Herceptin hangover
 

OK ladies and gents need some advice. Yesterday was my 15th of 18 herceptin treatments and today I feel like I was hit by a mac truck. When I stood up to leave yesterday after treatment my joint pain was the worst it has ever been. I have been having the joint pain for several months but thought it was the femara. Have a headache and just feel like I have a hangover. (At least what I remember of a hangover many many years ago). Anyone else experience this? I have some swollen fingers as well. My blood pressure which has always been normal is starting to go up. Femara related I am told. Just was wondering if anyone noticed that as time goes on the herceptin gets alittle more uncomfortable, although tolerable. Thanks in advance for your replies.
God bless. Darlene

Re: Herceptin hangover
 

Hmmm...
Darlene, this is interesting. I've been having trouble with swollen fingers and joint pain, and I am NOT on Femara. I'm not on anything except Herceptin.
My doc tells me that my pain is left over from Taxol.
It will be interesting to see who else replies to your post.
Are you taking anything for the pain and swelling?
Denise

Re: Herceptin hangover
 

Yes. Herceptin can cause increasing tiredness, joint pains and affect blood pressure the longer one is on it.
It is funny that when Herceptin came out doctors thought the only possible side effect was a possible reduction in the LVF. You might want to go to
www.herceptin.com and look up the side effects or call Genetech and speak to a pharmacist/scientist. Most drug companies, including Genetech have people to talk to patients about possible side effects and problems. They often know more than doctors and nurses know.
Look for the toll free phone number on the Herceptin or the Genetech website.

Re: Herceptin hangover
 

Elaine
Thanks for the tip. I think I'll do that!
Have a great day!!
Be well!
Denise

Re: Herceptin hangover
 

I have 2 more herceptin treatment left (yay) and my fingers usually swell up for about 2 -3 days after. I also have joint pain, but I am told that it is either left over from chemo or from Tamoxifen. I recently started doing yoga again to try and loosen by body up a bit... it's pretty painful to do but I feel like if I don't the pain will just get worse.

Re: Herceptin hangover
 

I had Herceptin alone and I started about 4.5 months after chemo was concluded. The first infusion I had such a headache the next day - just dreadful. I did get headaches with subsequent treatments but they weren't as bad. I didn't have finger swelling but my nails were off - not quite right.

Re: Herceptin hangover
 

Hello, again, Everyone,
I called the "Herceptin Help Line".
The lovely nurse, Elizabeth, spent nearly a half hour chatting with me and searching through the clinical trial data. The only thing she could find was "swelling of extremities" in about 4% of the trial participants. There was no specific mention of pain being associated with the swelling, but that doesn't mean it wasn't present.
So...I don't think we're any further along in our quest for an answer.
In the meantime, the increased dose of Neurontin seems to be helping me.
I hope you all find something that helps you too.
Stay strong!
Denise

Re: Herceptin hangover
 

Thanks Denise for making that phone call. I felt really good saturday and then all at once was very tired. This didn't even really happen to me while on chemo.I am just hoping that it is just from the the changes my body has had to endure this past year and nothing serious. I have done some reading on the femara and it sounds like alot of it could be from that. There has a been alot of added stress with a newphew passing away at 32 and had to put 2 dogs down in 3 months. Maybe my body is just telling me to slow down and not push myself so hard. I just try to live like I never had cancer and maybe I should take a day and say ok you had cancer so take it easy today. Key word, HAD cancer. Keep me posted on how you are doing. Stay strong. God bless. Darlene

Re: Herceptin hangover
 

Darlene,
I'm so sorry for the losses you've suffered. Sort of puts cancer treatment in perspective, doesn't it.
I'll be praying that your happy memories will help soothe the sorrow you must be feeling.
Rest when you need it...be good to yourself.
You are certainly a survivor, in the truest sense of the word!
Denise

Re: Herceptin hangover
 

Darlene,

I also am so sorry for your loss! Gods blessings to you and your family. Please know that you are in my prayers.

Your friend,

Nancy

Re: Herceptin hangover
 

Re: Herceptin hangover
 

Hello
This is my first posting, but have been reading the site for months looking for an answer to the terrible joint pain I have been experiencing. I finished chemo 10 months ago, then finished my ongoing 3 weekly Herceptin 3 months ago. Over the last 6 months I have been having increasing joint pain, and associated swelling of joints...particularly the small joints in my fingers. My oncologists swore it was not the Herceptin causing the pain, and I was repeatedly tested for arthritis and similar problems ,all returning negative. One physiotherapist, and my pharmacist both mentioned the possibility that it could be Oestrogen deficiency, and although my Oncologist agreed that was a possibility, I was told there was "no way" I could go back on Hormone replacement therapy.
After reaching the stage that I thought I would need to have a regular carer come to my home ( I was so "disabled" ) the doctors finally agreed to recommencing HRT. One month later I am almost back to normal.

My cancer was very early HER2+. When I was diagnosed my general practitioner took me straight off HRT, and I started chemo immediately (Taxotere, Carboplatin,) with Herceptin every 3 weeks. Apparently the problem was the combination of coming off HRT and having chemo at the same time.
I am so very happy now that I am getting back to normal, and i thought I would let others know, that for me there was (at last) an answer (with a slightly increased risk of another cancer).