Herceptin & Lung problems?

halfvass
halfvass Member Posts: 11
Herceptin & Lung problems?

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  • halfvass
    halfvass Member Posts: 11
    edited April 2008

    I'm wondering if anyone has had to stop Herceptin because of lung problems.  I have underlying autoimmune disease which have caused a vasculitis in my lungs.  We knew that going in but it was not bad, and my pulmonary functions tests were fine in 12/07.  Went Wed. for my weekly Taxol and Herceptin (I have 5 down, 7 to go, after having completed 4 dose-dense A/C.) and found that my white count had plummeted and my onc. was worried about my shortness of breath and coughing.  As this is somewhat normal for me, I was not too worried.  But they did lung function tests again and some of my values have really droppped.  Now they want to stop the drugs.  But, it could be a normal flare for me, from my diseases and not the Herceptin.  Unfortunately, there is no way to tell which it is.  But I deperately want to stay on the drugs.  They did a CT of the chest today and I will get those results and see the pulmonologist tomorrow.  BTW, an echo shows my heart is not being damaged.

    Sorry to be so long-winded--just felt I needed to give background.

      What I really want to hear is if anyone else is having lung issues from Herceptin.

    Thanks in advance to this great group.

    Deb

  • maryannecb
    maryannecb Member Posts: 1,453
    edited April 2008

    No but during my Herceptin and about 6-8 weeks after rads I developed radiation pneumonitis, an inflammation of my left lung in the field where the rads were.

    My Pft's were very slightly decreased. The pneumonitis was easily seen on the CT.

    Good luck with your results.

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