women on the boards who have been on it for much longer.

All is manageable.

Hindsfeet

Few years ago when on Herceptin my EF dropped 20 points in just a few months. I had to be under a cardiologist. He said to get off it or I would have heart failure. I could hardly walk up the drive way without being out of breath. I had to take a lot of breaks. My heart was very jumpy. After dx last June with stage iv cancer and intensely her2+ I have to be on it to live. My oncologist put me back on Herceptin. My EF had recovered from 42 to 56. It was 65 before ever taking Herceptin. My oncologist gives me Herceptin infusions once a week over 90 minutes. I have Perjeta every 3 wks. My EF is back to 65. My tumors are shrinking.

jwood

I only had 4 herceptin treatments because of heart issues. I had a perfect heart and the chemo knocked it down from 65 to 53 the herceptin knocked it down to 33 so they stopped it permenantly! been on 2 heart meds now on only 1/2 of one permanently.. what now? do I need to worry about cancer coming back? will be 3 yrs in march..

tobyholic

See, I'm worried about the same thing, is the cancer going to come back or areour hearts going to "give out" on us? I worry ALL THE TIME!

camillegal

Hi I'm just poppin in to let u know my experience--I did have Herceptin for 1 yr and I was fine and within 3 months after I got some type of small heart problem that I have checked al the time and am on meds for. So u kind of trade one for the other in al this crap. Sorry, but it's good that u;r dr. is on the ball--Good Luck

tobyholic

Thanks for letting me know. If I'm not worrying about the cancer, I'm worrying about something else and it just happens to be my heart. I go back for another echocardiogram in February so I'm praying I'm ok