just had MUGA drop from 68 to 54

saleboat · 02-25-2006, 09:12 AM

I also had my MUGA drop-- from 78% to 68%. The Oncs seem to think that my first two MUGAs (both 78%) may have been read differently than the last one, and that the 68% is a more accurate read of things. I know I am well in the range that I need to be, but it is troubling to think that one may be incurring some long term damage. (Especially since I have about another 60 years to live...I'm 35 and EVERYONE in my family lives well into their 90s.)

I'm glad to hear that it can prove to be reversible for some. I hope that there's more news from ASCO about Herceptin. I wonder if for early stage disease that the Carbo/Taxol/Herceptin might be the regimine of choice-- seems easier on the heart than AC (although there may be a benefit to the dose dense regimine). Who knows.

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Jen

02-28-2006, 07:58 AM

Hi Girls, I have been on herceptin for three yrs. now. I took it with Taxol for 20 weeks from 2/03 till 7/03 weekly, from 8/03 loading dose every three weeks. My ono said if the see heart problems it's usually in the begining. My ejection fraction has has fluxuaited from 72% to 54%, I've had enough MUGA's to feel that it depends alot on the skills of the tech doing it. The ono's feeling is that it would be very unlikely that the heart function would improve while on herceptin. I don't take any supplements. My MUGA has at times showed improvement of 12% from one to the other, when I question him about this he said the accept a veriable of 15%. ????????? I have consulted a cardioglist and he said he would couple results with symptoms. This makes sense to me. I was first diognosed with bc in 3of97. Had mets to mediastim in 2001, liver and lung 2003. Thank GOD for HERCEPTIN........

Gair · 03-04-2006, 08:12 AM

My MUGA dropped to 45% after all the chemo and radiation so I was not eligible for Herceptin -- I was VERY disappointed as I am ER/PR- and HER/2 +++ .

18 months after finishing treatment they found lung mets, so I am back on Taxotere. My MUGA had gone up (ha!) to 51% so I had Herceptin. Unfortunately my heart went into tachychardia withte first drop of Herceptin (funny -- it went tachy when I got my port in too -- wonder if they're related?). Now my onc will not let me have Herceptin until I see a cardiologist. That wait time could be months.

I will always wonder if going on Herceptin would have stopped or delayed my mets.

Gair