Eye problems

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may31
may31 Member Posts: 18
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
Eye problems
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  • may31
    may31 Member Posts: 18
    edited March 2008

    Has anyone had problems with their eyes while they have been treated with herceptin? I am finished with the  chemo and have about four treatments left of herceptin. I was diagnosed with glaucoma  before my diagnosis and since the pressure has risen I am wondering if it is related to chemo/and or herceptin.

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

    My eyes have been fine, finished herceptin over a year ago.

    Congrats on your upcoming LAST treatment...it is a nice feeling to walk out of there for the last time.

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  • bjn850
    bjn850 Member Posts: 28
    edited March 2008

    I have had 13 Herceptin treatments and have not had eye problems. My se from Herceptin are aches and weak fingernails.

    May31, I too have four left and will be finishing treatments the last week of May if all goes well. Hurray!

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  • LittleFlower
    LittleFlower Member Posts: 405
    edited March 2008

    hi may,

    haven't had any eye issues with herceptin...and i don't have glaucoma, but just curious... have you started treatment for your glaucoma?  i know that eye pressure can vary throughout the day, so has your pressure been checked at the same time each day?  or habitually in the morning and then late in the afternoon one time it seemed to be higher that one time??? just curious......

    take care LittleFlower

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  • may31
    may31 Member Posts: 18
    edited March 2008

    LittleFlower,

    He hasn't done that. I have been on four different eye drops and now am trying pills. I am rather young (almost 56) and my mother (almost 86) was just diagnosed with glaucoma. If this doesn't work he will try the laser surgery. I have been trying to put it off until I am finished with all my treatments although neither the opthamologist nor the oncologist have heard of any correlation. Since my nose runs constantly with the herceptin and the mucus membranes appear affected I still question whether it has affected my eye pressure.

    My original diagnosis was in 2004 DCIS with microinvasion and some floating cells with sentinel biopsy. I had mastectomy and put on arimidex although they really couldn't determine hormone status. MRI last year discovered enlarged lymph node and had more surgery then TCH regimen and radiation to the same breast as original cancer.

    The glaucoma in some ways has bummed me out more than the recurrence!

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  • miss-di
    miss-di Member Posts: 161
    edited March 2008

    I believe I do have problems with the herceptin and sight.  I did go to the opthamologist and my sight was worse.  It seems to come and go, meaning at times I just can't see as well and then I will see better again.

    I had to take a break last month and my vision returned.  I am now on weekly and will see how that goes.

    I believe there is a section on her2support.org about side effects and many women state they have vision/eye problems.

    Good luck to all,

    Di

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  • lrs
    lrs Member Posts: 55
    edited March 2008

    Hi,

    I had eye problems during chemo and after, blurry vision both far and close. The oncologist advise to wait 6 months post chemo before having eyes checked. Said it will give the drugs from chemo in your body a chance to be gone. I had my eyes checked and the optomitrist confirmed that the chemo did not damage the eyes (good news), bad news age, I finaly had to break down and get distance glasses. I finished my last herceptin last week. All this to say if your are worried get your eyes checked tell your eye doctor about the drugs you are on and what chemo you were on. I am sure they will do a full eye check-up. Good luck and don't be to worried, I was not the only one from the ladies I have meet that have stated same issues, but all are doing fine now.

    LRS : ) 

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  • Svendibar
    Svendibar Member Posts: 1
    edited March 2008

    Hello!

    I am still undergoing infusion treatment with Herceptin.  I started on May 17, 2007 and should complete Herceptin by the end of May 2008. I also completed chemotherapy with Taxotere and Carboplatin in September. 

    I am having lots of eye problems, but attribute it to the Taxotere and/or Carboplatin because the problems began during chemotherapy.  My eyes alternated between tearing excessively and excessive dryness.  It is embarrassing to be out in public, perhaps ordering in a restaurant, only to have your eyes run down your face and onto the table!  At night when I am trying to sleep, my eyes are dry to the point of my lids sticking to my eyeballs.  This disrupts my sleep. 

    I have been to my opthamologist a few times.  He stuck needles in my tear ducts to measure the openings, and also flushed out my right tear duct with saline solution.  Needless to say, I nearly passed out and wouldn't let him do the left side.  Now that I have had only one side done, I can safely say that the treatment did not help, because my eyes are equally dry. 

    Also, as I am still trying to grow back the hair on my head, I am also having trouble with my eyelashes.  Not only are they sparse, but some of them appear to be ingrown as I have white lumps on the edges of my eyelids.  I used to be plagued with a "uni-brow" problem, but I wish I had that problem back, because my eyebrows are very sparse and ugly now, too.  At least with a uni-brow, I had something to work with!

    I have used different eye drops and eye ointments, but nothing I have found so far offers much relief.  My eyes are always red and scratchy.  I may visit my opthamologist again to see about getting a prescription for Restasis or something similar (that is, if I am even a candidate for that following chemo).  He may want to flush out my left eye, but that is not even an option for me at this point. 

    If anyone here has had similar experiences, I would love to hear from you.

    Linda 

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  • planco
    planco Member Posts: 22
    edited March 2008

    I know what you mean.  I get cement-like stuff on my eye lashes.  They are growing in but putting mascara on them is impossible...they seem to go in all directions.  Also have problems with my vision. 

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  • kimbly
    kimbly Member Posts: 398
    edited March 2008

    I have excessive tearing but my onc. said it's the taxol.  This only started happening at treatment 4/6 and lasts about 1/2 a day every day.  I already wear contacts/glasses for distance and at 46 need reading glasses too while wearing my contacts.  I need to get my eyes checked routinely now but I think I will ask my onc. in case chemo has changed my eyes.  OR perhaps just get them checked and then explain to the eye dr what is going on. 

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  • kimbly
    kimbly Member Posts: 398
    edited March 2008

    Di - I see that you are triple postive as well.  I don't seem to see many that are here? or am I just not noticing?

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  • miss-di
    miss-di Member Posts: 161
    edited March 2008

    Kimbly,

    I am triple positive this time.  First time I was HER2-, now HER2+++, also last time my ER/PR was highly positive, this time slightly positive.

    The real culprit this time is the HER2 I believe.  My last scan in Jan showed very much improvement.  Went from "to many spots to count" to 4 areas of concern.  I was happy with that, but why don't I feel any better?

    I thought there were alot of triple positives??  Maybe I haven't been looking also!

    My best to all,

    Di

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  • lrs
    lrs Member Posts: 55
    edited April 2008

    Hi Kimberly,

    I am also triple positive, and you are right there are not alot of us.

    DX Age 46 Aug 11/06, 5cm, 0/23 nodes ,stage 2, Grade 3, er/pr/her2 +++

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