Help! Ankle swollen up like tree trunk - Herceptin side effect?

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Rubyluby
Rubyluby Member Posts: 74
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

Hello lovely ladies,

About a week ago my left ankle swelled up alarmingly. I assumed it was some kind of repetitive strain injury from all the aerobics I've been doing (about four to five classes a week) even though I don't really have any pain. I went to Accident and Emergency (UK equivalent of casualty) and the X-Rays showed up nothing. Because I've just started on Herceptin (three weeks ago) and was on Tykerb for three months prior to that (as part of the ALTTO trial) they decided to scan my leg's deep veins for a clot today, as apparently both cancer and cancer treatments can give you deep vein thrombosis. The ultrasound scan of my leg veins showed nothing so now I'm baffled. I have read though that Herceptin and Tykerb can give you peripheral oedema, but an oncologist who saw me said it would be in both legs if this is the case. Have any of you had any experience of this? It's a real mystery and I'd be grateful for any light anyone can shed on it...

Healing hugs to you all,

Lucy x 

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  • septembersong
    septembersong Member Posts: 287
    edited December 2009

    Lucy, I had swollen ankles frequently while I was taking Taxol/Herceptin. But both ankles were affected. When I finished treatment and started exercising regularly again, the swelling disappeared.

    Good luck, and I hope you're back to normal soon!

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  • Faith316
    Faith316 Member Posts: 2,431
    edited December 2009

    I also had MAJOR swelling in my legs while on Taxol/Herceptin.  I went to the medical supply store and bought surgical stockings (knee highs) on my doctor's recommendation and they made me feel SO much better.  They just looked like knee socks -- navy, brown, black.  They don't just come in white. 

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  • Rubyluby
    Rubyluby Member Posts: 74
    edited December 2009

    Thank you, ladies for the reassurance. And the surgical stockings are a great tip.

    Best, Lucy 

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