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10-06-2008, 06:17 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 57
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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
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10-06-2008, 07:39 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 57
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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
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10-06-2008, 07:47 PM
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#3
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Webmaster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Home of the "Flying Tomato"
Carlsbad, CA
Posts: 2,036
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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
__________________
A Proud webmaster to the internet's most informed, educated, COMPASSIONATE and caring group of breast cancer survivors.
Illegitimi non carborundum
My Album
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10-06-2008, 07:58 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,851
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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
__________________
Diagnosed stage 2b in July 2003 (2.3 cm, HER2+, ER-/PR-, 7+ nodes). Treated with mastectomy (with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction), AC + T/Herceptin (off label). Cancer advanced to lung in Jan. 2007 (1 cm nodule). Started Herceptin every 3 weeks. Lung wedge resection April 2007. Cancer recurred in lung April 2008. RFA of lung in August 2008. 2nd annual brain MRI in Oct. 2008 discovered 2.6 cm cystic tumor in left frontal lobe. Craniotomy Oct. 2008 (ER-/PR-/HER2-) followed by targeted radiation (IMRT). Coughing up blood Feb. 2009. Thoractomy July 2009 to cut out fungal ball of common soil fungus (aspergillus) that grew in the RFA cavity (most likely inhaled while gardening). No cancer, only fungus. Removal of tiny melanoma from upper left arm, plus sentinel lymph node biopsy in Feb. 2016. Guardant Health liquid biopsy in Feb. 2016 showed mutations in 4 subtypes of TP53. Repeat of Guardant Health biopsy in Jana. 2021 showed 3 TP53 mutations, BRCA1 mutation and CHEK2 mutation. Invitae genetic testing showed negative for all of these. Living with MBC since 2007. Stopped Herceptin Hylecta (injection) treatment in March 2020. Recent 2021 annual CT of chest, abdomen and pelvis and annual brain MRI showed NED. Praying for NED forever!!
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10-06-2008, 08:35 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: I live in Christmas, MI - located on the shores of Lake Superior.
Posts: 606
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I started back on it after being on Tykerb and had no new problems.
__________________
Barb
10/03 Radical Mastectomy 3 cm tumor - 1/17 Nodes Stage II B, Her 2 +++ ER-/PR- 11/03 4 AC 4 Taxol 12/05 Stage IV - Lung met , Bone mets - Carbo, Taxotere, Herceptin 9/06 - 2 cm brain tumor 10/06 - Tumor removal surgery - Herceptin Halted 12/06 gamma knife tumor base.1/07 Navelbine/Herceptin 4/07 Rads to R femur 5/07 Stereotactic - new 2 cm brain tumor 4/07 Start Xeloda 5/07 Tykerb added 7/07 Brain MRI clean 10/07 .055 cm brain met found. 12/07 Stereotactic -1 cm brain tumor Start Tykerb 11/07 Abraxane/Herceptin 5/08 Cisplatin, Gemcitabine/Herceptin 6/08 Stereotactic to 1cm 9/08 Stereotactic repeat (growth). 11/08 Pet Scan Good but new tiny met on L lung/dead Brain surgery (no cancer cells found/scar tissue) 1/09 Chemo restarted 2/09 Pet Scan Bad - R larger very active/active L active lymph nodes both sides of chest MRI- mets slight increase 2/09 Start Doxil/Tykerb Treatment
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10-07-2008, 07:04 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 203
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My onc said anecdotally he had better outcome with weekly - for the cancer, not related to heart. Who is arguing against it for you?
__________________
Dx 8/06 Age 43 Stage IIIA multifocal throughout breast, largest tumor 5 cm, grade 3, comedo, ER+PR+HER+++
Neoadjuvant A/C 4X Dose Dense
11/06 Bilateral Mastectomy (no choice on the right, my choice on the left)
Taxol+Herceptin weekly x12, continuing with Herceptin, finished one year in 12/07
33 Rads
Femara for 5+ years, staying on (started with Arimidex, switched after about a month, much happier)
Abnormal brain MRI shows no cancer, but "extensive white matter diease" - unknown cause
BRCA negative - lots of cancer in my family
survivor of thyroid cancer
also have Crohn's disease
CT and bone scan say NED as of 5/13
dx with severe cardiomyopathy 5/12 (likely due to chemo and Herceptin), ejection fraction in low 20's, now up to 40, went to 50, latest read 12/13 is back down to 35
1/13 Acute pancreatitis - are you kidding me?
9/13 started Humira for Crohn's. starting to have some energy again
B12 and Vit D both needed supplementation
Cataracts in both eyes noted 6/12 - surgery in the next 2-4 years?
4/14 Kidney stones/blockage/infection - related to Crohn's Disease
5/14 My aunt passed away - she was diagnosed after I was with Stage I - not Her2+, then Stage 4 for about one year
6/14 Scans - still NED, thank God. However, broken rib (I didn't notice) lots of bone degeneration osteopenia/osteoporosis. I also still have cardiomyopathy secondary to chemo.
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10-08-2008, 06:19 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 503
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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
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Dx'd 8/04 at 41
Stage 1 for some onc's; Stage II for others (if you add up the sizes of all tumors).
Infiltrating DCIS
HER2+, ER+10% & PR-
.9cm tumor not visible on mammo, but palpable; visible on ultrasound
Lumpectomy/ clear margins, no nodes
Had Breast MRI after lumpectomy that revealed two more tumors in same quadrant(.4cm and 1.6cm) that were not visible on either mammo or ultrasound.
Re-excision
DD AC+T; Herceptin one year
Rads
NED/Taking Tamoxifen reluctantly
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10-09-2008, 05:13 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Southern California
Posts: 33
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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.
__________________
Diagnosed 11/06; IDC
Stage 1, Grade 2
MRM 12/06; 19 nodes removed, all negative
ER/PR-, HER2+++ - 4 rounds AC - every 3 weeks
- 3 rounds Taxol + Herceptin - every 3 weeks (developed allergy to Taxol so stopped treatment)
- Weekly Herceptin after Herceptin-induced cardiomyopathy from treatments every 3 weeks
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10-10-2008, 04:09 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Morris, IL
Posts: 3,507
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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!!!!
__________________
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Hugs & Blessings
Sheila
Diagnosed at age 49.99999 2/21/2002 via Mammography (Calcifications)
Core Biopsy 2/22/02
L. Mastectomy 2/25/2002
Stage 1, 0.7cm IDC, Node Neg from 19 nodes Her2+++ ER PR Neg
6/2003 Reconstruction W/ Tissue Expander, Silicone Implant
9/2003 Stage IV with Mets to Supraclavicular nodes
9/2003 Began Herceptin every 3 weeks
3/2006 Xeloda 2500mg/Herceptin for recurrence to neck nodes
3/2007 Added back the Xeloda with Herceptin for continued mets to nodes
5/2007 Taken Off Xeloda, no longer working
6/14/07 Taxol/Herceptin/Avastin
3/26 - 5/28/08 Taxol Holiday Whopeeeeeeeee
5/29 2008 Back on Taxol w Herceptin q 2 weeks
4/2009 Progression on Taxol & Paralyzed L Vocal Cord from Nodes Pressing on Nerve
5/2009 Begin Rx with Navelbine/Herceptin
11/09 Progression on Navelbine
Fought for and started Tykerb/Herceptin...nodes are melting!!!!!
2/2010 Back to Avastin/Herceptin
5/2010 Switched to Metronomic Chemo with Herceptin...Cytoxan and Methotrexate
Pericardial Window Surgery to Drain Pericardial Effusion
7/2010 Back to walking a mile a day...YEAH!!!!
9/2010 Nodes are back with a vengence in neck
Qualified for TDM-1 EAP
10/6/10 Begin my miracle drug, TDM-1
Mixed response, shrinking internal nodes, progression skin mets after 3 treatments
12/6/10 Started Halaven (Eribulen) /Herceptin excellent results in 2 treatments
2/2011 I CELEBRATE my 9 YEAR MARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7/5/11 begin Gemzar /Herceptin for node progression
2/8/2012 Gemzar stopped, Continue Herceptin
2/20/2012 Begin Tomo Radiation to Neck Nodes
2/21/2012 I CELEBRATE 10 YEARS
5/12/2012 BeganTaxotere/ Herceptin is my next miracle for new node progression
6/28/12 Stopped Taxotere due to pregression, Started Perjeta/Herceptin
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