Heart Problems

[scottthescot]

Hi

I joined in December, haven't been on much recently as my husband was very ill he had a brain tumour for three and a half years, he passed away on the 13th of January.

My question is this, what kind of heart problems do you get with Herceptin. I had a chest x-ray a couple of weeks ago as I had been having slight dificulties with breathing it showed my heart was slightly enlarged. I am going for an Echocardiogram on Monday to see what is happening.May have to come off Herceptin which I didn't want to do, is it right that you can go back on it again?

I am from the UK and the reason I am up so late writing this is I also have a cough and earlier on I was coughing and got the most terrific pain in my back and chest, it has eased off slightly but hurts when I lie down.

Marjorie

[Kristen]

Marjorie,
I am so sorry to hear about your husbands passing. My heart goes out to you. I'm not sure of all the problems that are associated with Herceptin, but a lot of women here have posted that they have had to go off and when there heart healed they were allowed to go back on. Mostly what I have read is that people where pulled off when there MUGA scan was below 50.

I am sorry I don't have much more to offer. I am sure others will reply whose doctors use echo's vs MUGA's/ Take care and God Bless. K

[*_Penny_*]

Marjorie,
My mom's onc. gives her a Muga Scan every few months when she's on Herceptin. She did have some heart damage in the past. She would start to feel short of breath and tired all the time. They did take her off the Herceptin for a while and her heart returned to normal. From what I understand, it weakens the heart so that it doesn't pump as strongly as it should.
I'm so sorry you lost your husband. You are in my prayers.
Love, Penny

[Lolly]

Marjorie, I'm sorry for your loss, but glad you've come here for support.

I've had several Echo's to monitor my heart since being on Herceptin. What they're checking with the Echo is actually your heart's valve function, to make sure the left valve is pumping the blood out of your heart effectively. The report will give an "ejection fraction"; anything over 50% is considered normal, over 60% is quite good. Mine always comes back in the mid 50's. I also had a MUGA before Christmas, which measures the blood itself as it courses through the body, and my MUGA was also mid 50's which was considered ok. If your heart is slightly enlarged, and your ECHO comes back low, it may mean the doctor will want to take you off Herceptin for awhile, but I do remember that some here have reported that their heart repaired itself after a month or so and they were able to resume Herceptin again, with no problem. So be sure and ask about a repeat ECHO if this is the case, and keep us posted.

Love, Lolly

[Lyn]

Hi Marjorie, I am so sorry that you have to go through this as well as the loss of your partner, but be assurded there will always be someone here to help you cope. I am just about the worst sceniario for heart problems, I have been on Herceptin for about 3 years, could be more, always had echos and the left ventricle is checked and always above 50%, in October 2003 I went into chronic heart failure in 3 valves and I was suppose to die, this was in no way connected to the Herceptin or BC but Thyroid treatment, my left ventricle was about the only thing that was ok, my heart was pumping backwards and I had 5 kilos of fluid on my lungs, tablets expelled this over night but it was the worst feeling I have ever had and I wanted to die, when I was discharged I went straight back onto Herceptin. My last echo showed that my heart had shrunk and was in good condition and only slight mitral valve regurgitation, but I am on medication and will have to stay monitored. I had another echo done yesterday and unofficialy I was told that there was no significant change and I will get the results next week when I see the heart specialist. I have also just come of 26 weeks of weekly Herceptin/Taxol/Carboplatin. I still feel short of breath at times but this is because I still make fluid and remain on Frusemide for it.

Take care, love and hugs Lyn

[SusanAnne]

Hi Marjorie,

Please accept my condolences for your loss. I'm glad you have come to this board for the support you need.

I had herceptin for a year and my EF only started out at 55%. When it got down to 51% I went to a cardiologist who put me on two medications (Accupril and Coreg) to help my heart pump more efficiently. I was able to stay on the meds and finish the full course of treatment with no problem.

I hope things work out in your favor. Best of luck.

Susan