A new study conducted at the Yale University School of Medicine indicates that taking Herceptin may cause a higher risk of heart failure for women over the age of 67 with breast cancer. While Herceptin improves disease-free and overall survival, Dr. Jersey Chen, lead researcher in this study states that for older age women who are administered Herceptin, the risk of heart failure increases by 1.6%; when Herceptin is "given with the anti-cancer drugs known as anthracyclines [this] raises the risk of wither heart failure or cardiomyopathy by about 9 percent in tyhe first year compared to no chemotherapy." As with any treatment regimen, Dr. Chen advises that women should discuss the risks and benefits with their doctors.
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