first Herceptin only infusion today

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NeedtobeSTRONG
NeedtobeSTRONG Member Posts: 101
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

What side effects did you have?  What should I anticipate this week?  I am hoping to not feel so bad. Any infor would be appreciated.

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  • dsv
    dsv Member Posts: 16
    edited March 2012

    I had my first herceptin only infusion 6 weeks ago and didn't have any side effects whatsoever.  I get herceptin only every 3 weeks so I had my second one last Wednesday and again no side effects.  I hope it goes well for you!

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  • NeedtobeSTRONG
    NeedtobeSTRONG Member Posts: 101
    edited March 2012

    Thanks dsv....hoping for a symptom free week.... 

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited March 2012

    need - I had some mild aching and runny nose and some lower GI, but I think that was a leftover SE from chemo - that is it.  One of the onc nurses advised to start taking a probiotic and it really helped with that, had no further problems.  They infused over 30 minutes, so I asked that it be slowed to 90 minutes on the next one, it helped with the aching.  This should be easy for you - don't be too worried!

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  • lkc
    lkc Member Posts: 1,203
    edited March 2012

    Hi There! Herceptin was  a breeze for me. I alwasy drank alot of water the day before and I also took 2 advil when I got Infused as sometimes it may cause abit of a headache.

    did it on my lunch break ,and didn't miss a beat.

    Congratulations on your moving along!

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  • AmyIsStrong
    AmyIsStrong Member Posts: 1,755
    edited March 2012

    I could smell the chemical in my pee the next few days (and I did drink A LOT of water).  I did feel some stiffness in my legs, but nothing bad. In fact, I really didn't realize it until AFTER i was finished and it went away.

    I would drive myself to/from, decline the Benadryl (which made me too sleepy) and get the infusion - my onc insisted on 90 min, no faster, and then go about my day.

    I do have to say though, your brain is acclimated to the chemo room being a place where something bad happens. It takes a few times for the message to get through that it isn't going to be like chemo. I would get tense/anxious beforehand, and walking in, but after a few treatments, my subconscious figured it out and that didn't happen any more.

    You've been through the hard stuff - congratulations, this is going to be much better.

    Amy 

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  • TheLadyGrey
    TheLadyGrey Member Posts: 231
    edited March 2012

    I am 7 or so weeks PFC (TCH) and have had two Herceptin only infusions (90 minutes). I declined the Benadryl and Tylenol both times.



    Both times I felt tired the day of and VERY tired the day after, but after that I was fine.



    The second time I got very dizzy when the infusion started but that abated.



    No GI issues.



    So my plan going forward is to expect to feel tired the day of and after - I now understand that it is going to take me WAY longer to recover from chemo than I thought it would -- somehow I decided I would be back 100% three weeks PFC - so I'm going to cut myself some slack until Herceptin is over in November.

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  • Cowgirl13
    Cowgirl13 Member Posts: 1,936
    edited March 2012

    I was tired for several days.  just wanted to sleep.

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  • Jacque1102
    Jacque1102 Member Posts: 46
    edited March 2012

    Hello,

    I, too, had my first herceptin only last Wednesday.  My urine smelled rather strong and mediciny the next day.  After the six rounds of TCH, Herceptin was a piece of cake.  I walked 4 miles on Saturday, biked 10 miles on Sunday, and just finished a nice 2 mile walk outside today. And, I work part time, too. Good luck to you. 

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  • NeedtobeSTRONG
    NeedtobeSTRONG Member Posts: 101
    edited March 2012

    @ Jacque1102  Thanks just got back from a walk in the park with the kids..  so far feeling good and hoping to keep active so I can drop some weight.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2012

    Ladygrey...glad to hear all is going well. I have been thinking about you.



    I had my herceptin slowed to 90 minutes also. I am tired for a couple of days, a little queasy off and on for a couple days, some gi issues and a little achiness, but that could be due to tamoxifen also. In general, no big deal and other than the couple days of tiredness, nothing that interferes with my life.

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited March 2012

    LadyGrey - good to hear you are being a good girl and doing the herceptin. It does take ages to recover from the chemo so don't be too hard on yourself. I went back to work while doing the herceptin alone and was fine. Glad you aren't having any nasty SE's from it.

    Sue

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