herceptin after chemo?

Hi zia....I did chemo (Taxol) with Herceptin at first, and then Herceptin only for a year. I'm doing great. I didn't really have any side effects from Herceptin.....maybe a runny nose, but that's about it. Good luck to you!!

I don't know if this will help, but I had A/C, then weekly Taxol with Herceptin; when I got done with Taxol I went through 33 (or 38, I can't remember) radiation treatments.  Once I got done with Taxol I went to a triple dose of Herceptin every three weeks instead of a lower dose every week and was supposed to continue that for a total of one year of Herceptin.  However, I have heart damage and had to end the Herceptin.  I had a total of 6 months of Herceptin.  Herceptin was easy but of course the heart damage (which may have been the Adriamycin and/or Herceptin) wasn't good, but most people don't have that issue, and they'll monitor your heart with a periodic Muga (don't let them forget to schedule these).  Best of luck!

I had a year of herceptin AFTER i finished chemo, none with chemo at all.  I had chemo first, and a complete response, but they still gave me herceptin, so i would imagine it will still benefit you!  You dont need the chemo with it, i think there are many stage 4 people that are on herceptin alone and doing great!

From what I understand the response to the herceptin is better when started with a taxane  (taxol or there are 2 others in same family) but it can be done alone and will still give benefit.  I was scheduled for 12 weekly taxol with herceptin every 3rd week.but only finished 9 of the taxol before I had to stop due to neuropathy in my feet and hands.  I have continued the herceptin and March 16th will be my last one.  The neuropathy went away about 8 weeks after I stopped the taxol.  The taxol was not that hard to do.  I did not even lose my hair although it thinned a lot.  Some people do not develop neuropathy, but my Dad has had neuropathy in his legs for years and walks with a walker, so we did not take any chances when my legs got really bad.  I was an early stage small cancer and would not have had to do chemo except for the HER2+.  I am so glad there is herceptin.  I have had an echo cardiogram every 3 months to make sure heart function remained OK.  I will be glad to be done.  Had 37 radiations treatments too, and they found spots on my lung when they were setting up the rads.  Turns out they were nothing, but had to have CT and bronchoscopy and also a thyroid biopsy that turned out to be a cyst,  I have said my car knows the way to the clinic without me, it was there so often.  It is nice to be getting to the stage where it is only check ups - every 6 months now with rad onc and will be every 6 when I see pulmonary doc in April and after port is removed probably only yearly with BS.  Onc will probable every 3 months for a while.  1st mammogram after was in dec.  Probably will have another one when see rad onc for 6 month visit in may and then mammograms should go to once a year too.  It is sure alot better than every day or 2.  They knew me so well at the check in desk they stopped asking if my address or insurance had changed since my last visit.

 Go with whatever seems right for you after you have heard what the onc has to say.  Best wishes and hugs.  Annette