Heart trial after breast cancer has 'improved my life'

A breast cancer survivor says she no longer lives "with the same fear" after a clinical trial enabled her to stop the heart medication she needed following cancer treatment.

Lucy Shepherd, from Hertfordshire, was diagnosed with triple positive breast cancer shortly after her 33rd birthday, but a routine scan revealed that her heart function had declined during care.

A new study, described as "hugely encouraging" for patients, has found the majority of breast cancer survivors whose treatment caused heart problems may not need to be on precautionary medication for life.

"Being part of the trial and having the chance to come off my heart medication has definitely improved my life," Shepherd said.

The trial - funded by the British Heart Foundation - involved 90 women in their 40s and 50s across four UK hospitals, whose hearts had recovered after a specific type of treatment for breast cancer.

Most would have been advised to stay on heart drugs for life over concerns heart function would decline if they stopped.

Researchers found that 98% of patients in the group who stopped taking medication had no change in heart function after one year, with just one woman developing a problem with her heart's pumping ability.

Women who came off drugs also reported, in questionnaires, a better quality of life.

Shepherd, now 39, said: "Living beyond my cancer treatment was difficult because no one could tell me whether I should stop or continue taking my heart medication.

"As I got fitter after my cancer treatment ended doctors gradually reduced my heart medication dosages, but I was still having side effects like a low heart rate and fatigue. I also had the mental burden of remembering to take them and the worry of what would happen if I missed a dose.

"I'm still taking hormone therapy, but I don't live with the same fear I once had. It has helped me to trust my body again - I feel strong and I know I can take on new challenges now."

Prof Charlotte Manisty, head of clinical cardiovascular science at University College London and consultant cardiologist at Barts Heart Centre and University College Hospitals London, led the trial, which is published in the Heart Journal.

"Modern breast cancer treatment is a remarkable success story," she said.

"But the damaging effects of these drugs on the heart leaves survivors and their doctors with difficult questions about ongoing treatment to maintain their heart health.

"Our study provides the first evidence that heart failure therapies can be safely stopped in survivors whose hearts have recovered, with the support of ongoing close monitoring.

"We hope these findings will be encouraging for survivors and their doctors, giving hope for a future free from treatment."

The women in the trial will continue to be followed up over the next five years to monitor their heart health.

But the researchers suggest their findings can start important conversations between survivors and their doctors about whether they need to continue treatment long-term.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, with nearly 60,000 new cases diagnosed each year, according to Cancer UK.

Approximately 15 to 20% of breast cancer cases are HER2-positive, meaning the breast cancer cells have higher than normal levels of a protein called HER2 on their surface.

In about 10% of cases, this treatment causes problems with heart function.

Survivors are currently advised to stay on these drugs for life, even after their cancer treatment ends and their heart recovers.

Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, clinical director at the British Heart Foundation and consultant cardiologist, said: "These findings will be hugely encouraging for the thousands of breast cancer survivors whose heart health has been affected by lifesaving cancer treatment.

"The study results give hope that many women will be able to safely stop medicines once their heart has recovered."

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