Heart problems with Herceptin & Perjeta

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DeniseML
DeniseML Member Posts: 81
edited August 2021 in Stage III Breast Cancer

Hi everyone. I recently had a significant change in left ventricular function on my echocardiogram. Holding this months dose of HP. Wondering if others experienced this? Did it improve by holding a dose? If had to stop permanently, did you receive some other treatment going forward. I have 5 more HP treatments to completion. Concerned because HER2+, HR/PR Negative. IBC . MO resistant to any kind of imaging surveillance. Any bio markers that your MO are following for those that havecompleted TX. ?

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  • kathleen1966
    kathleen1966 Member Posts: 793
    edited August 2021

    My ejection fraction went down to 42 during her Herceptin treatments (no perjeta, I believe it was in the study phase) and we continued. I received no echo’s for the rest of my chemo treatments. My initial ejection fraction was in the low normal range- 58 to 62.

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  • DeniseML
    DeniseML Member Posts: 81
    edited August 2021

    Yikes Kathleen! Did you have any echo after completion? And did the EF recover? Any long-lasting side effects experienced?

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  • kathleen1966
    kathleen1966 Member Posts: 793
    edited August 2021

    I did not receive a final echo, or an echo since and I am in my 11th year of remission. I have had no serious health issues in the last 11 years. I do have side effects from treatment. Lymphedema, brain fog that never really went away and fatigue.

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  • Melbo
    Melbo Member Posts: 346
    edited August 2021

    I haven’t had heart issues, but my MO told me that the solution for herceptin heart issues was stopping the herceptin, and then it would improve. Hopefully holding a dose will help as well and you will be able to continue.

    I also wanted to share that there was a study that showed 6 months of herceptin could be as good as a year. Obviously being able to finish the treatment since that is the standard would be nice — but stopping early might not be the worst thing either.


    https://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/herceptin-for-6-months-seems-same-as-1-yr

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  • DeniseML
    DeniseML Member Posts: 81
    edited August 2021

    melbo: thanks for the info. The heart function is unchanged after 6 weeks off of Herceptin. All remaining treatments are canceled, at least until cardio-oncologist evaluation. Unfortunately, he is in high demand & since I am asymptomatic earliest appointment is in October.

    On the bright side, I only had 3 more treatments remaining according to my MO, I had a fantastic response to adjuvant therapy,

    We discussed Neratinib which is FDA approved after Herceptin, but, no studies yet on efficacy if Perjeta was also received, so she will not prescribe it.

    I am in surveillance phase officially! Just in the nick of time, it seems because my husband is undergoing testing for Lymphoma. All focus and support needs to be on him! He was my Rock of support. Now I will be his.

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