MUGA scans.. how often?

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PiscesMoon
PiscesMoon Member Posts: 206
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

just curious as to how often you all get MUGA scans?  if i remember correctly my onc told me that he generally doesn't do MUGA scans during treatment.  i had one before starting herceptin and it was in the mid 60's if i remember right.  chemo brain is kicking my butt right now.  my onc is really into the whole 'how are you feeling thing' when it comes to SE's so i am wondering what kind of 'feeling' would it be if your heart function went down?  it seems to me that the SE's for anemia could mimic the SE's for lowered heart function.  i see him again in a couple of weeks (just had my #4 TCH - 2 more to go, yay!) and i'll ask him again.

any input would be greatly appreciated.  :-)

~M

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  • mke
    mke Member Posts: 584
    edited May 2010

    I was on herceptin for a year and as I recall had a MUGA about every 3 months during treatment.  My heart function never dropped much, but I would guess that shortness of breath might be a sign of lower function.

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  • lovetosail
    lovetosail Member Posts: 544
    edited May 2010

    Every 3 months I get an echocardiogram rather than a MUGA, my onc thinks they are less invasive.

    I think mke is right, that shortness of breath would be a sign of lower function, but lord knows I am no cardiologist ;)

    Good luck PiscesMoon, I had TCHx6 also and finished on 1 April - just H know through the rest of the year.  TCH was pretty doable for me, hope you are handling it okay.

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  • mmm5
    mmm5 Member Posts: 1,470
    edited May 2010

    The protocol is every 3 months, and you can do echo's less radiation and just as effective if you have the same cardiologist read each time. Just had my last echo one year post chemo and all is good.

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  • Frankie_
    Frankie_ Member Posts: 422
    edited May 2010

    I have a MUGA and an echo (both) every 3 months while on herceptin. Seems to be the protocol.

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  • my2boys
    my2boys Member Posts: 339
    edited May 2010

    I did MUGA Scans a few times when I started treatment in 2008.  Switched to echo's about a year ago.  Every three months.

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  • Cowgirl13
    Cowgirl13 Member Posts: 1,936
    edited May 2010

    I get MUGA scans every 3 months.  I will be finishing herceptin the end of july.  do they give you MUGA scans even after you finish herceptin?  thanks.

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  • hansvall_c
    hansvall_c Member Posts: 3
    edited June 2010

    I receive MUGA's every three treatments (treatments being 3 weeks apart)....so I guess that is one every 9 weeks. My scan results are all over the board. Definitely are times when shortness of breath is evident...so much so I am puffing getting groceries. Then other times nothing noticeable.

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