Experience with recovery time for low LVEF from Her/Perjeta?

Options
MarshaMay
MarshaMay Member Posts: 95
edited September 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

I was diagnosed as Stage IV in Oct 2011.  In  August 2013 I began Taxol withH/P and by early Oct 2013I was NED.  I couldn't believe my good fortune.  This spring I began to experience shortness of breath which I attributed to my lung mets although my onc always claimed my lungs sounded clear and good.  Then my echo in early May showed an LVEF of 15 (low normal is 50).   No more chemo for me, heart meds began immediately, along with cardiac rehab.  Since that disastrous echo I have not gotten my EF number higher than 25 and my onc wants it at 40 at least to resume chemo.

So my question to my HER2 positive sisters......if you have experienced anything similar, how long did it take for your heart to recover,  also, if any of you have taken a chemo break, how long was it. 

I am in a quandary....even though I am doing the exercises and reducing salt and abstaining from alcohol, my number doesn't move. I have no faith in the cardiac rehab, only the meds.  And I am terrified about what that sneaky aggressive cancer might be up to in my body. 

Looking forward to your thoughts.  

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • positivenegative
    positivenegative Member Posts: 106
    edited July 2014

    MM-

    Yeah H&P are tough on the heart.  so is rads if you have had that too.

    I had a similar issue post Taxol with H&P.  It took 2 months for my LVEF to come back up above 50.  During that 2 months I had to stop H&P txs.  I also had to see a cardiologist and he put me on 2 more meds...a beta blocker and a HBP med...coreg and losartan.  I still take those every day to this day as part of my med regiment.  I see the cardio doc every 3 months for echos.  I was able to resume the H&P and have no issues to date *knock on wood*.

    hope that helps.  keep us posted on how you make out. peace.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lauriesh
    Lauriesh Member Posts: 692
    edited July 2014

    I don't have heart issues, but I have taken breaks from herceptin over the last 4 years. I have been Ned since Feb, 2011 and have had increasing side effects from herceptin, so have taken breaks for up to 5 months, and have remained Ned.  I am 2 months into a break now and don't know when I will go back on.

    Have you talked to your onc about tykerb?  I don't think it causes heart problems and at least you would be on something . 

    Laurie

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MarshaMay
    MarshaMay Member Posts: 95
    edited July 2014

    dear Laurie. Thanks for the encouraging info about your breaks.  I progressed on Zeloda and Tykerb so that's out. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Hindsfeet
    Hindsfeet Member Posts: 2,456
    edited September 2014

    I had to get off Herceptin a few years ago because my Ef dropped from 65 to 42. My cardio doc said if it went lower they might not get the EF back up. Since I was then only stage 1a, I didn't think it was absolutely necessary to be on Herceptin. After 6 months my EF went back up to 55. BUT...I had cancer the whole time in my hiler lymph nodes. It exploded and now I have wide spread cancer everywhere. Fortunately, we know my reaction to Herceptin so my oncologist is giving me weekly infusions over 90 minutes. So far so good. I am doing Perjeta once every three weeks. Taking it slow and easy cause now I need these drugs to live. No heart issues or breathing problems...grateful.


     

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories