Anyone do Herceptin only?

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candie1971
candie1971 Member Posts: 4,820
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

Hi, my mom is 82 and was dx this past October. She tried Taxol and Taxotere and had serious allergic reactions to both. Because of her age, her onc has now decided that it will be herceptin only. Has anyone had this regimen? Thanks in advance for any help or input! Hugs to all.

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited March 2011

    Bumping for candie...

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited March 2011

    Candie I did the taxotere and Carboplatin with my herceptin but now I am on herceptin only. I have had 2 tx so far. Much much easier than chemo. I still get the occasional nose bleed and I might be getting fluid retention (but that also is residual from chemo or could be from Anastrozole).

    I have more SE with over the counter drugs than I do with Herceptin.

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  • candie1971
    candie1971 Member Posts: 4,820
    edited March 2011

    thank you dlb823

    Lago, thanks. My mom will start herceptin only this week. Hopefully it will go ok .

    hugs

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  • dymondhutch
    dymondhutch Member Posts: 3
    edited March 2011
    I just read a great book about Herceptin.  It is called HER-2: The Making of Herceptin, a Revolutionary Treatment for Breast Cancer by Robert Bazell. I would recommend you and your mother read it.  It certainly gives promise that Herception alone my someday be the protocol but for now all the trials have included chemo.  I was on Taxol for 6 weeks.  My oncologist stopped me because my side effects (neurapathy) was too severe 6 weeks early.  My PET scan showed a complete response.
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  • LeslieVilla
    LeslieVilla Member Posts: 95
    edited March 2011

    I'm her 2 Nue 3+ pri er - with IDC, just diagnosed, I'm on a quest for ANY doctor to be honest with me about treatment options that migh include Herceptin without chemo, but can't find a single doctor that doesn't want chemo and RAD with it. My exact cancer is only afecting 28% of all BC patients I'm told.  There must be some research on women trying this with out chemo for my type of cancer... any one?

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  • kathleen1966
    kathleen1966 Member Posts: 793
    edited March 2011

    I would not recommend not doing chemo if you are Her2+ unless you are very old, as mentioned above and it is a quality of life issue.  You look like you have a lot of years ahead of you. It may save your life and it is tolerable.

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  • jpmercy
    jpmercy Member Posts: 189
    edited March 2011

    Hi Leslie,

    I had a 2mm tumor....yes tiny but a grade 3 and Her2 3+++ im 30, i was going to go the route of herceptin alone and roll the dice so to speak since my cancer was so small but after reading more studies about HER2 size doesnt seem to really matter...so i talked with my doctor and many ladies on here and went with a clinical trail protacol that is being done now for small tumor HER2+  i was not a part of the trial but my doc followed the regimine. i did 12 weeks of weekly taxol with herceptin and now im on herceptin alone. the taxol is VERY manageable of course everyone is different but i worked throughout taxol is less toxic but still gave me the benifits of the chemo with the herceptin. i skipped my chemo day of work but worked most of hte otehr days. i had some stomach cramps and was more tired...to be honest i felt like i did the first 12 weeks of pregnancy that was really my symptoms so tolerable but anoying type of thing! i also did not loose ANY of my hair i used the penguin cold caps and kept ALL My hair on my head, i did loose hair everywhere else, eyelashes, legs, arm pits, down under etc. feel free to PM me if you have more questions on teh route i took!

    Jen

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  • Denny123
    Denny123 Member Posts: 1,886
    edited March 2011

    7+ years ago, Gemzar with Herceptin put my liver mets into remission.

    I have continued on Herceptin alone and it has kept me in remission now for almost 7 years.

    No SE at all.

     Denise

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  • kwajkid
    kwajkid Member Posts: 7
    edited March 2011

    I had to stop taxol after 7 weeks because of pancreatitis but finished up the year of Herceptin.  small tumor but HER 2+

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  • Scrabblelady
    Scrabblelady Member Posts: 261
    edited March 2011

    Leslie,

      I have a similar diagnosis.  I did A/C then taxol & Herceptin for 12 weeks.  I'm not on Herceptin only until November.  I also had a mastectomy  rather than a lumpectomy.  That way I avoided radiation treatments.   I know there is a clinical trial using Herceptin only.  But I opted to go after my BC aggressively. I was lucky,  the chemo was not as horrible as I had anticipated.  The pre-meds really helped.  My thoughts are with you as you make your decision.

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  • candie1971
    candie1971 Member Posts: 4,820
    edited March 2011

    thank you all for your responses. because of Mom's age and that she is allergic to taxol and taxotere, her only option is to do herceptin alone. I realize that chemo is really needed but we just have to hope for the best. Her onc told me that if she was younger, she would puch her throught the chemo with other medications..but we can't do that...as it is too strong for her.

    Good luck to all of you....I will be back to see how you are all doing....God bless you!

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  • amontro
    amontro Member Posts: 504
    edited April 2011

    I had my mx 2 1/2 yrs ago.  Stage IV and now I have cancer in my lungs and spine.  All this time I've only been on Herceptin, Arimidex and Zometa (for bones). The spots have not grown. They have stayed the same size for about 2 years.

    Side effects are minimal. Some nausea, tiredness I believe from Herceptin. Arimidex gives me hot flashes, fevers on occasion.

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  • candie1971
    candie1971 Member Posts: 4,820
    edited April 2011

    Amontro, so glad the spots have not increased. The herceptin and arimidex must be helping. I will keep you in my prayers. Thank you for posting.

     hugs

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  • HER2positive
    HER2positive Member Posts: 2
    edited July 2011

    Leslie - did you find an oncologist to administer Herceptin without chemo?  I am in the same boat.

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  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited July 2011

    A friend of mine did herception only. Very small tumor, estrogen positive, and she was in her late 60s. Because of her age and the fact that she could go on an anti-hormonal, the onc. OKed this option (although he said he wouldn't have she been younger). It's 5 years later and she is still going strong. Best of luck! Ruth

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  • Tiki
    Tiki Member Posts: 97
    edited August 2011

    In 2008-09 when I was 41 yrs old. I did a lumpectomy, radiation and herceptin. A year lattler the cancer came back. So now I had to do a mastectomy, TC and herceptin. I already finish my TC 8 weeks ago. And still with herceptin until next april 2012. So I will have 2 yrs of herceptin. I am stage I



    Tiki

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