Herceptin, Tykerb and Navelbine

I think this is a great combo and bravo for the onc that rx'd this! I'm was not sure if oncs were given chemo with herceptin and tykerb, but glad to see someone is starting this!  From my experience, if I was rx'd this, this would be benign treatment, meaning I would not know I was on anything besides my hair thinning ever so lightly.

HOWEVER, that is not everyone's experience. Here's my experience on these drugs - not given in this combo however.

Herceptin - can't tell I'm taking medication. However, your friend will need to get her heart checked every now and then to confirm that Herceptin in not dropping her ejection fraction to low. If it gets too low, they take you off the Herceptin for a while. I've been on this drug for many years, and my heart has never gotten low enough to go off.

Navelbine - mildest chemo I've ever been on. That is not true for everyone, but for me it was. Some folks have constipation issues w/this chemo, so she may need to take natural laxatives, or whatever works for her the day of tx and for a few days after. It worked the best SO FAR at hitting my mets, but only worked for 6 months. Had I known that other women, like Konakat, got great results by also adding carboplatin to the Navelbine, I would have done that before going to a new tx.

Tykerb - I was only on this drug for 6 weeks, but I had zero s/e's - that is rare. Most women get diahrrea, zits, and maybe a rash. Others that have been on this drug long term will post their s/e's. There's apparently an oil that you can get at Whole Foods called Suki, pure facial moisture - nourishing, that is very effective at making the rash go away if the rash appears. I bought some just in case, but never needed it.

I think this is a very humane combo, and should be very effective!

HTH,

  Kim

I'm on Navelbine/Herceptin/Zometa.  When I first started, I was getting Navelbine weekly for 10 weeks on, 2 off.  After a couple of cycles with stable scans, I went to Navelbine every other week.  I've been on it 2 months shy of 2 years.  SE's are just occassional constipation, hair thinning, and some increase in foot/hand numbness.  Otherwise, it's as if I'm not on chemo.  I've had progression in my bone mets recently, so I'll be changing to something else soon, probably after radiation.  The toughest part of that combo may well be the Tykerb because of diahrea, but maybe the Navelbind will conteract that!

I get Herceptin and Zometa every three weeks.  I got the anti.EST every four.  I'm also taking daily Tykerb.  I take Xeloda 14 days than take seven days off.  I'm new to that drug.  Than I take diphen/atrop for balance on Tykerb (side efffects) Also, dex steriiods to help with a brain mass