Herceptin stopped - echocardiogram (?) heart problems

Hi everyone

I started herceptin in March. I had the routine echocardiogram in June after 3 months. Saw my oncologist this morning & she’s decided not to go ahead with herceptin today as the echo reading was down. They plan to repeat the echo after 1 month in the hope that the heart will have recovered. If not, then no more herceptin.

Has anyone else had this problem? I’ve been told I may need to see a cardiologist now, who might put me onto medication for my heart (!!) Oh well, something else to add to my list of worries.

i know how you feel although i had 8 before i was taken off for a break of 6 weeks,
i re started it 3 weeks ago and am due my next 1 on wednesday.
my heart score had also dropped from starting flow of 51 to 41, it has rose to 49
my oncologist said he wanted me to restart but i’m to be kept eye on.
The echo tests have picked up i now have a leaking heart valve and i am waiting to see
a cardiologist too, and like you hope its treatable with tablets.

its never ending isnt it.

kim x

Hi Homer

You begin to wonder what you’ve done to deserve all this c**p don’t you? Glad to hear your reading’s gone back up again though. I’ve been told that the heart usually recovers after herceptin stops - fingers crossed. Sorry about the leaky valve. Are they saying it’s down to the treatment or was it there before all this started?

Sue
xx

Yeah you do start to think whats going to be next dont you ?

i had a call from the hospital today i am to have my heart test tomorrow after my herceptin,
the cardio dr said me having my herceptin on the same day will not effect the results.

i’m not sure about my valve to be honest, it could have been there since i was born.
the herceptin may have aggrevated it i guess, who knows.
i’m just hoping i wont need an op on my heart now.

They told me on the phone today that the cardio dr usually tells you the results there and then,
so hopefully this time tomorrow i should know whats going on.

kim x

I’ve been on Herceptin for 2 years now. I have a MUGA (heart) scan every 3 months as I’m prone to my LVEF dropping. I’ve had a couple of breaks, when my LVEF has been below 50%, but my heart has always recovered so no lasting damage. I’ve recently had a MUGA scan my LVEF was 48% but they’ve decided to continue with Herceptin because of past results. I have another MUGA booke in August.

Thank you for your comments ladies, I feel a bit better about it all now and just hope the next echo will be an improvement on the last.

Take care

Sue
xx