Herceptin and heart side effects

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lesliesue
lesliesue Member Posts: 5
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

Has anyone had side effects with their heart from Herceptin. I just had a Muga and my hear number dropped from 70 to 55. It is still in the normal range, and the oncol. said I will get another Muga in a month ot see if the Herceptin is having side effects related to my heart. There are possiblities that the heart can heal from the Herceptin. I do hope I can continue the Herceptin, but I also don't want heart damage. It feels like being between a rock and a hard place. A no win situation unless the Muga goes up in numbers.  Anyone else experienced this recently?

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  • lesliesue
    lesliesue Member Posts: 5
    edited February 2009

    Has anyone had side effects from Herceptin, related to the heart side effects. I had a Muga test and my reading was at a 55 and 3 months prior it was 70. I was on AC for three months, and in the last 3 months on Taxol and Herceptin. I just began Herceptin on it's own, and the plan was to be on it for a year. Now that my reading went so much lower (still in the normal Range) my oncologist will give me another Muga in a month and see if the number goes up. If I get in lower numbers I could be taken off the Herceptin.  I don't want heart damage, but feel like I am between a rock and a hard place.  Has anyone else gone through this and what was the outcome. Any suggestions?

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2009

    After three months on Herceptin, my EF went from 67% to 36%. I was taken off the drug immeditately. A year and a half later, my EF is sitting at 40% which is where it has been for the last year.

    I did take Adriamycin, too, so I'm not really sure which drug hurt me. I only know I had a heart attack and the bottom of my heart is basically not functioning now.

    I cried and cried when I found out I couldn't take the Herceptin. I just pray I had enough of it to kill any rogue cancer cells.

    Right now my heart is as good as possible and I am cancer free. I work full time and other than being very sedentary, I feel pretty normal.

    I am sorry this has happened to you. You may end up having to stop Herceptin. The good news is that at Stage 1, you have excellent chances of never having to deal with the ugly cancer beast again. Hang in there and personally, at Stage 1 I would not jack my heart up too much more.

    They will be watching for a rebound on your EF to determine what to do next.

    Best wishes,

    Miss S

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  • plakatakr
    plakatakr Member Posts: 188
    edited February 2009

    lesliesue- there are a number of women on this board that have posted the same situation as you. They have gone off H, been rechecked a short time later and been able to continue. Usually, the condition resolves itself. Good luck. I just had my second echo and am still good to go.

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  • pffida
    pffida Member Posts: 13
    edited February 2009

    I also experienced heart problems with Herceptin.  About 1/3 of the way through my treatment, I developed cardiomyopathy.  After many tests, everything else was ruled out except Herceptin.  I took a 5 week rest from it.  When I went back, I took it every week instead of three weeks.  My onc has had good results with this protocol and I was no exception.  I completed treatment in May 2008, had a echo-cardiogram and all was normal.  Going every week for the treatment was inconvenient, but it did the trick. Talk to your oncologist and see if this is an option for you.

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  • mmm5
    mmm5 Member Posts: 1,470
    edited February 2009

    I just had my 3rd echo today and it remains normal, I have consulted 3 Onc's and 2 cardio's on this topic and they mostly agree that the drop in EF comes when Adriamy. and Herceptin are combined. I have a good friend that was stage IIIC and had the combo 4 years ago and suffered some cardio damage, but it has reversed some in last 4years. The good news is she is cancer free after 4 years and being IIIC. I agree with MissShapen, most Onc's are thinking that they are overtreating stage 1 now with a year of Herceptin and even Dennis Slamon has said that shorter terms of Herceptin are very effective. The one year was an arbitrary number to start with!

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  • moonchild64
    moonchild64 Member Posts: 49
    edited February 2009

    There was a thread on this topic a couple months ago that has some good info:

    http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/80/topic/721688?page=1

    I experienced the drop in EF last year - from 63 to 48 - and was taken off Herceptin for one month.   Next MUGA was 53 and recovered enough to go back on the medication.  I am due for my three month MUGA follow-up this month.  I will be surprised if it does not show reduced EF. 

    I am tired all the time and out of breath often. Still have four more months to go.. I hope to finish the full year, but need to also have a healthy ticker... 

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  • lesliesue
    lesliesue Member Posts: 5
    edited February 2009

    Thank you for that information.

     Best Wishes,

    Leslie

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  • lesliesue
    lesliesue Member Posts: 5
    edited February 2009

    Hi. Thanks for your feedback.

     Best Wishes,

    Leslie

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  • snowyday
    snowyday Member Posts: 1,478
    edited February 2009

    I'm so sorry Misshapen but in New Zealand and I think there was a Finnish study that said nine weeks of herceptin was long enough so in your case I hope they are right.  Hugs!

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  • Mitch56036
    Mitch56036 Member Posts: 16
    edited February 2009

    Just to let you know that my initial MUGA dropped to 55 and then increased back up to 66 where it stayed for the remainder of my Herceptin treatment.  Its now over 2 years since my last Herceptin and I have had no problems.

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  • CaseyDoodle
    CaseyDoodle Member Posts: 144
    edited February 2009

    Lesliesue, I am in the same boat as you.  I started herceptin in June 2008 and my numbers were consistently at 70+.  I had my last scan and it had dropped to 60.  I am due for another scan on Monday and will see what happens.  I am so close to finishing herceptin (July), that I am praying I can continue.

    I wish you the very best.  Please keep me posted, I am very interested to know what your scan shows.

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