SOS! Cathy W, Enlarged Left Atrium

[Lolly]

Hello All,
I saw the post below from Cathy W as I was trying to get caught up on the board this morning, and wondered if any one has some information for her. Cathy, I hope you don't mind me copying your post and bringing it back to the boards attention, but I feel it's an important question and I think some may have experience with your problem.

I haven't experienced any heart problems yet from Herceptin, but do know that if one has to be pulled off, quite often the heart recovers, sometimes soon, and women have been allowed to resume Herceptin. Just wanted to address that concern, as I can well understand your fear at the prospect of discontuing H.

How are you doing now?

"I've been on
taxotere/herceptin/carboplatin/xomeda now for 6 months. I just had an echo and it came back with results of an enlarged left atrium. My output is still pretty good at 48% (down from 50%). I was on A/C last year. My onc. is concerned and I'm going to see a cardiologist. I have a PET scheduled for tomorrow also. My onc dropped the carbo a few weeks ago when my markers got close to normal.

Yesterday was definitely a "chocolate day". I really needed "a fix" after hearing that I might not be able to continue on herceptin (I am her2/neu +3, er/pr -). I was stage one just 15 months ago (although the oncs think I had mets. to my bones before they found the breast tumor since the bone mets is fairly involved).

Have any of you experienced this enlargement of the atrium? My onc. mentioned ACE inhibitors. I know nothing about this.
Cathy"

[Lyn]

Hi Lolly, wondering where you were? When I had my heart failure last October, 4 valves involved, I have left miral valve disease, all brought on by their thyroid treatament, I say their, because they admitted it, lucky me, my left ventricle was still ok, so after a week in hospital, I went straight back on my triple Herceptin and now my left ventricle is 67%, tested 2 weeks ago with echocardiogra, so I have a big heart after all. I see my heart specialist at the end of this month so I will know if I can have my reconstructions, yes plural, shoulder and breast. I do take the new wonder drug Dilatrend, maximum dose for my weight 50mg a day and I can breathe, but sadly I can scrub the shower again, oh well I need some exercise.

Love & Hugs Lyn

Love & Hugs Lyn

[lolly]

Hi Lyn, I've been here all along, just lurking most of the time as I don't have a lot of energy to compose responses. My blood counts are chronically low this time around to the degree that today I was given Arenesp(sp?) for the first time to help boost my red blood cells. Otherwise, doing great. Thanks for your input on this subject, I knew you would come through!
Love,
Lolly

[Lyn]

Hi Lolly, and thanks, I know what you mean about the energy, I feel like a Mexican I just want to lie down in the middle of the day and have a sleep, and my head is still hurting while my hair is falling out, no one has picked the wig yet, so when I get compliments about my hair cut now I just say, thank you, our secret. My onc is rolling in money now he said, I told Roache and Genetech that he would be interested in any trials, because he told me no one ever approaches him, and guess what he now has 10 to participate so I will be able to pass this on, not sure what yet, when I saw him I was having a chemo brain episode and I had just had my anti histimine so I was ready to go off to sleep so I e-mailed him to fill me in. We only had the official appointment so he could actually write in my chart, I see him continually anyway.

Love & Hugs Lyn

Love & Hugs Lyn