Increasing heart EJF with CoQ10?

[Rich66]

Anyone done this?

[madubois63]

I once had to take a Herceptin "vacation" because my MUGA rate fell. I started taking CoQ10 and was able to continue the Herceptin with a better rating than I had started with. I still take it now and have a better rating than most of my doctors.

[Yorkiegirl]

I took 300mg when I was doing Herceptin and have continued to take it. I now take 200mg daily.

[Mary Anne in TX]

I take it and have increased my number from the 60s to the 70s. I "believe" it works for me!!! ma

[chrisy]

Me too. I take 100-300 mg/day

[Rich66]

Sounds great. So nothing to suggest it conflicts with tx or feeds tumors?

[ElaineM]

I took CoQ10 during years of Herceptin. I had Ecco Cardiograms every 6 months. My heart is still great.
No heart problems during Herceptin. I think it may be because of the CoQ10.

[SoCalGal]

I've been taking them for 1.5 years since stage 4 dx. I take a chewable coq10 from douglas laboratories. They protect the heart. It's also good to balance your omega's. See all threads posted by RB for omega 3 & 6 info.
-flori

[dixie46]

Can it be taken while doing chemo? My onc seemed unsure. I also am getting herceptin with the chemo.

[SoCalGal]

Can and should. Try to take a pharmaceutical grade.

[Patb]

I have taken it through all the treatment. My internist
advised me to and I went through adramycin, radiation,
and herceptin just fine. Muga was 72
patb

[juanita]

I think that was why mine went up while on herceptin.

[jhandley]

I have done a lot research on Q10 over the years. If you take it during chemo stop it 3 days before treatment and wait 24 hours after .It has a half life of 30 hours so 72 hours will be enough time to drop it down to a level where it wont interfere with the chemo. Also don't use it during radiation there was a study in rats that showed it may interfere with radiation treatment. Haven't got the references handy but the above guidelines would be safe and give you the benefits and not interfere with treatment. It is a powerful vitamin with proven anticancer and heart protection effects.
Cheers
jackie (down under)

[CindyE]

I started taking it after chemo but my Radiation Dr said to stop until my radiation was over. My MUGA score did go up on it so I am definitely going to start taking it again once my rads are complete.

[rebecca0623]

I asked my onc about this and he said fine to take but mainly for the"psychological value". I read this to say wouldn't interfere with the treatment so I decided to take it. As my baseline MUGA was low I don't want it to fall further.

[CindyE]

Rebecca,
I think it was mainly while doing radiation that the drs told me not to take the Q10. My baseline MUGA was only 55 but my second one was 61.9! So take heart that your next one could be even better than the first. The dr told me that it's like anything and that it may have been an off day for me when I had the first MUGA or that it was just unnormally low read. Either way, I wish you the best and just make sure your drs approve of you taking it now and later as your treatments continue.

[Barbara2]

I started taking CoQ10 when starting herceptin. As I recall, the first MUGA was good, but after taking the CoQ it even got better. After herceptin I continuted to take it, and still do.

I saw Suzanne Summers on one of the morning shows a couple of days ago, telling of her 8 ways to stay healthy (or something like that; she's written a book). Co-Q10 was mentioned as something she takes daily.

[TriciaK]

My ef dropped to 30 after herceptin, since I already had heart problems. CoQ10 and coregCR in rather large doses brought it back up into the 50's. Exercise helps too, even mild. I now have cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease, but the herceptin saved my life, I think. I have now been NED from my last mets for 4 and a half years, and first started fighting BC in 1985. Life is good! Tricia