HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - High Cholesterol and Herceptin

chrisy · 08-09-2006, 05:20 PM

Dear Rowena,
I have not heard of Herceptin causing high cholesterol, but have heard of this being an issue with menopause. Cholesterol tests are very easily influenced by diet - it might be, literally, something you ate the day before. As you have never had problems in this area before, I'd suggest getting this retested - it could be a fluke. I've been getting Herceptin for nearly 2 years and my onc has never checked my cholesterol - so that makes me think it's not an issue for Herceptin - although since H is metabolized by the liver it might not be a bad idea to ask your doctor.
Re the heart test - are you talking about LVEF? I don't know if there is a "limit" to the number of times you would need to take a break to let the ratio recover - but of course you want to be careful in this area.
Hope this helps.
Chris

08-09-2006, 05:20 PM	#2
chrisy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Central Coast, CA Posts: 3,207	Dear Rowena, I have not heard of Herceptin causing high cholesterol, but have heard of this being an issue with menopause. Cholesterol tests are very easily influenced by diet - it might be, literally, something you ate the day before. As you have never had problems in this area before, I'd suggest getting this retested - it could be a fluke. I've been getting Herceptin for nearly 2 years and my onc has never checked my cholesterol - so that makes me think it's not an issue for Herceptin - although since H is metabolized by the liver it might not be a bad idea to ask your doctor. Re the heart test - are you talking about LVEF? I don't know if there is a "limit" to the number of times you would need to take a break to let the ratio recover - but of course you want to be careful in this area. Hope this helps. Chris __________________ Chris in Scotts Valley June 2002 extensive hi grade DCIS (pre-cancer-stage 0, clean sentinal node) Mastectomy/implant - no chemo, rads. "cured?" 9/2004 Diag: Stage IV extensive liver mets (!) ER/PR- Her2+++ 10/04-3/05 Weekly Taxol/Carboplatin/Herceptin , complete response! 04/05 - 4/07 Herception every 3 wks, Continue NED 04/07 - recurrence to liver - 2 spots, starting tykerb/avastin trial 06/07 8/07 10/07 Scans show stable, continue on Tykerb/Avastin 01/08 Progression in liver 02/08 Begin (TDM1) trial 08/08 NED! It's Working! Continue on TDM1 02/09 Continue NED 02/10 Continue NED. 5/10 9/10 Scans NED 10/10 Scans NED 12/10 Scans not clear....4/11 Scans suggest progression 6/11 progression confirmed in liver 07/11 - 11/11 Herceptin/Xeloda -not working:( 12/11 Begin MM302 Phase I trial - bust:( 03/12 3rd times the charm? AKT trial 5/12 Scan shows reduction! 7/12 More reduction!!!! 8/12 Whoops...progression...trying for Perjeta/Herceptin (plus some more nasty chemo!) 9/12 Start Perjeta/Herceptin, chemo on hold due to infection/wound in leg, added on cycle 2 &3 11/12 Poops! progression in liver, Stop Perjeta/Taxo/Herc 11/12 Navelbine/Herce[ptin - try for a 3 cycles, no go. 2/13 Gemzar/Carbo/Herceptin - no go. 3/13 TACE procedure