Revist-HELP Weekly VS. 3WK FOR THE HEART!
 

Hi her2 friends,
I will be starting back on Herceptin and I am concerned about heart function. I know some people have been told every 3 wks may be harder on the heart and there was a discussion on this site in April. If anyone has info on every week being better for the heart, can you please post and let me know where you are treated. I want to get it weekly, and having some others who think weekly is better for the heart would be helpful in pleading my case.
Also, Pffida, I read your post from April and found it very helpful, can you tell me where you are treated? Also, Goops I read your April post and wondered if your onc approved weekly Herceptin?
I look forward to hearing from you. Lida

Weekly herception vs. 3 wk herceptin for the heart
 

Hi everyone,
I am doing this post to correct the error in the TITLE OF THIS THREAD. I forgot to include the word "Herception" in the title.
Sorry for any inconvenience. Lida

Lida,

According to a recent study by the Mayo Clinic, cardiotoxicity is not dose related. See the last paragraph of this lengthy article:

http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.com...2%2F8302r3.pdf


Regards
Joe

Lida,

If you have Herceptin once a week, the infusion should be 30 minutes. For every three weeks it should be 90 minutes.

I had taken Herceptin weekly for one year without any problems -- heart or otherwise -- but when I started taking it every three weeks, at first my heart function dropped more than 10 percentage points.

As it turns out, the infusion was being run through at 1 hour, so I asked for 90 minutes, and all seems okay now. However (and that's a big "however") I have no documentation to back that up and it could be just a coincidence. But whichever you decide, ensure that the infusion times are correct.

Joan

I started back on it after being on Tykerb and had no new problems.

My onc said anecdotally he had better outcome with weekly - for the cancer, not related to heart. Who is arguing against it for you?

My MUGA dropped dramatically with the weekly dose... hte three week dose seemed overwhelming to me as well.
I ended with a dose every two weeks instead and my MUGA's remained stable and then actually went up !
Maria

Weekly vs every three weeks for Herceptin
 

Lida, my oncologist is in Glendora/Pomona, California. Her name is Vandana Agarwal.

I had a echocardiogram upon completion of herceptin back in June, and all was well with my heart. All of my symptoms from the every three week dose (intense coughing, racing pulse) disappeared after a 5-6 week herceptin "holiday" and they never returned when I took it weekly.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Lida
I have had it every 3 weeks, weekly and now every 2 weeks to coincide with whatever treatment I am getting and make it more convenient....regardless of how often, all were given in 30 minutes after the first dose. After 5 years, I have never had a problem and my last muga was still 63....I think reactions are very much patient related, depending on previous chemo and your individual heart. You need to do what is best for YOU!!!!