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Jill, earlier this year there were some posts from a member regarding her experience with lowered ejection fraction; she was in a Hercepti trial and rather than drop out of the trial she saw a cardiologist and was given meds to support her cardiac function while she finished the trial. I've copied the posts and pasted them below for your reference, you might discuss this option with your onc, that you see a good cardiologist and get an opinion on support therapy, as clearly it was successful in this case.
Hope this helps, Lolly.
" Hi Carolyn and everyone. I've posted before that when my ejection fraction was falling and I was frightened I'd be kicked out of the clinical trial I was in, I immediately went to a cardiologist. He put me on an ACE inhibitor (accupril) and an Alpha-Beta blocker (coreg). Both drugs were OK'd by the trial folks. These helped my weakened heart and also kept my blood pressure, which had been rising, at a great level. I believe this treatment enabled me to finish out the trial. Next month I will begin weaning off of the meds.
Why is it that I don't hear about more women using this option when they are in danger of having to stop their Herceptin? I am really very curious. Is there some danger I'm not aware of to using this plan of action?
Susan"
" Hi Jen,
My suggestion is to see a cardiologist and ask about going on an ACE inhibitor and an Alpha-Beta blocker. This combination is what helped me to finish out my year of Herceptin. It supports weakened hearts, helps the pumping action and controls the blood pressure.
I'm stage IIIa as well and received the herceptin thru a trial. The trial folks OK'd this treatment. If you're getting your herceptin "off label" that's probably why she's reluctant to put you back on. Ask her what she thinks about this therapy (what was your Ejection Fraction score anyway?). This month I will begin weaning off the meds since I finished the herceptin last July.
I wish you well,
Susan "
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