How herceptin affects the heart, side effect of Arimidex

[Cathya]

I just got home from my visit to my oncologist. He has taken me off herceptin due to a 42 on the MUGA. I am disappointed. I reviewed my Action Plan with him and he was receptive but he didn't think changing my supplements had anything to do with the decline in the score. He said that they get more information than the amount of blood flow through the heart on the test. He said that the herceptin is binding to Her2 on cells in my heart and that they can see visually my heart beating and a reduction in the pumping action....he sort of squeezed his hand with vigour and then more slowly to illustrate. He said that he had considered reducing the load but thinks it would be better for me to be off for now. He will redo the MUGA in 6 weeks and if it is up redo it again in another 6 weeks to confirm and then restart me. He also said that he was checking my colesterol (don't think I'm spelling that correctly) as they are finding more people with increased levels from the Arimidex. Also, because I am her2 he is doing a brain scan. I had wanted this but didn't need to ask. My only symptom is a slight headache and my right hand swells...not too badly. Weirdly, this is not the hand that had the lymph nodes removed. He is also doing another bone density and thinks I might need something there.....but I have no complaints about my bones??!! He has agreed to the Her2 serum test but knows nothing about it so does anyone out there know where to get it in Canada.