Post Herceptin- how's your health?

Finished Herceptin January 2012.

1.  Energy returned significantly post-chemo at about the 2 month point, but I didn't notice a great increase when I  
     finished Herceptin.
2.  Hair grew faster, between 1/2 - 1 inch per month.
3.  Weight gain from chemo stayed despite watching diet and walking.  I switched aromatase inhibitors from
     Femara to Arimidex and stepped up the exercise and really controlled the diet - have lost 10 lbs - finally!
4.  Runny nose is gone.
5.  EF stayed within normal range but the last echo shows a slightly better score.
6.  Still have my port.
7.  I had no opportunistic infections during chemo, Herceptin, or since then.  I have not had a cold, flu, stomach
     bug or anything since before I was dx'ed with BC.
8.  I did have some back/hip/leg aching with Herceptin that resolved within about 8 weeks after I was done.

Bump. Hoping to catch the eye of more post-Herceptin women (and men).

survivorwoman - Hello!  Good to see you and read that you are doing well!  You sound busy and healthy!  We had a nice lunch with Florida ladies, pics are here:

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/34/topic/703917?page=13#post_3134909

I finished chemo jan 2011, and herceptin Nov 2012. Hate to be the downer Dora , but I still have significant side effects. I'm not sure if it is from the herceptin or the taxanes.



1. Energy level has never returned to normal. I can only work about half time now and that is tough for me



2. Joint pain and stiffness in my hands, feet , neck hips and other areas when I am extra tired has never gone away and is significant . Even affects my sleep.



3. Finally got down to pre diagnosis weight and had to work hard to do it! I think the weight gain is mainly because of being plummeted into menopause. Really had to adjust my eating patterns, but probably all for the better anyway





I am beginning to wonder if my persistent side effects may be long term and a result of some other condition . No one really knows. I don't want to discourage others, I truly believe that in most cases the side effects go away. It can be a bit depressing to think I may have my issues long term, so I wanted others to know they are not alone if they too have continued side effects.



Take care everyone,

Christine

I just wanted to say that I am 3.5 years out from last Herceptin and although I had some of the typical side effects I've read about here on this board.....I can honestly say now I feel completely back to normal (even better) with absolutely no cancer issues whatsoever.  I feel it is important for the post herceptin recipients to respond to this post (especially longer terms) as typically, when most who are doing as well have moved on and don't post as often.

Thank you too Liz, it's hard to believe I am a "long termer" now.  It really does get better and better.

jackboo - I just realized that I never answered your question about diet! Yes, after trying with walking and just being careful with what I was eating and not losing an ounce, I started walking farther (4 miles at speed) and also becoming more restrictive with diet.  For the most part, I avoid dairy, grains, sugar, alcohol, caffeine.  I eat lean grass-fed beef, organic free range chicken and eggs, organic vegetables, and high fiber fruit.  My cheat is coffee but I have cut back to 1-2 cups a day.  I use coconut milk in the coffee, but have also used almond milk.  The bonus is that the gluten-free aspect seems to have helped with joint pain and my DH is following this diet as well.  He has also lost about 10 lbs.  He has difficulty exercising during the week due to work hours and commute, so he had noticed a creeping up of his weight (due to being 50+ and a lover of ice cream!) - he used to run marathons but has now had knee surgery so can't put in that distance anymore.

I finished Herceptin in January this year.  I found that my hair started growing really fast.  I had 2 very small shaping trims in between finishing chemo (Feb 2011) and finishing Herceptin, but once the Herceptin had stopped I was getting it cut every 4 weeks.  I didn't get the runny nose thing, I had the opposite - hard dry crusty nose - and that stopped about a month after.

As far as stiffness and joint pain - hard to say.  The stiffness was a lot less, but I had gone onto Arimidex in March last year and it gave me so much joint pain.  I switched to Aromasin recently - and now I feel like a new woman, the stiffness has decreased significantly.  Swelling has gone, I have more energy than I know what to do with lol, have lost 12kg - sorry not sure how many pounds that is lol - but a lot!  I was getting quite fatigued by the end of the Herceptin - and that went away too - fairly quickly if I remember.

One thing that hasn't improved an awful lot is my memory lol - still forget the silliest things - but that's just being post menopausal.

I never had much of a problem with my heart - LVEF was always around 65.

So for those of you still on it - hang in there - compared to chemo it's "easy" but you will improve a lot when you've finished.

Trish

I had 4AC and one year of herceptin which I finished in February 2008.

I feel great.  All my herceptin side effects (drippy nose, brittle nails, slow growing hair, achy knees) resolved within one year of finishing the herceptin.

I exercise daily, have energy, sleep well and managed to lose the rest of the 100 lbs I had set as a goal for myself before I was diagnosed with BC.

Dear Lilbitosuns,

I was a fairly healthy eater prior to cancer, never smoked, was retired and gardening a lot.

But I am paying more attention to diet and fitness: went from red meat once a week to not at all, eat chicken once a week, fish twice, and otherwise eggs, tofu, etc. I have a list of foods I try to eat regularly, each day- only whole grains, fruits such as berries, stone fruits, citrus, apples; omega3 fish, green tea (sensha variety) three times daily, nuts, cabbage family, coloured peppers, portabella mushrooms, garlic and onions, cooked tomatoes in some form, turmeric-1tbsp. No sugar or alcohol at all.This diet is based on a book called Foods That Fight Cancer, by Dr. Richard Beliveau, a Canadian researcher. Find it on amazon.com

I try to exercise daily. Right now that is swimming, about 25 minutes a day.

I find that the above is keeping me at a proper weight and feeling more fit than 20 years ago, when I was working long hours at a high-stress job. Probably why I ended up with this disease?
But I am realistic re my odds. I just feel I have to do something that I hope will make a difference?

HI ALL, I AM JUST ABOUT BACK TO PRE-BC. HAIR STARTING GROWING IN REALY FAST AFTER  6 MOS OR SO FINISHING H, AS WELL AS NAILS ARE ACTUALLY GROWING IN STRONGER. ALL OTHER SXS ARE GONE. EXCEPT TO MILD NEUROPATHY AND MILD WEIGHT GAIN THAT I ATTRIBUTE MORE TO BEING POST MENOPAUSAL MORE THEN ANYTHING ELSE.

Hi to all ,

I finished my herceptin January of 2013. They gave it to me for 2 years. After six months my nails and hair are in good shape. I never felt fatigue with hercept. Im taking Q10 for my heart and I been proactive with my nutrition. I seldom eat meat, chicken or eggs. Mostly I will put my kale, beans, mushroom (shitake), spinach, strawbeery, blueberry and banana and flax seeds  in my nutribullet and thats all my food for morning aftrenoon and dinner. All blended vegatable and  I never felt any of those side effect mentioned. Never get any flu shot and I never get sick since I was diagnosed in 2011. Started my chemo in Aug with AC, herceptin, taxol and I forgot the other one but because of the good nutrients Im taking in. I dont have that side effect. Now I lost 20 lbs. in 3 mos just eating thsoe food I mentioned. My kidney was never damaged by any of those chemo  and Im not taking any meds with anything. Nobody can tell that I had cancer before and it was stage III. I just came from my onco for follow up check up and she told me my weight and energy level was all good and excellent. The problem with my sleeping also went away once you stop taking those chemo  and eat food that can help you relax. No more pain and even my stress level went down too. Im happy right now. Before I am so depressed and scared and the post of a long time survivor calmed and give me hope so I just want to inspire.

I finish all my treatments in July of 2012 which was chemo radiation and a year of herceptin. Then I was put on the drug tomoxfien which has been horrible had all kinds of side effects went off it two weeks ago already feeling better.this drug is bad.health is good.