Herceptin heart problems

Hi and a very warm welcome to the online community

I haven't had the same experience as you but I noticed that your post hadn't had any replies yet. This is possibly because this is a very active group and sometimes posts fall off the first page before someone with the experience you need has seen it. By replying to you it will 'bump' your post back to the top of the discussions list.

Do come back and let us know how you get on at your appointment.

x

Thank you

Hi jil27

I am on Herceptin and the same happened to me after 8 injections.  Treatment was stopped for 8 weeks and I was given Bisoprol and Ramapril tablets to take for my heart and will stay on these for 12 months once injections finish.  I am having 18 injections, now on number 12.  After the break my leg swells up after being injected which soon goes down, I have heard you can take antihistamine tablets so will check with oncologist.  I have had heart scans every 3 months during injections and will then go to 6 months.  This ‘blip’ does mend and I am carrying on doing normal things just every so often I get a slight pain or shortness of breath but that could be from Tamoxifen.  I also have bloods every 3 months.  Good luck and I am sure you will be fine. 

Just seen your post, and in a similar position. I had Herceptin infusions with chemo in the Autumn, then chemo changed to EC so Herceptin stopped as they can’t be given together. Chemo now finished, and I was expecting to restart Herceptin. But oncologist wasn’t happy with heart echo scan, so MRI booked on 24 th March (!)  and cardiologist follow up appointment not til mid April.  Next oncology appointment end of April.  So no news on restarting Herceptin. I just want to get on with it.  

I had noticed shortness of breath, but thought that was due to very low haemoglobin. I then had a blood transfusion and things seem to have improved. I’m not really doing any cardio exercise at the moment, just brisk walking which I haven’t noticed any problem with.   No idea what my LV ejection rate is, as have not been given echo results.  It’s all a bit of a puzzle.

Judith

Thanks for the reply. Fingers crossed I'll get the go ahead to restart after the MRI. In fairness I have no symptoms such as shortness of breath. 

Thanks for the reply. I've already seen the cardiologists but she has said she will write to me after the MRI (same date as you). I had FEC and didn't start herceptin until I moved on to Docetaxel. My chemo finished in October so it would just be nice to get to the end of the herceptin injections. I've got an oncology appointment booked so fingers crossed I'll be good to go again.