Trastuzumab treatment in women with HER2-positive breast cancer was associated with poor patient knowledge and inconsistent cardiac monitoring, leading to feelings of being ill-informed and unsupported about cardiac risks despite the drug's perceived benefit.
Patients receiving Trastuzumab for breast cancer feel unsupported and ill-informed about the risks of cardiac damage, highlighting a need for improved patient education and care.
Abstract Purpose The current study investigated the extent of knowledge and care regimen regarding the possible risks of cardiac dysfunction from Trastuzumab (Herceptin) treatment in women with either a diagnosis of primary or metastatic breast cancer who had undergone or were receiving Trastuzumab at the time of the study. Method In a qualitative interview, participants were asked questions regarding awareness of cardiac risks of Trastuzumab therapy and knowledge of cardiac damage symptoms, as well as questions concerning the regimen of heart function monitoring during and beyond their course of treatment. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results The emerging themes from the thematic analysis revealed inconsistencies in (a) knowledge and awareness of cardiac damage risk prior to taking Trastuzumab, (b) monitoring of cardiac function and risks of cardiac dysfunction during and beyond treatment, and (c) awareness of signs of possible cardiac damage of Trastuzumab during treatment. Conclusions Our results suggest that patients feel unsupported and ill-informed about the possible risks of cardiac damage from Trastuzumab. This has implications for the self-management of symptoms and mitigation of risks for cardiac damage and suggests the need for improvement in patient care.
Dolgilevica et al. (Thu,) conducted a other in Women in the United Kingdom with a diagnosis of primary or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer undergoing or having completed Trastuzumab treatment (n=14). Trastuzumab (Herceptin) was evaluated on Patient knowledge and experience of cardiac risk information and management during Trastuzumab treatment. Trastuzumab treatment in women with HER2-positive breast cancer was associated with poor patient knowledge and inconsistent cardiac monitoring, leading to feelings of being ill-informed and unsupported about cardiac risks despite the drug's perceived benefit.