I went for my routine ECG, and discovered that I now have a fast and irregular rhythm. He said I need to see my GP urgently and go on warfarin. Very worried that they may take me off herceptin as a result of this, particularly now as I have lymph node involvement as well as secondaries to the bones.
Anyone else any experience of this. Worried that I may have an even shorter life expectancy if they take me off herceptin.
Poor you - what a scare. My heart rate is fast and my left ventricular function is not that great but they know it is the herceptin that is keeping me alive so my oncs are willing to trade off my dodgy heart with the benefit of herceptin so hope yours take the same approach. Being hassled by son - must go and return later
Kate
Hi Kate, do they know if this has been caused by the herceptin, or just by everything else?
Hi celeste!
It is well known that Herceptin can have a bad effect on the heart which is why they check before you start it and keep checking the heart while you are on it. There have been quite a few posts on here by women who have had to come off it - but maybe if you take warfarin you might be able to continue.
Thanks redders - just come back from another ECG - and that was ok. I’m not sure whether we go for best out of three now!
Celeste, let’s hope the first ECG was just a blip and/or that the warfarin has got it all under control now, fingers crossed for you
Lesley x
No Lesley not on warfarin or anything yet - hopefully not ever now. My GP hesitated to put me on anything without further checks but principally because I am due to have general anaesthetic soon, as I am having a line put in as all veins are now in a pretty shocking state. Warfaring and general anaesthetic apparently isn’t too marvellous.; Thanks for crossed fingers tho, keep them crossed would you because I am due to have another CT scan next week, in order to find out whether my lymph node(s) have grown. That’ll be the real worry.
Hi Celeste,
I had my hickman line done under general anaesthetic and then daily warfarin. I think if you have a line put in, you usually have low dose warfarin (5mg per day, if I remember rightly) to try and avoid any clotting problems from the line itself, so perhaps this will kill two birds with one stone?
Jenny
Hi Celeste
I can’t remember/haven’t read what treatment you’ve had or are having other than Herceptin that you mention but I’ve had an irregular heartbeat since finishing chemo in Sept last year and going onto A I’s. It seems it can be caused by a drop in hormone levels and as a result of chemo although it’s not well documented. Femara really kicked them off so I’m now on Arimidex which has been better but I’m now also on tablets to control the irregularities which work well with no obvious side effects. The other thing that can trigger them is low Potassium levels and I’m also on those as well! Low Potassium can also be caused by changes in hormone levels and chemo. If you are low risk you can argue the case against Warfarin and go for a low dose aspirin. Hope all of this may be of help but if it doesn’t apply to you then I hope it gets sorted and you don’t have to come off Herceptin. My fear was they’d take me off A I’s completely if it couldn’t be sorted and they’re my lifeline!
Take care and hope all goes well.
Nicky x
Thanks guys, Nicky I am now on herceptin and pamidronate iv. I’ve had chemo, some time ago now. I basically think it’s just called ‘falling apart slowly’. I loved my typo ‘warfaring’ I shall leave it there, cos I think it’s quite appropriate!