HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Anyone in their 70s with High Blood Pressure taking Herceptin treatments?

Bob B · 11-01-2007, 05:54 AM

Grace, Becky, BonnieR and Lani:

Thank you for taking the time to respond in such exacting fashion. You have given us a good deal of important information.

Grace: You do appear to have similar factors to my Mom's. Her EF was 55-60 last year after her troublesome chemo episodes. Recent echo had her at about 65. You mentioned occasional dizziness from low BP even though you have high BP. I have some concerns here as my mother has some dizziness/balancing issues residual from the brain tumor she had removed several years ago. She has some blockage in one of her carotid arteries that they are watching now, so we're trying to factor that in as well but it's difficult for us to assess. I think that her BP occasionally drops too low now (even though she is on BP medication) and is the cause of some of her occasional dizziness.

Becky: Appreciate the reoccurance % information. This was one of the elements that I was trying to find more information about to help us decide. Mom saw Dr. Kaplan at the Rena Rowan Center. Is this where you had your treatment? We are in NJ as well.

BonnieR: Mom's EF was 55-60 after her chemo meltdown last year. A recent Echo has her at about 65. She doesn't have a preexisting heart situation per say, but has had the dizziness situation I've mentioned above and her heart tends to race a bit at times.

Lani: Very informative information relating to Herceptin's effect on the heart and pursuant recovery percentages. I'm very concerned about the possible effects on the heart as the oncologist we just saw told us that most of the Herceptin studies were with women younger than my mother and that the % of heart failure would be higher with older women who had BP problems.

My Mom is a bit taken aback by the possible side effects she's read about in the medication's "cheat sheet," although a good many of the women on this site seem to think the effort is worth it and the general side effects tolerable.

I would welcome additional comments anyone may offer about your preferred treatment schedule, be it every week, two weeks or three weeks. I have read comments by some that the 3-week infusion may be a bit much, particularly if it is done too quickly.

Also, has anyone started their Herceptin treatments a substantial time after finishing chemo/radiation rather than simultaneous to or shortly thereafter? This would be the situation with my mother.

Mom does have a port-a-cath which was installed previous to her chemo treatments and was eager to have it removed before my sister and I were finally able to convince her to get a 2nd opinion on Herceptin before having the port removed.

Thanks again. Much appreciated, God bless you all.
BB

11-01-2007, 05:54 AM	#9
Bob B Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5	Grace, Becky, BonnieR and Lani: Thank you for taking the time to respond in such exacting fashion. You have given us a good deal of important information. Grace: You do appear to have similar factors to my Mom's. Her EF was 55-60 last year after her troublesome chemo episodes. Recent echo had her at about 65. You mentioned occasional dizziness from low BP even though you have high BP. I have some concerns here as my mother has some dizziness/balancing issues residual from the brain tumor she had removed several years ago. She has some blockage in one of her carotid arteries that they are watching now, so we're trying to factor that in as well but it's difficult for us to assess. I think that her BP occasionally drops too low now (even though she is on BP medication) and is the cause of some of her occasional dizziness. Becky: Appreciate the reoccurance % information. This was one of the elements that I was trying to find more information about to help us decide. Mom saw Dr. Kaplan at the Rena Rowan Center. Is this where you had your treatment? We are in NJ as well. BonnieR: Mom's EF was 55-60 after her chemo meltdown last year. A recent Echo has her at about 65. She doesn't have a preexisting heart situation per say, but has had the dizziness situation I've mentioned above and her heart tends to race a bit at times. Lani: Very informative information relating to Herceptin's effect on the heart and pursuant recovery percentages. I'm very concerned about the possible effects on the heart as the oncologist we just saw told us that most of the Herceptin studies were with women younger than my mother and that the % of heart failure would be higher with older women who had BP problems. My Mom is a bit taken aback by the possible side effects she's read about in the medication's "cheat sheet," although a good many of the women on this site seem to think the effort is worth it and the general side effects tolerable. I would welcome additional comments anyone may offer about your preferred treatment schedule, be it every week, two weeks or three weeks. I have read comments by some that the 3-week infusion may be a bit much, particularly if it is done too quickly. Also, has anyone started their Herceptin treatments a substantial time after finishing chemo/radiation rather than simultaneous to or shortly thereafter? This would be the situation with my mother. Mom does have a port-a-cath which was installed previous to her chemo treatments and was eager to have it removed before my sister and I were finally able to convince her to get a 2nd opinion on Herceptin before having the port removed. Thanks again. Much appreciated, God bless you all. BB