Herceptin Subcutaneous Injection

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smile_all_the_way
smile_all_the_way Member Posts: 7
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

Hi all,

I am lucky to be using the new Herceptin (Trastuzumab) Subcutaneous Injection which was approved in the UK in Sept 2013 and just wondered if there are other people out there who wish to share their experiences. I have had 2 injections so far and have 2 more to go (having moved to the injection following problems with my portacath after 14 treatments). I can see lots of advantages re the quickness and I am generally in and out of the clinic within 90 mins top.

The side effects are no different than receiving it via the portacath, so the only downside is the initial pain of the injection going into the thigh muscle (lasts about 20 - 30 seconds until the built in painkiller works, but seems to feels a lot longer - and definitely proves to the nurses that I am no lady following the several F*** that I let loose last time...oops!).

I will be using some general painkillers tomorrow before I go and will see if that eases the initial pain and just wondered if anyone has found anything else which works or any other suggestions (apart from a bit of soap to wash my mouth out! Winking)

For those who have not had it delivered by injection yet - it gets delivered in less than 2 minutes, leaves a puffy red mark on the thigh which disappears long before I actually leave the clinic and otherwise is perfect Happy

Many thanks

 

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  • melster
    melster Member Posts: 96
    edited January 2014

    that sounds awesome! I didn't realize this was even available. How often do you get it?

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  • smile_all_the_way
    smile_all_the_way Member Posts: 7
    edited January 2014

    Still get it every 3 weeks like the IV version. Other good thing is its not weight dependant and doesn't need to be mixed at all. So simply blood pressure taken and then the injection.

    I guess you could even deliver it at home but I only live 5 minutes away so would rather let the nurses stick me with needles Happy

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  • smile_all_the_way
    smile_all_the_way Member Posts: 7
    edited January 2014

    Brief update - I had my 3rd injection today. I took paracetamol 1/2 hour beforehand and the nurse gradually injected the first bit to allow the painkiller inside the injection more time to work. Still stung very slightly but no swear words at all and redness/swelling is practically nil straight from the start.

    Just for info - the injection should be delivered over 2 minutes so really quick Winking. I have my last one in 3 weeks

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  • Oncearunneralwaysarunner
    Oncearunneralwaysarunner Member Posts: 252
    edited January 2014

    thanks for sharing this info. I'll have to ask it is has been approved for use in Canada yet or if there is a study to have it approve that I could participate in. As far as I know, it's not an option here yet. I still have 13 treatments to go though and having the injections, even if I need to go to the treatment centre would be a lot faster. I'll post back when I have any details for Canadian ladies.

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  • smile_all_the_way
    smile_all_the_way Member Posts: 7
    edited January 2014

    One final piece of info - after the injection you still need to stay and be monitored to 45-60 mins. But as you have already had the treatment it is purely a sitting there with feet up with a paper and cup of coffee

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  • Nel138281
    Nel138281 Member Posts: 2,124
    edited January 2014

    Is it available in the US??   I have some research to do

    Thank you!

    Nel

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