Heart Damage Symptoms

[*_Linda in Calif._*]

Hi All: I was just wondering if anyone "out there" had experienced heart damage from taking Herceptin and if so what were your symptoms. I have been taking herceptin now for about 6 weeks (for the second time...had to quit the first time because of reduced ejection fraction...no symptoms) and am experiencing an ache where my heart is. It sounds similar to Janets post below but I have no burning sensation. I haven't mentioned this to my Onc. ( I know I should have....but I'm afraid he will take me off of the herceptin.) hopeing that my body would get used to the herceptin and the chest pain would go away. It usually bothers me the most the day I get herceptin and the day after then fades until my next treatment in a week. Have any of you experience something like this? I got my herceptin yesterday and today have a "major" ache in my heart area and am short of breath (a first)....I'm starting to get a little worried. Any info would be great. Thanks in Advance, Linda in Calif.

[vpfeiffer]

hi Linda--
From what I have read, the cardiac toxicity risk from Herceptin isn't something you will feel as you have described--they are risks that slowly over time will weaken primarily the left ventricular function, which isn't something that you will feel for a day or two, then will go away. It's something that needs to be evaluated as you continue your care.

That being said, you definitely need to tell your oncologist, because he/she needs to know about your symptoms. I had some chest pains after a month or two of Herceptin/Taxol/Carboplatin, and it turned out I had a respiratory infection. Just yersterday I went in because I was very short of breath. They couldn't rule out a respiratory infection, so they put me on antibiotics just in case. But my symptoms could have been as a result of the radiation I just finished that was directed toward my chest wall, which could have caused some inflammation in the muscle surrounding my lungs--it had nothing to do with my Herceptin. You could be experiencing symptoms of something else, so please talk to your doctor.

My opinion on Herceptin is that it's life saver, and if I personally started exhibiting cardiac instability, I would make a decision by evaluating the risks of continuing vs. the risks of discontinuing Herceptin. At that point I guess I'd be choosing between the lesser of two evils :-)

For your further information, attached is the letter from Genentech to physicians about Herceptin and the cardiac risks, and below is the website section that deals with the warnings associated with Herceptin:

http://www.herceptin.com/herceptin/physician/pi.htm


Good luck!
Val

[Bonnie T]

Hi
My ejection fraction dropped on herceptin but I didn't have any symptoms, now I am on heart meds.
You definitely need to go see your Dr. , even your family Dr. , to rule out heart problems. It might be endocarditis ( inflammation of the lining around your heart), I had that a couple of years ago before cancer was a part of my life. I thought I was having a heart attack. I think I just had to take advil , and rest.
It also could be something respiratory.
Whenever you have chest pain you need to rule out problems with your heart.
Even if you have to stop herceptin for a while , I hated stopping herceptin too , I am hoping to get back on it soon. My oncologist reminded me that you also need to have a good heart to live :-) and it is always better to catch things early !!
Keep us posted
God Bless
Bonnie T