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New findings published in The Journal of Clinical Oncology found that two of the most popular treatments for breast cancer—the drug Herceptin and radiation therapy—can cause cardiovascular problems in breast cancer patients.
These studies stem from earlier research that has linked these particular breast cancer treatments to heart damage.
The First Study
The first study evaluated 173 metastatic breast cancer patients who received Herceptin drug therapy for at least one year. Researchers found that 49 women or 28 percent experienced some sort of heart trouble after long term Herceptin use.
The cardiovascular problems experienced by patients ranged from shortness of breath caused by cardiac troubles to the heart losing some of its pumping ability. While most of the women recovered fully after terminating the use of Herceptin, a few had persistent problems and one woman died of congestive heart failure.
“I find the drug in certain situations to be simply amazing, but it does have a dark side in terms of its heart failure,” said Dr. Jay Brooks, chairman of hematology/oncology at Ochsner Health System in Louisiana.
Experts are advising breast caner patients to undergo extensive cardiac assessment before starting Herceptin treatment. Furthermore, all patients should continue to be monitored for heart risks.
The Second Study
The second study focused on radiation therapy and heart risks in patients with early stage breast cancer. Researchers evaluated 961 patients who received radiation treatments from 1997 to 1994.
The study found that women who had radiation on the left breast had a significantly increased risk of developing heart disease than those with right-sided cancer. After a 20-year follow-up on the study, researchers found that 6.4 percent of patients with cancer on the left breast died from cardiac problems compared to 3.6 percent of patients with cancer on the right breast.
Furthermore, 25 percent of the women who received radiation on the left breast developed coronary artery disease versus 10 percent of women who received therapy on the right breast. And 15 percent of the left-sided cancer group suffered a heart attack compared to only five percent in the other group.
Women who had a previous history of heart disease, high cholesterol, or hypertension had the great risk of cardiovascular problems linked to breast cancer treatments.
Injured by Herceptin?
If you or a loved one has suffered serious injury as a result of the cancer drug Herceptin, please contact us today to speak to an experienced and caring attorney about your legal rights and options.
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