HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Still severe afternoon fatigue daily after 4monthsTCH, 6months Herceptin only.

Carol Ann · 03-30-2015, 09:45 AM

I was exhausted too on Herceptin and it has taken a few months since I have finished to really begin to feel more energetic. Herceptin has a half life of 25 days, so there is still, as you receive it every 3 weeks, half a dose left when you get the next one. Bottom line is it takes a LONG time for it to work itself out of your system when you're done the year.

Not that that is a bad thing overall ... I figure it is good to have some floating around attacking any stray HER2 +++ cell that might be hiding somewhere .... but yes, it is still there to blitz your energy level, too.

I started walking indoors with Leslie Sansone walk dvds after Christmas and a month after finishing Herceptin-- much easier on my sore/neuropathy feet -- and she has one dvd that has 10 ten minute walks. It has really helped me build my stamina a little at a time. If I get too tired, I stop and try again the next day.

So, like kathryn above, I finished Herceptin in Nov 2014 and I'm just now starting to feel really like myself again.

Hang in there, it will get better!

Carol Ann

03-30-2015, 09:45 AM	#8
Carol Ann Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 1,045	Re: Still severe afternoon fatigue daily after 4monthsTCH, 6months Herceptin only. I was exhausted too on Herceptin and it has taken a few months since I have finished to really begin to feel more energetic. Herceptin has a half life of 25 days, so there is still, as you receive it every 3 weeks, half a dose left when you get the next one. Bottom line is it takes a LONG time for it to work itself out of your system when you're done the year. Not that that is a bad thing overall ... I figure it is good to have some floating around attacking any stray HER2 +++ cell that might be hiding somewhere .... but yes, it is still there to blitz your energy level, too. I started walking indoors with Leslie Sansone walk dvds after Christmas and a month after finishing Herceptin-- much easier on my sore/neuropathy feet -- and she has one dvd that has 10 ten minute walks. It has really helped me build my stamina a little at a time. If I get too tired, I stop and try again the next day. So, like kathryn above, I finished Herceptin in Nov 2014 and I'm just now starting to feel really like myself again. Hang in there, it will get better! Carol Ann __________________ July 24, 2013: "Infected" Right Nipple and benign cyst removed, pathology report revealed Paget's, DCIS, and ILC 1.25 cm, ER+/Pro+/HER2 equivocal, Grade 2 under benign cyst, previous diagnostic mammo/ultrasound said I was perfectly healthy in both breasts. Aug 18, 2013: MRI report says Left breast is perfectly healthy "consistent with previous studies". Sept 2013: I insist on a bilateral mastectomy anyway. Too nervewracking to let left breast remain with higher risk after 3 cancers in right, nipple in right is already gone anyhow. Sept 18, 2013: Bilateral mastectomy, 11 right nodes removed, ALL negative BUT -- ER+/PRO+/HER2+ tumor, 1.0 cm, Grade 2 found in a piece of "grossly unremarkable" breast tissue from prophylactic mastectomy of left breast, no nodes removed. Oct 25, 2013: 13 left side nodes removed, ALL negative, Stage 1 across the board, NO RADS needed, YAAAAY! Port also installed. Nov 25, 2013 Begin 6 rounds TCH. March 10, 2014 Just finished 6th and LAST Chemo today, YAAAAAY! March 24, 2014 Echocardiogram to make sure I'm still good for Herceptin every 3 weeks. March 31, 2014 Echo results NORMAL, first Herceptin all by itself. Now if only my eyes would stop streaming from the Taxotere ... :) April 21, 2014 Started Arimidex and therapy for "mild" lymphedema in left hand and arm May 2014 Therapy completed, I have sleeves and gloves for both arms, a Flexi touch lymph pump to hook up to for an hour every day, and I've become an arm bandaging expert. :) June 2014 Begin Fosamax to prevent osteoporosis; bone scan revealed osteopenia Nov 17, 2014 FINAL Herceptin! Dec 4, 2014 My right thigh muscle has been extra achy for days ... I discover a blister rash cluster on the side of my right thigh while taking a shower. Port appointment cancelled until Dec 17, my doc is working me in tomorrow afternoon to see me and the rash. My muscle at least feels less achy. Dec 5, 2014 Yep, I have shingles. Boo! I start acyclovir and also have a prescription for a painkiller just in case for over the weekend. Dec 17, 2014 Port is OUT! January 2016 Shingles again and this time it started where my left breast (where the hidden HER2+++ tumor was!) used to be. My onc nurse got me a same day appointment to see my doc when I called and told her I had a rash on the site. The antiviral meds are working once again, though, so that is good news. :)