for Early Stagers nearing end of Herceptin

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bluewillow
bluewillow Member Posts: 779
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

Hello,

I would like to hear from some of you early stage gals about your last couple of Herceptin treatments... Were the last few ones the hardest for anyone?  If so, has your med team given any reasons why?

I have only one more to go on Nov. 10, but the most recent one (Oct. 20) absolutely kicked my (big) butt!  I haven't really noticed any side effects in the past from the Herceptin alone, other than some blurry vision, a few aches and pains, etc., but boy this last one packed a wallop!  I just can't seem to get enough sleep, I'm aching and stiff all over, and soooo tired!  I feel like my body weighs 800 pounds!  I've never had this crashing fatigue before, even when I was getting chemo.  Is this normal/common/short-lived?  I've always been able to smell the Herceptin (esp. in my urine) for just a couple of days after my treatment, but it is still with me very strong!  I also had an echocardiogram the day after my herceptin (Oct 21) and I am assuming it was fine because they haven't called me letting me know otherwise.  I'm hanging on for the last one, get my port out December 8, then on with some sort of "normal" life again, if I'm not so darn tired...

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  • debic
    debic Member Posts: 216
    edited October 2008

    Mason,

    It looks like we are on almost the same path in life.  Your Mason looks to be 5/6 months old my Ben is 5 months and lives in NC also. I am Grammie because my mom is granny. Our Dx is almost the same except I am ER/PR +.  I just wanted to tell you hang in for the last herceptin remember you have been taking it for a year so it builds in your system.  Do they give you pre-meds? I had Tylonal before each treatment. I had my last treatment in May and plan to walk the 60 mile Susan G Kolman walk this weekend in Tampa Florida. Life and limbs do get back to normal!!! You feel set free when that port comes out. You have your last treatment the same day as a friend of mine and we are going to party!!! Try drinking tonic water to help with the aches and pains. In a few months you will be chasing that little guy around and treatment will be a thing of the past.  Life is good as a Grannie!!

    Debi

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  • bluewillow
    bluewillow Member Posts: 779
    edited October 2008

    Oh Debi, thank you so much for your kind words!  I am so thankful for your encouragement and it sounds like the port removal calls for a party!  I hope you and your friend have fun celebrating her last tx!  Think of me while you're partying, ok? Smile

    I don't normally get pre-meds with the Herceptin alone, but I will try the Tylenol before my next/last treatment.  I did have a lot of pre-meds with my chemo-- the steroids made me spacey so maybe that's why they didn't give me any with the Herceptin alone.  And I will try the tonic water-- hadn't heard that one but it sure sounds worth a try.  I am so looking forward to feeling great and energetic again! 

    Being is a granny/grammie is awesome, isn't it?  What part of NC does Ben live?  I live in the NC mountains and my Mason is in Statesville, about 2 hours away, but I'm going to see him tomorrow for a couple of days!

    Thanks again and best regards,

    Mary Jo (Mason's Granny) 

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  • Sassa
    Sassa Member Posts: 1,588
    edited October 2008

    I seemed to feel more tire as my herceptin treatment went on.  It was about 6 weeks after my last treatment that I noticed I had more energy - herceptin has a long half life and it takes that long for the levels to drop down and your body to start repairing itself.

    Three months after the last treatment, I felt like I had unlimited energy.  Five months after the last treatment, my hair started growing faster.

    Hang in there, you are nearly finished.

    Another Mary Jo

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  • debic
    debic Member Posts: 216
    edited October 2008

    It seems like I have something in common with both Mary Jo's NC Mary Jo my Ben lives in Franklinton NC and being a grannie has been the best medicine I could have had.  I had my last herceptin on a Wednesday and he was born on Friday!!  Life is good.

    Mary Jo in Homosassa I am in New Port Richey, FL about 45 min south of you!!!  You are right as time goes on you feel better.  I am doing the Susan G koman 3 day walk this weekend in Tampa!!  5 months out of treatment when I was sitting in that chair I never thought I would feel normal again much less walk 60 mile in 3 days!! I have a friend who has one to go and she put it off a week so she can walk in the walk this weekend!! She too is IDC, Stage 1 Grade 3 0/10 we are all going to be around to see our grandchildrens grandchildren!!!

    Debi

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  • BethNY
    BethNY Member Posts: 2,710
    edited October 2008

    I absolutely know that was the case for me... Of the last 5 tx's, #5 and #4 left me feeling like crap for a day or two... then the last two I remember were fine-- but it definitely was the case.

    I had stopped taking tylenol back in the beginning of herceptin-- but then took it again for the last three...

    You're almost through-- JUST HANG TIGHT!!!

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  • Caya
    Caya Member Posts: 971
    edited October 2008

    The last few Herceptin infusions also made me extremely tired.  That first weekend after the Thursday infusion was basically a wipe -out for me.  I did not take anything with the infusions.

    Beth NY is right - you're almost done, hang in there.

    Caya

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  • suemed8749
    suemed8749 Member Posts: 1,151
    edited October 2008

    Hi all -

    I just began the Hercptin-only phase in August, and still no side effects, but it's good to know what to possibly expect.

    Mason's Granny - Definitely be planning that party! Getting that port out is the ultimate affirmation that this is behind you and time to move on. I can't wait!

    My daughters are 21 and 23 - no grandbabies yet, but that's a stage of life I'm looking forward to.

    Have a great day -

    Sue 

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  • bluewillow
    bluewillow Member Posts: 779
    edited October 2008

    Hi everyone and thank you so much for your replies!  I have been away from my computer-- been visiting my darling grandson and didn't have time to check in--  I did buy a huge bottle of Tylenol so I'm armed and ready for Nov. 10...

    It is very comforting to know that the fatigue is not something out of the ordinary.  Sassa, thanks for the great info about the half-life of herceptin-- I hadn't thought to ask that at the cancer center.  Debi, have fun at the Komen Walk and thank you for walking for us all!  And thank you BethNY and Caya for telling me to 'hang in there'-- you give me lots of hope!  Sue, I hope you get lots of grandbabies-- they are the best!

    As part of my end-of-treatment celebration, I would like to do something awesome for my chemo nurses-- they are all absolute angels-- any suggestions? 

    Thanks again and good luck to all!

    Mary Jo

    PS- I will not only celebrate the "end" of my Herceptin-- I will celebrate and give many thanks for the drug itself and for all the ladies who must continue to take it-- I am so thankful we have it and for the long life it gives us!

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  • lori5
    lori5 Member Posts: 75
    edited October 2008

    Sounds like we all are getting close my last treatment is Nov. 17th My middle childs 15th birthday.  Herceptin has been hard for me all along so I will be soooo happy to be done.  Has anyone thought about what we will do not going to treatments every 3 weeks.  Part of me is scared because in my mind I'm still preventing a reoccurance but when treatment stops will it come back?  I asked my onc this and he said for me not to worry he doesn't even recommend any additional testing in the further unless there is a symptom.  What do you girls think?

    Hugs and Prayers

    Lori

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  • bluewillow
    bluewillow Member Posts: 779
    edited October 2008

    Hi Lori,

    Yay for our end of Herceptin!  Sounds like you have two big reasons to celebrate Nov. 17!!  I hope you can have a great big party for the both of you!!

    I too have wondered about what happens now at the end of treatment.  The answer your onc gave you is exactly the same as the one my onc gave me.  From what I have read, we have the best chance possible, thanks to Herceptin, of keeping the cancer from ever coming back!

    Since we are on the subject of worrying about recurrence after tx ends, I have to share something:  This past Sunday, my husband and I were traveling near our home on a rural two lane road, one that my husband has driven many times in his life.  He was driving fairly slow when all of a sudden a car pulls out of a side road, almost into the side of our car. Thanks to my husband's quick thinking and great reflexes, we narrowly escaped a crash which would have sent us down a huge embankment.  We were in our old '92 Subaru station wagon-- a small car without air bags and heavy duty crash protection, and I sincerely believe we would have been killed had we been hit.  My husband said that just proves life can change drastically in just a matter of seconds.  So, rather than worry about cancer recurring, I am more worried about more realistic hazards to our lives such as the one we almost experienced just days ago.  That's just my two cents worth...

    Don't worry and enjoy life to the fullest and be thankful for the "second chance" that we have been given!!!

    Take care, everyone--

    Mary Jo  

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