Swollen Ankles ?

rinaina · 09-12-2006, 09:45 AM

Last week, before starting my radiation yesterday, we took off for a short Las Vegas vacation and no sooner did I get there did I experience extreme swollen ankles. Prior to leaving, I had 3 weekly Herceptin treatments. The first one was full dose and the next 2 were half doses. I called my onc the day we got there and he prescribed a 5day dose of dieurectics and that solved the issue. Does anyone know if herceptin can cause swollen ankles and if so what did you do? I had no other symptoms at all such as shortness of breathe or chest pains. My next treatment is Sept 21 and I will now be on a 3 week schedule. Should I be concerned?

Mary Jo · 09-12-2006, 06:05 PM

Hi,

Not trying to scare you or anything but I know that herceptin can cause heart failure and swelling of the extremities can be a sign of the heart not working properly. I definitely would want a muga before going through with your 3 week dose of herceptin.

Just my opinion and I'm surely not a doctor so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

Mary Jo

Sandy H · 09-12-2006, 06:28 PM

This is a hard one because ankles can swell when you fly or ride for a long period of time. Never does any harm to get checked out. hugs, Sandy

rinaina · 09-13-2006, 12:55 PM

Marejo, you didn't scare me at all. I too am fully aware that swollen ankles can be a sign that the heart isn't pumping efficiently and I will definitely ask about a muga before the 21st which is when my next herceptin dose is. I can't believe that the weekend of dancing at a rehearsal dinner and wedding and then walking the city would have caused it alone so I am concerned that the herceptin had some play in it. Thanks for answering my post.

Sandy H, because I was on a plane in the window seat of 3 seats, I didn't get up as much as I would have so that didn't help my ankles any. I also spent a good deal of the weekend before flying, on my feet dancing away at a rehearsal dinner one night and then at a wedding the next night and then walking the city on the next day which definitely contributed to some of the swelling....although I never had that problem before so I am concerned that perhaps the herceptin has monkeyed with my heart. Will definitely get it checked out. Thank you.

Hopeful · 09-13-2006, 01:04 PM

I have only had one Herceptin treatment so far (tomorrow is the second) but swollen ankles were one of the symptoms the nurses told me to call them about, should they occur.Hopeful

kat in the delta · 09-25-2006, 02:31 PM

Are you Okay now ? I was swollen alot. My Onc gave me a strong diurectic and it helped alot--kat in the delta

rinaina · 09-25-2006, 04:53 PM

I am okay now as far as the swollen ankles however, my blood pressure, which has never been an issue, has been elevated the last two times at the onc office before my last two herceptin tx. Wondering if herceptin can cause this?