Long Term Herceptin Heart Damage?
 

hello. You all were so kind in your support and encouragement to go to the doctor. I just returned and my onc. said that her concern is that the swelling in my feet is from heart problems. My blood pressure and pulse were normal but she agreed my feet look big and swollen and discolored. She said that there is relatively new research out about long term damage to the heart from herceptin? It has been 1.5 years since my last herceptin dose; I had it for one year, every week. So, I am having an echocardiogram; chest ct, blood work and she is increasing the laysix to 40 mgs and adding pottasium. While she was examing me, she noticed a lump or bump area along incision and it hurt like hell when she pushed on it. It could be nerves that have regenerated, but, she said to be on the safe side, I am going to see my surgeon this week.

I am trying not to borrow trouble and assume that this is a recurrence. It could be anything, I guess, but, it is always good to get checked out. I will keep you all in the loop. Anyone know what the treatment for heart damage is?

Rose

Hi Rose,

Increasing the Lasix and potassium like your doc is doing sounds good, but also I've heard Coreg mentioned here and elsewhere by a few people. Sounds like you are in good hands. Let us know how it goes.

AlaskaAngel

I beg to differ in my reading of your doctor's treatment. Both Lasix and potassium are common water removal pills. They take care of the symptom but do not cure the root of the problem. You need to strengthen your heart so that the water accumulation would stop.

On the other lump, I hope it is non-malignant with its origin coming from the body's repair work after your last operation. Of course, it is possible that the margin was not clean and the bad cells started their new base camp right at the seam. We will keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best. You probably already know that whether it is painful upon touching or not is not any indication of a poor diagnosis.

My prayer for you.

Ann

Not to scare anyone on this site but my oncologist keeps telling me he is seeing some bad damage from the Herceptin. He says he will do muga's on me every 3 months faithfully, where as he was not doing them only once a year that was recommended at Dana Farber but has since changed. He told me if I starting showing symtoms he would do them more often or showed heart damaged he would stop the Herceptin. I was talking to the nurses and they told me the same thing. The early stage patients maybe, cutting back to a shorter time then a year. Don't know if this will happen but he is researching it. Hugs, Sandy

Jo would it be possible to contact Roche to ask what observational work has been done on the possible long term impact of Herceptin on cardiovascular health.

Was anything done in conjunction with HERA etc.

RB

I just spoke to my Onc about Herceptin and heart damage...she claims that it is reversible, but I also recall hearing that there was some evidence to the contrary. I'm MUGA has gone from 78 to 63. I know I'm still in the 'normal' range, but still hate that there's been some damage. Guess there's no free lunch!