|
09-12-2006, 07:58 PM
|
#1
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 4
|
For those of you worried about Herceptin weight gain
Hi,
I finally finished my Herceptin treatments on June 6th. I was taking Herceptin by itself for 1 full year. Like many of us, I gained 5-7 pounds within 3 months of starting Herceptin. This was after already gaining approx. 7 pounds from chemo, etc. I am happy to say that after completing my Herceptin treatments, the weight came off me very quickly with little effort. Last week on my post 3 month visit to my oncologist I discovered that I had dropped 7 pounds. I know that weight gain is not listed as a side effect for Herceptin but I truly feel that it should be and that the weight will come off once Herceptin treatments are finished.
|
|
|
09-12-2006, 08:53 PM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 823
|
I am so glad to hear this. I have only been finished with Herceptin for two weeks now, and I just HOPE my extra weight drops as well.
Yes, I agree with you that weight gain should be lised as a side effect.
__________________
Vicki
Texas
Biopsy Dx'd 3-23-05 Age 48
MRM 4-5-05 w/ 2 tumor's 5cm, and 6 cm (right side)
IDC (poorly differentiated infiltrating ductual carcinoma)
5+/16 nodes
Stage III A
Grade 3
ER/PR-, Her2/neu ++
Ki67 78%
Begin Chemo 5-2-05 4XAC Dose Dense , 4X Abraxane Dose Dense (ended August 05)
28 Rad's ended October 13 2005
Started Herceptin Weekly August 2005 for one year
Had a Simple mastectomy left side after Mamo showed incresed micro-calcifications. Jan. 17 2006.
Brain MRI Feb.2006--All Clear
August 28, 2006 Last Weekly Herceptin.
October 2006--Colonoscopy, 6 Polyp's removed--all B9
PET Scan July 2007
Abdominal MRI Oct. 2007---2 Right Kidney Cysts
Core Biopsy-- Lump on Scar Line 1-10-08---B9
Brain MRI 6-2008--All Clear
PET/CT Scan 6-2008
Sept. 8 2008, 4CM area removed from mastectomy scar line. Proved to be B9.
PET/CT Scan-- July 2009 --All clear
August 17,2009 ---Had Port Removed
6 Years NED -- April 5,2011
DX'd with Melanoma left arm 10-10-2011
|
|
|
09-13-2006, 02:26 AM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 1,516
|
Ironically...
I've noticed that it's gotten easier for me too (my last Herceptin was 8/10) and my diet hasn't changed (this is ULTRA healthy) so I'm starting to wonder it it was the Herceptin. Take care.
Rhonda
__________________
Rhonda
Dx 2/1/05, Stage 1, 0 nodes, Grade 3, ER/PR-, HER2+ (3.16 Fish)
2/7/05, Partial Mastectomy
5/18/05 Finished 6 rounds of dose dense TEC (Taxotere, Epirubicin and Cytoxan)
8/1/05 Finished 33 rads
8/18/05 Started Herceptin, every 3 weeks for a year (last one 8/10/06)
2/1/13...8 year Cancerversary and I am "perfect" (at least where cancer is concerned;)
" And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."- Abraham Lincoln
|
|
|
09-13-2006, 05:45 AM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Sheboygan, WI
Posts: 2,582
|
HI Rhonda,
I have 2 more herceptin treatments to go and I too would like to lose about 8 pounds (10 would be nicer - LOL). I've been exercising (as I had been throughout chemo) and eating healthier than I ever did and not dropping much at all. An occasional pound or so and then it goes back on. So, I'm hoping that when my herceptin finishes up Oct. 11 that will happen to me too.
I do have some body aches and a pain under my left rib that I've had since chemo and herceptin. Not sure if it's residual from the taxol or if it's the herceptin. I feel awesome and can only pray that continues for many many years.
Hugs to all.
Mary Jo
__________________
"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
Dx. 6/24/05 age 45 Right Breast IDC ER/PR. Neg., - Her2+++ RB Mast. - 7/28/05 - 4 cm. tumor Margins clear - 1 microscopic cell 1 sent. node No Vasucular Invasion 4 DD A/C - 4 DD Taxol & Herceptin 1 full year of Herceptin received every 3 weeks 28 rads prophylactic Mast. 3/2/06
17 Years NED
<>< Romans 8:28
|
|
|
09-13-2006, 06:27 AM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,380
|
I was told that edema was a potential side effect from Herceptin, which makes sense, since cardiomyopathy is also a potential side effect. I think the Herceptin weight gain comes from water retention, which should quickly drop once the drug is discontinued.
Hopeful
|
|
|
09-13-2006, 01:08 PM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: northshore suburb of chicago
Posts: 1,093
|
I agree with you hopeful because last week I had swollen ankles and an extra 7lbs and the onc put me on a diuretic and poof....off came the 7lbs. So definitely I think the weight gain is from fluid retention.
__________________
~Rina~
Dx:3/06 had a lumpectomy April 19, 2006
Her2+ er/pr- Stage I Grade 3 tumor size 1.4 cm, node negative
AC 4 dense doses
34 radiation treatments including booster doses
receiving herceptin every 3 weeks since late August 2006 for 12 months
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 06:34 AM.
|