Could stroke be related to herceptin treatment??

Cathya · 10-29-2007, 11:59 PM

Anne;

Thank you so much for your concern. I am doing well (it was a small stroke thank goodness) but I think now the whole concept of having had a stroke is hitting me.....and the worry of potential future strokes. Luckily for me I have a wonderful neurologist and will be having a telephone meeting with him tomorrow to discuss this further. My Serum Her2 test has been trending upwards and is now above normal. I am one of those who suffers heart problems...my muga was 41 when I went off herceptin last time ...... and I worry if I need it again (my heart has recovered) that it will also increase my risk of stroke. I did see risk of stroke as a potential side effect of herceptin somewhere....on genetech I think.....here it is

WARNINGS Cardiomyopathy Herceptin can cause left ventricular cardiac dysfunction. Cardiac dysfunction in patients receiving Herceptin therapy can be serious with disabling cardiac failure, death, and mural thrombosis leading to stroke (see BOXED WARNINGS: Cardiomyopathy).

I don't know what mural thromobosis is. If I hear more I will post but you are right....no one else i know of has had a stroke....just your mom and I.....so perhaps it is not from bc treatment at all.

Cathy

Sheila · 10-30-2007, 04:15 AM

Cathy
The definition of mural thrombosis is
<DD minmax_bound="true">Formation of a thrombus in contact with the endocardial lining of a cardiac chamber or, if not occlusive, with a wall of a large blood vessel. </DD>Seems this can occur frequently in the left ventricle...red wine has been thought to slow the process of mural thrombosis developing....
basically its a small clot. Have you ever taken any typr of blood thinners?
Hoping they can get to the bottom of all this for you...take each day and try to regain your health and strength...you are in my prayers Cathy.

MJo · 10-30-2007, 08:33 AM

Dear Cath- Thank you for adding to the valuable knowledge and experience base here. I had to stop Herceptin too at 9 months. Hope your your heart recovers and that you (and I) remain NED. Best of health to you in the future.

Cathya · 10-30-2007, 07:48 PM

Thank you. I spoke to my neurologist today and he told me that I have suffered a lacunar stroke and one that is not caused by a clot from the heart. From what he told me there are different types of strokes and mine is caused by tiny blood vessels deep in the brain being blocked. Although these strokes affect small areas they can cause serious effects but mine didn't .... thank goodness. He said there are three causes:

1. age (I'm 58 which seems young)
2. diabetes (don't have it)
3. family predisposition (my grandfather had many tiny strokes until he died in his 80's with a big stroke)

So, this is good news really for me as strokes caused by blood clots apparently affect larger vessels, not so deep in the brain, with more damage generally. And, this would lead me to think that herceptin had nothing to do with my stroke. Unfortunately there is not too much I can do to keep from having others in the future. I can't control my age or my grandfathers history. I can only take my aspirin, watch my blood pressure and eat well so not to get diabetes.

Thanks,

Cathy