HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Could stroke be related to herceptin treatment??

Becky · 10-23-2007, 10:30 AM

Hi Cathy

I am sorry you have been having your ups and downs. I do not think Herceptin is directly related to your stroke. However, heart problems and possibly LVEF can very much be related to strokes. Atrial Septal aneurysm (really value problems or heart murmurs) slosh up the blood and can cause clots that can cause stroke. I am not sure of the effect of the low LVEF and if that causes sloshing - however, it does cause residual blood to be left in that chamber and maybe sloshing around too that could cause a clot. I found an article below that studies this as most research is done on stroke after heart attack (with the heart attack causing LVEF) but then one wonders, is it LVEF or the fact that there were clots to begin with since the people did have heart attacks first. So, perhaps indirectly Herceptin can be involved.

http://content.karger.com/ProdukteDB...name=96489.pdf

10-23-2007, 10:30 AM	#2
Becky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Stockton, NJ Posts: 4,179	Hi Cathy I am sorry you have been having your ups and downs. I do not think Herceptin is directly related to your stroke. However, heart problems and possibly LVEF can very much be related to strokes. Atrial Septal aneurysm (really value problems or heart murmurs) slosh up the blood and can cause clots that can cause stroke. I am not sure of the effect of the low LVEF and if that causes sloshing - however, it does cause residual blood to be left in that chamber and maybe sloshing around too that could cause a clot. I found an article below that studies this as most research is done on stroke after heart attack (with the heart attack causing LVEF) but then one wonders, is it LVEF or the fact that there were clots to begin with since the people did have heart attacks first. So, perhaps indirectly Herceptin can be involved. http://content.karger.com/ProdukteDB...name=96489.pdf __________________ Kind regards Becky Found lump via BSE Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45 1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side) 2 micromets to sentinel node Stage 2A left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg lumpectomies 9/7/04 4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol Used Leukine instead of Neulasta 35 rads on right side only 4/05 started Tamoxifen Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations Oophorectomy 8/05 Started Arimidex 9/05 Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06 Arimidex Only Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia NED 18 years! Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"