HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Be still my beating heart...AC-TH and arrhythmia

Becky · 01-06-2012, 08:58 PM

Heart problems can occur with adriamycin - less than 10% of those receiving it can get heart pumping problems up to 8 years afterwards although most occur straight upfront.

With Herceptin, about 4% of women can experience problems and for the most part, it is reversible after Herceptin is stopped. Then you can go back on (and perhaps have to stop again). So it really depends on what really caused this to happen to you, adriamycin or Herceptin or a combo of both perhaps.

Although I finished my Herceptin, I did have reduced function by the end but not drastically so. I started at 65% and ended at 51% - still above the desired 50% and not quite a 15% reduction which is a criteria for "giving Herceptin a break for awhile".

From my cancer center I did meet a woman who had problems from adriamycin (she was not Her2 so they know it wasn't from Herceptin) but she was in a trial that combined Avastin with the Taxol so they will never know 100% that it was adriamycin.

Hang in there. Rest up and see what happens. We are here for you.

01-06-2012, 08:58 PM	#2
Becky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Stockton, NJ Posts: 4,179	Re: Be still my beating heart...AC-TH and arrhythmia Heart problems can occur with adriamycin - less than 10% of those receiving it can get heart pumping problems up to 8 years afterwards although most occur straight upfront. With Herceptin, about 4% of women can experience problems and for the most part, it is reversible after Herceptin is stopped. Then you can go back on (and perhaps have to stop again). So it really depends on what really caused this to happen to you, adriamycin or Herceptin or a combo of both perhaps. Although I finished my Herceptin, I did have reduced function by the end but not drastically so. I started at 65% and ended at 51% - still above the desired 50% and not quite a 15% reduction which is a criteria for "giving Herceptin a break for awhile". From my cancer center I did meet a woman who had problems from adriamycin (she was not Her2 so they know it wasn't from Herceptin) but she was in a trial that combined Avastin with the Taxol so they will never know 100% that it was adriamycin. Hang in there. Rest up and see what happens. We are here for you. __________________ Kind regards Becky Found lump via BSE Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45 1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side) 2 micromets to sentinel node Stage 2A left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg lumpectomies 9/7/04 4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol Used Leukine instead of Neulasta 35 rads on right side only 4/05 started Tamoxifen Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations Oophorectomy 8/05 Started Arimidex 9/05 Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06 Arimidex Only Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia NED 18 years! Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"