Anyone on Herceptin and Tykerb?

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JeninMichigan
JeninMichigan Member Posts: 2,974
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

I have been on Herceptin since May 1, 2008.   I was TCH and finished 8/14/08 and then was just doing Herceptin and Zometa.    They added Tykerb on 1/31/09 to the cocktail - 1000 mg.   I have noticed just this month the skin on my fingers cracking open on the tips.  It is really painful.  Yesterday I looked like a total dork at work with bandaids on about 6 of 10 fingers.  My nails haven't been great all along .. splitting, etc.  Now, they are down to nothing and I notice the nail bed is looking dark.    Just wondering if the Tykerb is causing these new issues.  I haven't had any real noticeable s/e with Herceptin.   

What can you do to help with these finger nail and skin issue?   

 Thanks

Jennifer

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  • DianaT
    DianaT Member Posts: 532
    edited March 2009

    I start Tykerb and Xeloda tomorrow and have my herceptin treatment next Friday.  I was told that what you said is a normal side affect.  I was told to get udderly smooth, slather it on at night and wear gloves/socks to keep that skin moist.  I am starting that tonight even though I don't take my first set of pills until the morning. My skin on my hands is still dry from the taxotere that ended in May 08!

    What other side effects are you experiencing, if any?  I am trying to prepare myself! I am supposed to take 1250mg a day! 

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  • JeninMichigan
    JeninMichigan Member Posts: 2,974
    edited March 2009

    Hi Diana

    I was really anxious about taking the first pills for sure!!  I took them on the weekend so I would have any surprises at work.  Good thing because the next morning I had several hours worth of diarrhea.   Keep some immodium on hand.    I am now about five weeks of taking it and have started with the skin cracking.  The doctor gave me a cream yesterday which is awesome and worked.  Probably taking better care of them from the start would have been better.  I got a little bit of a rash on my arms and hand.. but at least not on my face!  For about two hours after I take it I feel a little sick to my stomach but that has gotten much better.   So, all in all, it is not terrible. 

    Let mee know how you do!!

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  • pondfrogs
    pondfrogs Member Posts: 91
    edited March 2009

    hi,

    I have been doing tykerb and herceptin since the summer time. have had a roller coaster of a ride with these meds. first severe diarrhea that bottomed out my potassium and made me very ill. they took the tykerb from 1000mg to 750 then. now the diarrhea is controllable with anti-diarrheal meds. after a couple months came the rash all over and excema. followed by terrible acne that comes and goes.

    then neuropathy in my hands/feet. splitting/bleeding of my fingertips has been quite the problem. it runs in cycles where for a week or so nothing..then they all start up again. I have my own box of gloves at home and at work so that I don't bleed all over. I have had a couple of toes crack and turn swollen red but luckily not much on the toes. have used all kinds of lotions/creams (everyone has a miracle lotion to recommend)  but for me it's not a dryness issue and they eventurally end up splitting anyway.

    my doctor did say that the people that are having the most side effects seem to be having the best results. that's what keeps me going.   will be done with these meds in late may. Wink

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