I have had 3 EC followed by 2 Tax + Her (last Tax day after tomorrow). Amongst plenty of SEs, the one which is most frightening and is getting worse is that after treatment my heart beats much more strongly and quickly, and has lots of palpitations. I also get a fair amount of chest pain/tightness. Does anyone else get this? I have spoken to the onc and chemo nurses, I have had a couple of ECGs and a heart trace (and had the MUGA) and there seem to be no obvious problems - but inside me it feels awful, improving slightly after about 10 days but never getting back to ‘normal’. I know that some of it is likely to be due to stress but I’m worried about the strain on my heart - I’m exhausted! Onc thinks it’s due to high dose of TAX, which will be reduced for the last session; I’m anxious it’s due to HER, which I have to have for a year.
Also, does anyone get stiff, neck and shoulders with this treatment? And does appetite or taste ever come back?
Hi Tired1,
I finished my last herceptin about a month ago. I had the first three with Tax, like you. The first herceptin is a ‘loading dose,’ and therefore stronger, so you may find that you feel ok with subsequent ones. I did not get the SE’s you are talking about, but they gave me a huge dose of Piriton (antihistamine) each time to begin with. Perhaps you could ask about that? If you have had a Muga, I would try and relax - easier said than done, I know- and perhaps try some complemtary therapies? The Tax is a real bugger; I felt very weak and faint whilst having that. But anything that will help you chill out a little can only be a good thing. I tried aromatherapy massage, homeopathy etc. And rest - you can’t argue with the Tax Truck!
As for taste, I found that came back within a month of finishing the final Tax, the rest of the herceptins were SE free.
All the best, and here’s to waving those SE’s goodbye!
X
Hi Tired 1, just saw your post, it sounds like you are feeling very anxious about all this so i thought i would share my experience with you. like youself i had docetaxol and herceptin together for four mponths whuch was then changed to weekly paclitaxol/herceptin. After i finished chemo i went back to just herceptin/zometa three weekly, i found that i was getting symptoms similar to what you are describing. My heart frequently races and i get lots of palpitations so much so i ended up in hospital one night convinced something was wrong. after being kept in over night, having Ecg, blood tests and echo, there was nothing wrong. I was becomong very attuned and focussed on what my heart was doing and was becoming very anxious about it which i think contributes to the problem. it still happens now and as unpleasant as it is i don’t panick about it and know that it will pass.
I get piriton and a shot of hydrocortisone steroid befor each infusion as i had a reaction a couple of times, and also get herceptin infused over an hour and a half, i find all this helps with se’s. I hope you find a way to tolerate it better and se’s may settle down on their own.
And yes while i was having tax/herceptin i used to get very stiff neck and shoulders for few days sfter each treatment.
/bHello Tired1, have just read your blog re heart palpitations; I too had Herceptin for a year and all the regular heart checks to make sure all was well, which it was. That was in 2009, then, by coincidence I mentioned my chest pain/breathlessness to my GP last year (2011) as I am awaiting reconstruction - just to be on the safe side. I was immediately admitted to hospital, the heart doctors couldn’t find anything but prescribed me some spray to put under my tongue if it happened again. I also was booked for angiogram. When I had the angiogram which was urgent it was found that one of my arteries to my heart was 90% blocked, so I was admitted the same day and had a stent put in to open up the blockage. I am now on permanent medication for heart disease. I am not a doctor but if you are not happy and feel further investigation by a heart doctor would help you feel more confident, go for it. My heart is fine but my artery was blocked. I wonder if this is to do with the Herceptin I had to have but at the end of the day, I am alive and would have Herceptin again if I needed. Good luck, follow your concerns and don’t leave it until you are happy with the result! Please let us know and good luck, Ann x