herceptin and enlarged heart

Loriwarrior
Loriwarrior Member Posts: 20
edited November 2018 in Stage III Breast Cancer

Hey there my dx date is 8/07 and I threw the kitchen sink at my BC. Triple positive suggested Herceptin and I had the full treatment-full year.I just found out today that I have an enlarged heart most likely caused by the herceptin.  I was a good candidate and with my DX and PX I was thrilled to have the choice.  Not too thrilled that a side effect of a life saving drug has come home to roost.  Anybody else facing this and what are you doing about it? My physician has changed my blood pressure medicine to include a diuretic. Uh thanks doc but I liked how things were yesterday--A OK and feeling fine!

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Mom3
    Mom3 Member Posts: 170
    edited January 2011

    I too was triple positive. I also had everything under the sun done to kill cancer. I had never heard of an enlarged heart caused by Herceptin. How did you find out? Did you have any symptoms? How was it discovered, ct scan? I have a 3 month follow up coming soon and plan to talk about it with my oncologist. Thank you!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • trinity57
    trinity57 Member Posts: 5
    edited January 2011

    My 1st diagnosis - 2007 at age 50yrs. 26mm Grade 2 IDC with 1/7 nodes positive for cancer. ER-, PR- and HER2 3+ positive.I had a partial left mastecomy and axillary node clearance.

    I had been on herceptin for 3 months when I had my first echocardiogram. This showed some change to my heart (congestive heart failure) so I had a break from herceptin for about 6 weeks after which time my heart function improved. I continued with the herceptin, but had to keep having breaks to allow my heart function to improve. After 9 months of starting and stopping, I decided to cease my treatment of herceptin (Feb, 2009) as my heart function was not improving to satisfactory levels. Since then, I have had one other echo (in June 2010) and my levels were back up again. I would think that your levels too will improve over time. All the best...Cheers:)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • rosemary-b
    rosemary-b Member Posts: 2,006
    edited January 2011

    Like Trinity I had heart failure while on herceptin.I only had 3 treatments left so I got off herceptin for good.The heart failure was pretty bad. A normal left ventricle ejection fraction is over 50. Mine was between 15 and 20.  It took 2 yrs for my heart function to return to normal but it did. I do have other medical problems that make treating heart problems harder. Generally it does improve

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • blondie45
    blondie45 Member Posts: 580
    edited January 2011

    rosemary-b - glad to hear your ejection fraction has improved. One year ago I was down to 25% after 6 months of herceptin. I am back up to almost 50% now, saw doc yesterday, advised I will be on meds until I am back up over 55% for an entire year. My onc, cardiac doc, and I decided that I had had enough herceptin, hope I made the right choice in that regard.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Loriwarrior
    Loriwarrior Member Posts: 20
    edited February 2011

    Ladies thanks so much for the input.  It always feels so good to know that their are others that have had a similar experience or result and can share it here.

    The medication that my doctor put me on dropped my blood pressure so low that I thought I was going to go down for the count. Luckily after getting off that medication I am feeling myself again.  I will get the results from my echocardiogram next week and should know some more.

    I am encouraged to hear that the heart function does improve with time.  Glad to hear it.

    Thanks again

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Helene0320
    Helene0320 Member Posts: 1
    edited October 2018

    I was treated for B.C. in 2005. I did a year of Herceptin with no complications and close monitoring of my heart. Yesterday my cardiologist informed me I had an enlarged heart. Anyone else have this symptom show up so many years later? I have no other explanation for this happening other than Herceptin! I’m grateful for my health, but would like to hear from other Herceptin users.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited October 2018

    Helene - so sorry about your diagnosis. I had permanent heart damage from Herceptin in 2012 and was only able to have 3 months of Herceptin, but I'm still here! I've talked with many women who have had heart issues because of Herceptin, but only those that had heart issues almost immediately. Good luck in your search. If you find out any other details please post! Thank you!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sugarplum
    sugarplum Member Posts: 318
    edited November 2018

    I did not get Herceptin, but recently discovered my left ventricle is enlarged - 12 years after being treated with Adriamycin. 9 months on heart meds hasn't improved my 20-25% ejection fraction, so they implanted a defibrillator a couple of months ago. I'm scheduled for another echo at the end of the year, but am not hopeful for any improvement as I still feel the same. They haven't been able to increase my dosages any further because my blood pressure is already too low.

    I keep telling myself I should feel lucky for living 12 more years after such a serious diagnosis, but getting heart failure from the treatment is such a bummer!

    Thanks everyone for sharing here - it helps.

    Julie

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories