Oncologist stopped my treatment due to weakened heart muscle

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AnewBeginning
AnewBeginning Member Posts: 536
edited October 2015 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

I have been on AC, Taxol and Herceptin and was now going to begin Herceptin and Perjeta for 39 weeks but Echo-cardiagram showed a weakened heart muscle so my MO and Cardiologist decided I cannot complete my treatment plan. I am really scared and depressed. Has anyone gone through this and is it possible for the heart muscle to get stronger? I am seeing my Cardiologist on Thursday to discusss medication for my heart. I am stage 3a and feel as if I dont stand a chance now as my MO told me I dont have any options. How do I get through this?

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  • ThePrincess
    ThePrincess Member Posts: 424
    edited September 2015

    Bump for responses for AJ.

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited September 2015

    a new - it may be difficult to suss out which thing caused the issue - the Adriamycin or the Herceptin - usually if it is the Herceptin the ejection fraction will come back up, and treatment can be resumed. Hopefully your cardiologist is familiar with cardiac issues related to chemo. There are a number of people here on BCO that were able to resume Herceptin after a break.

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  • Mommato3
    Mommato3 Member Posts: 633
    edited September 2015

    My cardiologist told me there's no way to know, for now, if the drop in heart function is from the adriamycin or Herceptin. I had a drop in heart function with five Herceptin only treatments left. My Muga showed a drop down to 52. Two weeks later, after an Echo, I was up to 57. I was put on two heart medications to protect my heart while finishing Herceptin. The plan is to keep me on these low dose medications until March of 2017. Hopefully After a break and medication, you'll be able to continue

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  • AnewBeginning
    AnewBeginning Member Posts: 536
    edited September 2015

    momma


    my echo was only went down to space 25 so that is a pretty weak function that's why everything is stopped I am on medication and will be foreveraccording to the cardiologistI am really scared
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  • AnewBeginning
    AnewBeginning Member Posts: 536
    edited September 2015

    specialK

    my ejection fraction is only at 25% which I am told is a pretty weak heart..I have been in the hospital since Sunday on oxygen 24/7 because I had such bad shortness of breath and let it go too long thinking it was from my taxol treatment.I'm not sure how familiar my MO is with heart issues but she and my cardiologists did speak

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited September 2015

    anew - when was your last echo or muga prior to this drop?

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  • AnewBeginning
    AnewBeginning Member Posts: 536
    edited October 2015

    specialK


    my last echo was in June. I don't know the numbers but my Dr cradiologist clearned me.

    I had another echo this week and the numbers went down to 10 - 15% I am still in the hospital on medication hoping it will help.
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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited October 2015

    I will keep my fingers crossed for you!

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  • Mommato3
    Mommato3 Member Posts: 633
    edited October 2015

    I sure hope the medication helps bring your heart function back up!

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  • AnewBeginning
    AnewBeginning Member Posts: 536
    edited October 2015

    Momma

    My ejection fraction is now 10-15% so I doubt I will do the HERCEPTIN regimen even if I do get lucky and regain my heart muscle function

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  • AnewBeginning
    AnewBeginning Member Posts: 536
    edited October 2015

    SpecialK

    Fingers. crossed here too....thanks

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  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited October 2015

    ANewBeginning - Please give us an update and want to bring you HOPE...3.5 years ago I had to stop Herceptin after 3 months as EF dropped to "scary bad" (in the 20s) as my Oncologist put it.  I was terrified because I was Stage 3a one node shy of 3c and had a 6 cm tumor. He immediately sent me to a cardiologist who performed more tests.  It was discovered that not only did I have valve damage from Herceptin, but I had a heart attack during AC chemo.  (I remember the night - thought it was side effects). 

    Cardiologist put me on Metoprolol, and some newer blood pressure meds.  I had the echo many times after that, but heart never got better (it usually does but in my case it did not.), but I am now on only 25 mg of Metformin.

    My MO said no way could I start Herceptin back up - he sat me down and told me about the Finland Study where women did as well on 3 months of Herceptin as they did on a year.  He then looked me in the eye and said, "I don't want you to spend one minute worrying that you did not have enough Herceptin."  Of course, I have had moments and days of fear through the years, but overall, I try to hear his words in my head.

    My heart has never really improved, but the meds work and I am asymptomatic. I don't have any ongoing heart issues even with reduced function.   I only see the cardiologist once per year now.

    THE GOOD NEWS is I just had my FOUR YEAR BC CHECKUP this week.  ALL CLEAR...when I was where you are now, I would have never believed it!!

    KEEP THE FAITH!!!


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  • AnewBeginning
    AnewBeginning Member Posts: 536
    edited October 2015

    Denise G

    Im sorry to hear you went through heart issues from the Herceptin but thank you for letting me know, it gives me more hope. Neither my Cardiologist or MO are sure if my heart problem is from the Adriamycin or the Herceptin but still cannot get more treatments. My MO told me she thinks I got about 95% of the treatment. It sounds good but of course I think and worry about it everyday. I'm hoping my heart function will improve which both my MO and my Cardiologist say they have seen it happen so I have to hang on to that. I have to wear a LifeVest 24/7 now because I am at risk for the heart "just stopping". I am taking my heart and pressure meds and taking one day at a time.

    Congratulations on your 4 year checkup and an many more to come

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  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited October 2015

    ANewBeginning - thank you so much for the update.  I am thankful you are being watched so closely.  I got a message from another gal whose ECHO improved greatly.  I am praying this happens for you!!  Usually, if it is valve problems it is Herceptin - that's what I was told, but like I said, I also had a heart attack from AC so the combo caused it.

    Wishing you all the best...thanks for your kind words!

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