steph-
it is very common for people to have sensitivities to the perservative a drug is combined with-whether that drug is herceptin or anything else.also, "preservative" is the compound or suspension (the vehicle) that carries the drug(herceptin, taxol, whatever) and protects the drug's integrity when introduced in the body, not necessarily "preserving" it for the long term .have you ever read the ingredients on a bottle of cough syrup, for example?there will be a list of "active ingredients" like the cough suppressant, decongestant, etc., then there will be a list of the "inactive ingredients".preservatives are inactive ingredients.
I was following the development of Abraxane when it was in its early clinical research and it is essentially the same old taxane, only in a nanoparticle suspension that is better able to penetrate cancer cells more effectively, so that more drug gets INSIDE the cell to destroy it.
As far as Herceptin & cardio toxicity, the way I understand it is the only other place in the body that her2 receptors exist other than her2+ tumor cells is some cardiac cells.so the herceptin suppresses the her2 receptors on tumor cells AND heart cells, that could lead to cardiac function suppression.
Hope this info is helpful...I'm a clinical researcher and a bit of a science geek!However it has served me very well during my diagnosis & treatment!!
Keep the faith & take good care!
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