Herceptin revisited--reaction

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omahaoma
omahaoma Member Posts: 10
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

I was on Herceptin weekly from June 05 to June 06 with no premeds and no problems the entire year.  Recently, I had to stop Xeloda and Tykerb for mets due to side effects.  My doctor now has me on Tykerb and Herceptin due to a new successful study.  I had my loading dose of Herceptin on Tuesday and had terrible chills an hour into the infusion. They stopped the infusion, gave me steroids, benadryl and zantac. I had no other symptoms other than the chills (no drop in BP, no shortness of breath) while at the doctor's office.   I woke up the next morning with horrible pain in my neck, and hip (sites of mets) and a headache.  I have had terrible fatigue and a low-grade (never above 100.7) ever since the treatment.  It is now Saturday and I have been in bed all day as it is so painful to sit due to the hip pain.  I know I should have called the onc on Friday, but I thought it would get better.  Has this happened to anyone else? Thanks!

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  • jerseymaria
    jerseymaria Member Posts: 770
    edited October 2008

    i'm so sorry you're having this problem.  definitely call onc monday.  i had no problems at all with herceptin for the 15 months i was on.  now tykerb and xeloda...very different story.  why don't you give them a call, maybe they can call something in or at least tell you what to do.  monday's a long time to wait when you're in that much pain.  good luck, maria

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  • omahaoma
    omahaoma Member Posts: 10
    edited October 2008

    Thank you Maria--I will :)

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  • LittleFlower
    LittleFlower Member Posts: 405
    edited October 2008

    I don't have too much input, but your message made me think of something.  One day in chemo my nurse asked if i felt any pain with my herceptin infusions... i told her i didn't.  She said that some patients noted that pain at the site of their cancer with these types of biological agents like herceptin.  Don't know if this is technically true but the thought of the meds working is so comforting.  Hope you feel better soon.  *hugs*

    LittleFlower

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  • omahaoma
    omahaoma Member Posts: 10
    edited October 2008

    Little Flower 

    Thank you for the hugs.  What you said is part of the reason why I didn't call my onc because they said my tumor sites might hurt.  I didn't expect this much pain.  I have been telling myself this week that the pain is caused by the Herceptin working.  It is what has kept me going.   Thanks so much for writing. 

    Hugs to you!

    Oma means grandma 

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