resuming herceptin after heart damage?

[cowboyangel]

I had stage 2 with mastechtomy, 4 doses of AC then taxotere with herceptin. My first MUGA after the initial group pf herceptin doses went from 65% to 51%. My onc. and a cardiologist at sloane kettering in NYC suggested stopping for 3 months. After the 3 month rest, my heart rallied and a stress echo showed a " normal" heart. They both recommend resuming the herceptin at this point with a new echo done after the first treatment.

I am scared to resume, being that I had the damage but am now back in a safe zone.why tempt fate? can a heart continue to rally?

If the chemo and herceptin is supposed to be " for good measure" since the mastechtomy was " curative" ( they did find cancer in 3 lymphs) then how to figure that heart damage is worth it on a " just in case" basis for herceptin?

perhaps I am naive/hopeful about a recurrance.

would appreciate any experience strength and hope on this.

thanks- patience

[Christine]

How long were you taking Herceptin? A Finish study presented in San Antonio last December showed positive results in as little as nine weeks of treatment.

You may also question your onc about taking coenzyme COQ10 which has shown to strengthen the heart in small limited studies.

Another alternative is seeing if you qualify for any Tykerb trials. Tykerb has shown promising preliminary results.
Hugs
Christine

[MJo]

My muga before starting chemo was 70. After chemo and three months of herceptin it went down to 59. I was scared, but since I was still in range I continued Herc. for three more months. My muga two weeks ago was 62. Yes it can go up. I don't take coenzyme q10 but do take a fish oil capsule daily and I eat a lot of garlic (I'm italian). I was scared too, but I think you can also feel some optimism that your heart bounced (!) back.

[snoopy]

Have you seen this one


http://www.nelm.nhs.uk/Record%20Viewing/viewRecord.aspx?id=569111

Haven't seen article appears to suggest restarting could be OK (N.B study in metastatic disease)

[al from Canada]

Dear patience,
With the discovery of the connection between the TOPO2 gene, herceptin and LVHF drop; It's too bad there is no reliable test for this yet, but if anyone has it, maybe it's Sloan-Kettering, worth an ask around.
Another thing you may want to test which could help you with your decision is HER2 serum levels: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=44525&nfid=rssfeeds

Good luck, Al