Herceptin - Quick Side Effects Poll

Ado, are you getting the Herceptin every 3 weeks or weekly?  I have been getting it weekly with the only SE being a runny nose.  It is run over 1/2 hour.  I start the every 3 week dose today so It will be interesting to see what happens. My facility runs the every 3 week infusion over 1/2 hr also.

Ado - I have had nausua a few times, seems to come and go for me. Very infrequently, I will also get some nose bleeding.  I'm glad I'm not getting benedryl as that used to make me nausuous with the Taxol.

I don't get any premeds for my 3 week Herceptin.  They run it for 1/2 hour and I'm out of there.

Saw Oncologist yesterday and she acknowledged that Herceptin does cause tiredness and lethargy and that it has a cumulative effect. I have it every 3 weeks and have 2 more to go so should finish in July. I told her that I had been exercising regularly but the weight was going back on. I did admit to too much ice cream and a few cakes but surely not enough to counteract the exercise. She agreed it is probably the tamoxifen and the fact that I was put in to chemical menopause by the chemo. I obviously need to keep up the exercise as I will be on Tamoxifen for 5 years. I am going to banish the scales to the loft as although I keep saying it doesn't matter as long as I am well old habits die hard.  After the last Herceptin I will have one more heart scan, apparently the H has not affected it at all, and then see her every 6 months for 5 years. No scans. It is up to me to report any symptoms. I asked her about the risk of womb cancer from Tamoxifen and she said it is a risk but very rare and even if it it did present itself it is usually very early and can be dealt with. She did also say that I could e mail her with any worries and she would see me within 24 hours. They can do that because they don't scan everyone. I don't know which I would prefer really. Anyone any thoughts or experience of a different regime ?

thegood5, 

 AWESOME news.  That survivor lap will be even sweeter!!

That's the best news I've heard all day - I'm so happy for you!  Gives me ever more faith in Herceptin!

good5--Great news!  Thanks for sharing!!

Thegood5-congrats!!!!!! Wonderful news. I love your avatar. It's so nice to hear good news.

Good5....Bless you. Great news! Fantastic for you and your loved ones. HOORAY!!! My docs keep telling me that Herceptin is a miracle drug.

Hi Bon (and everyone else!) - I haven't posted in quite awhile, though I do still read posts frequently...I have had continuous problems with my potassium and magnesium levels.  The question of the week (I do my Herceptin weekly) is "How low is my potassium today?"  I currently take 60meq. of potassium twice a day, and 400 mg. magnesium twice a day.  I think my potassium was 4.1 Monday.  From what I understand, the magnesium acts as a stabilizer, and if it is low, the potassium will continue to be low.  I think they have to do a seperate test for magnesium - it's not automatically part of the regular stuff they test prior to treatment.

I think my nails are close to normalizing...another few weeks and all of the taxotere yuck-ness should be grown out so they can actually start to grow.  Hair is nice and thick, though still very short...I get lots of compliments from the women about it - they all love it this short.  My husband, though, is just waiting for it to grow - he likes it long - the longer the better.  I'm kinda enjoying it short, especially with the full-force hot flashes!! LOL!

Had my PET a couple weeks ago - it was NORMAL!!!!! YAY!!!  I have my first post-everything mammogram scheduled for sometime the first of July. I'm confident that it, too, will be fine.

Feeling great, as a rule, though it does appear that general joint and muscle aches and pains are amplified.  Since I've had chronic (especially foot) pain for several years, it's hard to tell if it's tx related, or just the normal progression of things.  Nothing debilitating, thankfully!  Energy level is generally good, but when the fatigue does it, it pretty much stops me and forces me to get some rest instead of continuing to push on like I have in the past.

Loving summer!  Haven't made it to the beach yet, but hopefully in the next few weeks it will happen.  I do have a pool, so I try to spend at least a couple hours floating (and reading) every Saturday and Sunday.  Weekdays I get some lap-swimming in sometimes in the evening, though not nearly as often as I would like!

Have a great weekend, everyone! 

Hello all

Thegood5 that is great news. From my point of view it is even better news as my cancer is in the form of metastised liver tumours. I hope that my outcome is as good as yours. I like your pic. The Scan one before last did show a definite contraction of the 2 large tumours though no change in the small tumour. I had another CT Scan recently and get the results on 22nd June which is when I next visit the Onc and have my next dose of H.

Am just home from a week in the sun on the island of Malta. It is a very historical island with loads of great restaurants and of course fresh fish - which I love - features greatly on menus. each morning before breakie I went out for a walk and there were people starting to sunbathe on the beach at 8 00 in the morning ! !  I felt like going over to them and saying "Did you ever hear of skin cancer ? ? ?" Obviously I don't sunbathe and if I do lie by the pool it's under a parasol.

Patriotic thank you. Are the 2 children in your pic twins?

Ado when you have cancer you are allowed to have generous portions of ice cream and cakes. You should have seen the afternoon teas which were served in the hotel I was in in Malta. Apart from the sandwiches which were served there was also cake stand in the shape of a spiral absolutely filled with cakes and buns - hhhhhmmmmmm lol.

Take care all

Yesterday I had #4 Herceptin and all went well as far as infusion.  Several hours later, I was so tired I could not keep my eyes open any longer.  Went to sleep on and off until I went to bed at 9:00.  Feel mostly myself today. 

Hi all

Herceptin dose number 9 tomorrow (Wednesday). I also will get the results of my last CT Scan and ECG both of which are 3 monthly. Here's hoping, though I do feel that I will get positive results - well as positive as one can get when one has a little medical prob called cancer !

Ado for father's day my 2 princesses bought me a (good) bottle of wine, a beautiful card and a large bar of dark chocolate -70% cocoa  yum ! The holiday was great thanks. I went for a walk each morning before breakie to go to 8  30 mass which was in Maltese which is a very Arabic sounding language. As I have no Maltese the priest could have been reciting verses from the Koran for all I knew lol. However I said a few prayers each morning for all fighting cancer particularly those who post on here and on another thread on this website.

You should have seen the size of the 2 cruise ships that were in Valetta (capital of Malta), absolutely massive.. Last year one of the Cystal line cruise ships was in Belfast and a Travel Agent gave us one of the invites to tour it for the day. I was very impressed. We have discussed a few times about going on a cruise. Maybe some day.

Maybe some one might post the symptoms of neuropathy please. Getting slightly strange sensations in my feet and hands.

Take care all

Way to go Bon! Congrats!!!

Congrats Bon!  Mutst be a great feeling.  Had my first Herceptin 5/16 so I have a long way to go still.