What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Other. Population: Women in the United Kingdom with a diagnosis of primary or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer undergoing or having completed Trastuzumab treatment (n=14). Intervention: Trastuzumab (Herceptin). Primary outcome: Patient knowledge and experience of cardiac risk information and management during Trastuzumab treatment.

What does this research mean for the field?

Patients with HER2-positive breast cancer feel unsupported and ill-informed about the cardiac risks associated with Trastuzumab treatment. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.CHALLENGES_CONSENSUS.

What question did this study set out to answer?

This study investigates patient awareness and management regarding cardiac risks linked to Trastuzumab treatment in breast cancer.

February 8, 2026Supportive Care in Cancer0 citationsOpen Access

‘Patients are left not knowing’: Trastuzumab (Herceptin) cardiac risk information and management in HER2-positive breast cancer—a qualitative study of patient experience

KDKarina DolgilevicaBirkbeck, University of London BCBethany ChapmanUniversity of Reading NDNazanin DerakshanNational Centre for Atmospheric Science

Key Result

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.

Key Points

This study investigates patient awareness and management regarding cardiac risks linked to Trastuzumab treatment in breast cancer.
Conducted qualitative interviews with women having HER2-positive breast cancer
Assessed knowledge of cardiac risks and monitoring regimens
Performed thematic analysis to identify key patterns in responses
Patients showed significant gaps in knowledge about cardiac risks associated with Trastuzumab
Inconsistencies in heart monitoring practices during and after treatment were noted
Many patients were unaware of the symptoms indicating possible cardiac damage

Structured PICO

Population

14 women aged 18 or over living in the United Kingdom with a diagnosis of primary or secondary breast cancer (stage I-IV) who had received or were receiving Trastuzumab treatment, post-active chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy for primary breast cancer. Mean age 51.4.

Intervention

Trastuzumab (Herceptin) treatment

Outcome

Patient knowledge and care regimen regarding the possible risks of cardiac dysfunction from Trastuzumab treatment (qualitative themes)patient reported

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.

Limitations

Small sample size (14 participants) limits generalizability
Qualitative design without quantitative risk measurement
Sample overrepresented white educated British women, limiting diversity
Lack of control/comparator group
Self-reported clinical information may be subject to bias

Abstract

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.

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