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I am now on Herceptin IV every 3 weeks have surgery March 12 for lumpectomies both breasts Having anxiety, swollen ankles have Afib

A MyBCTeam Member asked a question 💭
Ontario Canada

Her 2 positive L breast . ductus cancer in right
Have had anxiety and wake up hyperventilating at 4 - 5 am and feel anxious have felt breathless but ankles slightly swollen. Is this the Herceptin I thought it was the chemo my echo was ok 3 weeks ago ? It appears it was the herceptin making me swollen this is not new. Is there an alternative drug that is just as affective should I be asking for a review

February 20
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A MyBCTeam Member

Thanks yes phoning my oncologist Monday I am a psychotherapist yes agree it is very much like a nocturnal attack thanks

February 20
A MyBCTeam Member

Thanks

February 21
A MyBCTeam Member

You mention that you have Afib. Do you have a cardiologist? If yes, you should speak to them as well. I've had 3 echocardiagram tests because ever since the first time I had chemo I get shortness of breath when I bend over or move around for very long and it got worse last year when I had chemo a 2nd time and even worse after that when I had radiation to my chest, armpit, and neck. All of the echocardiagrams were inconclusive and stated I had various issues, but no 2 tests matched up with the same results. After doing some research I demanded they give me an MRI test of my heart. They did a CT scan test instead, both with and without contrast, that ended up giving a much clearer picture of my heart and ruled out all of the issues that showed up on the various echocardiagram tests which were leaky valves and an aortal aneurism. Both MRI and CT scans of the heart are supposed to give a much better view of what's happening than an echocardiagram which is just a glorified ultrasound test.

Also, I never had Herceptin, but I started to get ankle swelling when I started having chemo, especially if I was on my feet or in a seated position for a good part of the day with my feet on the ground or if I was driving or being a passenger. It helped me with the ankle swelling to take plenty of breaks during the day and sit down with my feet elevated. I still have issues with ankle swelling as an after effect of chemo. When I'm at home I always sit with my feet elevated on a footrest. It takes pressure off of your heart and circulatory system when you elevate your feet.

Regarding the anxiety and panic attacks, Xanax or something similar can help. Good luck, I hope they figure out some solutions for you ❤️

February 20
A MyBCTeam Member

Always keep your team up to date on any symptoms/side effects. They are there to treat you- and they can only do so safely with all the info! Since you have anxiety- is it possible that this is a nocturnal panic attack? If you have a therapist, keep them in the loop too! Hoping you can find your answers soon! hugs!

February 20
MyBCTeam

Could Herceptin be causing swollen ankles and breathlessness, and are there alternative treatments?

Your concerns about Herceptin are valid. Research shows that Herceptin can affect heart function and increase the risk of heart failure, even when initial heart monitoring looks normal. Symptoms like swollen ankles Show Full Answer

Could Herceptin be causing swollen ankles and breathlessness, and are there alternative treatments?

Your concerns about Herceptin are valid. Research shows that Herceptin can affect heart function and increase the risk of heart failure, even when initial heart monitoring looks normal. Symptoms like swollen ankles, breathlessness, and the issues you're experiencing could be related to heart changes from the medication.

Studies found that 8.3% of patients on Herceptin developed heart failure compared to 2.7% of those not receiving it. The risk increases with age and pre-existing conditions like AFib, which you mentioned having.

Given your symptoms and AFib history, it's important to contact your oncologist right away. They may want to:

- Perform additional heart monitoring beyond your recent echo
- Adjust your Herceptin dosage
- Consider heart medications to protect your heart during treatment
- Evaluate if the benefits still outweigh the risks

Regular heart monitoring is considered essential for patients on Herceptin, especially those with pre-existing heart conditions. Regarding alternatives, this is a conversation to have with your oncologist. They can review your specific situation, weigh the effectiveness of Herceptin for your HER2-positive cancer against the cardiac risks, and discuss whether alternative treatments or modifications to your current plan make sense.

A MyBCTeam member shared that their friend had to stop Herceptin when heart damage became too great, showing that doctors do make these adjustments when necessary.

Don't wait - contact your care team today about these symptoms. Your anxiety and early morning hyperventilation could be related to the physical symptoms you're experiencing, and addressing the underlying cause is important for both your physical and emotional well-being.

February 20

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