Herceptin only - and Nausea?

moonchild64 · October 2008

My last TCH treatment was 9/12 and I started Herceptin only last week - 10/1. I have more ongoing nausea with this Herceptin only phase than I felt with my chemo. I am writing to see if anyone else has experienced this when they began Herceptin only and, if so, is it going to get better or are these SEs cumulative like chemo?

It is not totally horrible and I am still functioning, yet I had thought/heard that this phase was going to be a 'breeze' and I am frustrated and concerned that this may be ongoing for the next year.

I realize I can take anti-nausea meds, but I am really trying to lose the 10 pounds I gained and those steroids really bulked me up with water weight...

Michelle

swimangel72 · October 2008

Hi Michelle - I'm so sorry you're experiencing nauseousness. I'm on Herceptin only since the end of August and haven't had that problem. However, I didn't get TCH - I was on Navelbine for 4 months (without steroids). I'm wondering if your nausousness isn't more a result of STOPPING TCH and the steroids - that your body is going through "withdrawal" symptoms. Since you only had Herceptin by itself last week, I'd say give it time and see what happens at the next infusion. How often will you be getting Herceptin? I go every two weeks - and truly have absolutely no SEs (and my heart scan was good too.) If you want more information about Herceptin, visit the www.her2support.org web site - the women there are very knowledgeable. I hope you feel better soon!

Sassa · October 2008

Are you on weekly doses of herceptin?

When I was receiving my weekly dose, I did not feel nauseated, but I definitely did not have an appetite. I went with the flow as I wanted to lose weight.

When I went on once every three week dosing, I wouldn't be hungry for a week and then my appetite would reappear until my next dose.

moonchild64 · October 2008

I am getting Herceptin every three weeks. I didn't think about that Swimangel, but that could be true - that there is withdrawal going on. Like I said, it is not a debilitating SE, just a strange feeling that I wasn't expecting once chemo ended. I will give it some time and hopefully it will go away..

Thanks for your concern and advice Laughing

Anonymous · October 2008

You can't have withdrawal from chemo. You body does not become dependent on chemo.

Nausea is an uncommon side effect of Herceptin.

Are you taking anything along with it (Tylenol, Benadryl, etc.)? Maybe you can tell the nurses and they'll have some suggestions.

kathy1962 · October 2008

Hi I would just like to say that yes you can have nausea from Herceptin I did. I get so darned mad when I think about my onc saying "You'll do just fine on Herceptin" well I didn't. Ok I didn't puke my gets out like being on chemo but I didn't feel the greatest either. I just finished my last treatment on Herceptin Oct 3 (my port comes out tomorrow woo hoo!) Anyway with each treatment I felt different. Some treatments I did vomit and some I didn't. Mostly I complained about back and shoulder aches and pains and extreme fatigue. So just to say everyone is different----you are aloud to feel the way you feel!

bluedasher · October 2008

LJ, you can't get withdrawal from the chemo drugs, but you can get withdrawal from steroids and they usually give a steroid to help you deal with the chemo drugs. When I was needed steroids for asthma, they always tapered them off gradually. But I don't know if nausea would be a withdrawal symptom from the steroid they give you during chemo.

ktf63 · June 2011

Hi,

I'm new to this discussion board, and saw your comment about Herceptin. I sailed through chemo (TCH x 4), but am now on Herceptin -only until November, and am feeling rotten. I feel like I have the flu, am nauseous, ache all over and am so tired....my oncologists have assured me that most of their patients have no complaints with Herceptin only. I'm beginnning to feel like a flake. Does anyone have any comments or similar experiences with this. I can't imagine going on like this until November.

spanisheyes206 · June 2011

Hi everyone,

I have just finished 12 x herceptin only infusions every three weeks after TCH x 4. I do have nauseous and extreme fatigue but am hoping this will wear off once the herceptin is out of my system. Can't wait to feel normal again!

Createhope2018 · June 2018

I have to say, I just found this post because I am also experiencing the worst nausea ever. My chemo ended about 6 weeks ago and now I'm exclusively on Herceptin every 3 weeks which I heard can cause nausea and vomiting when on the 3 week cycle. I also had steroids with my Taxol and I do believe it' helped with the sick feeling. I can barely eat or do much. Have you any advive advice?

Suffering!

Cowgirl13 · June 2018

Createhope, it can make a huge difference is the herceptin is run for 90 minutes. I should have had mine run for 90 minutes but I hadn't heard about this. I had the choice of once a week or the 3 weeks. I wished I had taken the once a week.

PhoenixCruiser · June 2018

For me the herception ran over 90 minutes during the first herception only dose, second one 60 minutes and 30 minutes starting with the 3rd.

It took my body about six weeks to get over the Taxol so there is hope!

The steriods don't agree with me and caused weight gain. I'm just now losing weight 4 months after Taxol.

DazzlingEagle · June 2018

Dear Create Hope: When I switched to just Herceptin and Perjeta, I felt better each week I got further out from the chemo. Did you tell the nurses or your doctor? There should be a doctor on call even if it's the holiday weekend. If you can barely eat, I'm worried you'll just keep on feeling worse. Could you be dehydrated?

Createhope2018 · July 2018

I will ask! Thank you so much everyone! ❤️ I feel like they ignore the symptoms associated with Hercepton often. I have just had 12 cycles of Taxol which ended just before Mother’s Day and I feel I’m worse, somehow, with this infusion. I have 8 months to go. They administered mymHerceptin only in 30 min of which I have had two now. Maybe they could do it slower with more saline for extra hydration. I have been so ill. Just now feeling better 6 days later.

I also gained weight with the steroids.

I don’t know if I’m dehydrated. Trying to drink more water, but so hard when so nauseous.

DATNY · July 2018

createhope, I am also on Herceptin AND Perjeta (adding Perjeta along Herceptin is standard of care since Dec 2017). I make sure I drink lots of water the day before, of and after infusion. I also do intermittent fasting since dx, and that has been helping all along, including during chemo.

Beatmon · July 2018

So many Docs will say no side effects....well they need to pay better attention to those off us that have them. I’m on year 4, run Herceptin 90 minutes,Perjeta an hour.i frequently feel flu ish......bone pain. I actually had an infusion reaction after having had more than 50 doses, so back on steroid. Yuc

Mojojennijo · July 2018

i also am now on herceptin only (every 3 weeks) I don't even know how many I have had but started herceptin with thp back in November. I had it on Tuesday and have been super nauseated since. It's been about 4 days. I haven't had it this bad since I was having herceptin with perjeta and taxol. So I'm wondering if I have a virus. It seems that some of the symptoms are hard to predict, unlike chemo. Which makes me feel like a weirdo mentioning it to my dr. The consensus seems to be like herceptin is no different than just getting fluids. No side effects! I wish that were true for me. Makes me feel like I’m doing something wrong.But when I mentioned the myalgia I get my dr acknowledged it was from the herceptin.

Herceptin only - and Nausea?

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