herceptin wkly vs q 3wks?

mimiflower07 · 12-19-2007, 08:43 AM

can someone please explain the difference between having her weekly vs every third week? Is there something i'm missing is one schedule more effective, easier on the heart? When they say herceptin for a year do they mean weekly then change to every 3 weeks or is there a standard amount that is given regardless of the schedule in the one year period.
Hope i'm expressing my self accurately. thanks
suzanne

Believe51 · 12-19-2007, 09:06 AM

Ed was taking his Herceptin weekly vs. every 3 weeks and doctors are still debating whether it DOES make a difference. Research is still being gathered right now looking for those answers. He had few side effects this way but there is no way for us to know for certain that was the reason. Do not know if this helps you out, but if nothing else it will pull up the post so we may get the answer if they have come up with one yet.>>Believe51

MJo · 12-19-2007, 09:20 AM

We receive a standard amount of Herceptin for one year. You would either receive a triple dose every three weeks or a single dose once a week. I went every three weeks for convenience, primarily. Didn't want to visit the cancer center every week. I don't think there is evidence that one way is easier on the heart than the other.

mts · 12-19-2007, 09:49 AM

I went every two weeks...

Maria

mimiflower07 · 12-19-2007, 09:57 AM

i was just wondering if i recieved herceptin weekly at a slower infusion rate would this aid in protecting the heart slightly.
thanks for the quick replies
suzanne

caya · 12-19-2007, 10:55 AM

suzanne-

I believe there was a post last week that slowing down the infusion time from 30 minutes to 45 minutes has been recommended to have less heart damage potential.

I have been doing my every 3 week Herceptin in 60 minutes, as I was having severe nausea the first couple of times at 30 minutes. I have been fine, and now it seems the slower infusion time will be beneficial for the ticker as well.

all the best
caya

PinkGirl · 12-19-2007, 12:56 PM

Does anyone know this for sure? Is getting the treatment
weekly easier on the heart? I honestly thought that my
treatments were changed to every 3 weeks because I was
finished with the Taxol and it was more convenient for me.

Believe51 · 12-19-2007, 11:07 AM

I should have added but forgot that Ed had these treatments weekly with slow infusions. Convience was not a factor because he had chemo and Zometa infusions that fell on different weeks anyway so we were in infusion lab weekly with a port-a-cath poke to begin with>>Believe51

Brenda_D · 12-19-2007, 11:41 AM

Mine are every 3 weeks, given over 90 minutes.

Sherryg683 · 12-23-2007, 10:20 PM

I have always done mine every week now for 2 years because I have had problems with reactions with Herceptins, terrible head and body aches. A couple of months ago, I figured I would try to switch to the 3 week schedule and boy did I have a reaction. I felt like I had the flu for 4 days. I live very close to my facility and it's a pain to go in every week but it seems to be the only way my body can tolerate it well. I might try again to do the 3 week schedule because it was nice not going in there for that long..sherryg