off the Herceptin for a month or two. Dr. Velamakanni explains: “Chemo- therapy is targeted toward killing can- cer cells, but it may also affect healthy cells throughout the body, including the heart. Altering the chemotherapy regimen and/or starting certain heart- strengthening medications may help the heart pump recover faster during the course of treatment.” InHoffmann’s case, her doctors simply gave her body a rest from the Herceptin so the heart muscle could recover. When her course of treatment was over, she did not have the heart damage she might have had without those resting periods. “Patients who suffer from cardiotoxic- ity may have long-term damage to the heart,” Dr. Velamakanni says. “It could put themat risk for a later cardiac event, from congestive heart failure even to death, which is why we work together on preventive measures.” “Chemotherapy is targeted toward killing cancer cells, but it may also affect healthy cells throughout the body, including the heart.” – Dr. Shona Velamakanni On the Mend a t her most recent check, Hoffmann’s doctors found her cancer to be in remis- sion, and her last echocar- diogram showed her heart to be in good shape. “The treatment worked,” she says, “which is a very good thing. It’s been a long journey.” How can other patients protect them- selves from the potential dangers of che- motherapy? “Ask a lot of questions,” Dr. Velamakanni says. “‘What are the side effects of chemotherapy to my body?’ It helps patients to be proactive and to learn about their course of treatment,” she says.
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