Herceptin Heart Attack

I'm guilty of reading with a bias now.  It's interesting that in some countries, they only get nine weeks of Herceptin.  The Genentech sponsored trial was to see if two years was better than one.  I have never been one to bash big companies trying to make money, but clearly there are monetary considerations at stake in this game.  The PHARE results show that six months may be as good as a year, except in some subsets. "While the PHARE trial showed a trend toward a year being better than six months, the data wasn’t statistically significant. So while investigators couldn’t say that six months are just as good as a year, they also couldn’t say that a year is better." link

I don't usually take my husband.  He knows enough, but I don't want this any harder on him than it already is.

Vball - thanks for the link.

leftfootforward - I am so sorry to hear this.  I know there are still lots of options for you and appreciate you sharing them with us!  Big hugs!  We're with you!

((((leftfoot))))

Leftfoot, I am so sorry about the recurrence. Definitely come back and let us know what your onc suggests. I guess a lot of us on this thread will be in similar circumstances if we recur. As a stage 3, I am at a high risk and have wondered if her herceptin would still be an option if i recur since it already damaged my heart. It is very considerate of you to think of us and let us know what happens. Hugs and prayers for you.

Leftfoot:  So sorry to hear!  Keep us all posted.  I'm sure there are treatments out there for you!  We are here for you!

Leftfoot, good vibes to you. My prayers, too. ((((Hugs))))

Echo results show a mild pericardial effusion...the doctor doing it says that it is OK...have had three cycles of FEC followed by three cycles of Taxotere and Herceptin...is it a normal effect or something I need to worry about...the EF is at 63%...do suggest am totally lost with this...

Yes you are right...it is fluid around the heart....not sure why that has happened..an after effect of chemo or the Herceptin....I just hope that it is not a risk....at times I find myself nervous....this is all a strange journey and each milestone is a discovery....take care and keep inspiring

the results of my echo are in. My EF is 45-50%. MY MO called it stable.  I am not sure that is going to get better. I have been off Herceptin for a year now and on meds as well.  I guess I have to take the good that it isn't any better.  It leaves me  a very fine margin, if any, for some of the stage  4 drugs.  Stable will have to do.

leftfootforward...

I always think about how they will discover a recurrence. My MO never even did a full body MRI or Pet scan!I wonder if I should be feeling around or something. It seems to me that you are fortunate that you did find it now and you may very well find out you don't need the herceptin  because it only works on some of us her 2 pos's anyway.

THis BC treatment is becoming so very specialized and it appears that it will be sooner than later.

here is the link I hope it works...

SAN ANTONIO – Researchers have taken a first stride toward the goal of developing a gene test that predicts a breast cancer patient’s likelihood of a favorable clinical outcome in response to adjuvant trastuzumab.

A massive gene expression profiling analysis of baseline pretreatment tumor specimens obtained from 372 breast cancer patients identified 32 genes that correlated strongly with 5-year relapse-free survival, each with a P value less than .001, Dr. Edith A. Perez reported at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

The ideal thing would be to find a gene that, if highly expressed, predicts for benefit or not of Herceptin [trastuzumab]. We are on our way to developing a predictive test that can define the right treatment for individual patients, and that is very exciting," declared Dr. Perez, deputy director at large of the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center and director of the breast cancer translational genomics program at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla.

In all, 27 of the genes were associated with good outcome, while the other 5 correlated with poor outcome. The major functional categories these genes are involved in have been identified: cell receptor signaling, chromatin structure and transcription, control of cell death, cell cycle, Wnt/beta-catenin signaling, and lipid signaling. It’s not yet known whether these 32 genes are expressed in the epithelial or the stromal component of the tumors, and it will be challenging to figure that out, she said........

Discussant Dr. Dennis C. Sgroi called this work tremendously exciting. He noted that trastuzumab is a very expensive drug, and roughly 25% of treated patients relapse within 5 years. Trastuzumab also carries a risk of cardiotoxicity, and he was intrigued by Dr. Perez’ suggestion that the investigators believe they may have identified baseline tumor gene activity signatures predisposing to symptomatic cardiomyopathy and transient asymptomatic drops in left ventricular ejection fraction."..........

www.oncologypractice.com/oncol...

Left foot, wishing the very best for you as well. My EF numbers are the same as yours. It has been six months since finishing herceptin for me, and I remain on the cardiac meds as well. I think it is good that they caught the mets early. That has to be beneficial. Keep posting and let us know you're doing. We're all rooting for you. Happy Holidays.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays everyone.

ArleneA, what dose were your 10 herceptin?



Happy and healthy new year to all!