Herceptin and surgery

juliesu · 03-11-2006, 07:07 PM

To all the Her 2+ girls out there. Did anyone undergo surgery whilst on Herceptin. I had a right mastectomy in Oct. Had AC and started Herceptin 2 weeks ago. My oncolgy surgeon told me he would not do it until I was off herceptin as there is the chance of wound healing issues. If he wasn't so damn cute I'd have punched him. Noone told me this before I started the treatment.

He is happy to put a port in but not do the mastectomy!!! I hope my PS will do my expander replacement whilst on Herceptin I will be totally pissed off if I have to stay lob-sided for a year. If that is the case I will punch HIM. Cute or NOT!!!

Jxxxx

Becky · 03-11-2006, 07:13 PM

I had an oophorectomy while on Herceptin. I know you will get responses from this site that some gals had elective surgeries (hysterectomies and propholactic mastectomy) while on Herceptin.

Wound healing is a problem while on chemo but Herceptin is immunotherapy not a chemotherapy.

Hope this helps.

Best regards,

Becky

juliesu · 03-11-2006, 07:29 PM

Thanks Becky
Yes I should have said this will be a prophylactic mastectomy and implant replacement. I was shocked that herceptin was going to be a problem. He said he would avoid the mastectomy as it was a more radical surgery than expander replacement and it is still unclear as to whether herceptin does or doesn't interfere with wound healing? He thought it was a risk. Looking forward to hearing everyone's thoughts.

Thanks
Julie

Julie2 · 03-11-2006, 09:35 PM

I had tubal ligation while on Herceptin. Healing was not a problem.

Julie

lia · 03-12-2006, 05:32 AM

I was told by a registrar ( not my surgeon ) at my first follow up appt at my nhs hospital ( in the uk ) that i couldnt have oopherectomy or prophylactic (sp ?) mastectomy until my 1 year of private hospital herceptin had finished in october.I wasnt given a reason and i didnt ask as i was shocked not to see my surgeon and the doctor didnt even seem to have opened my file. My private oncologist is not particularly interested, so I ve asked my gp to find out why the wait, i d not heard of problems healing on herceptin , but this may well be the answer i eventually receive.

kim · 03-12-2006, 07:27 AM

I have had 2 surgeries while on herceptin. I had a proph. mast. with a tissue expander put in. Then I had the expanders replaced with implants. I did not have any trouble with healing either time.
Kim

DianaK · 03-12-2006, 07:30 AM

I had just started Herceptin last year when I had my prophylactic mast and expander put in.No one said anything about not doing it.Of course,it had only been one or two treatments.I have since had my implant exchange and nipple recon-have not had any complications.I will be finished with herceptin in a couple of months.Diana

Liz J. · 03-13-2006, 06:14 PM

Hi Julie, Just a guess, but maybe some oncs. are more concerned about the safety of having surgery while on Herceptin for heart issues. Especially those who are very conservative. I guess it depends on the onc. and how involved the surgery is i.e. amount of time under anesthesia, etc. My surgeon's nurse told me that I could not have any surgery without my onc's permission until I was one year out of chemo. They all have different protocols.

Kimberly Lewis · 03-13-2006, 06:42 PM

I had a R mastectomy 3 weeks ago and went for my Herceptin treatment the week after surgery. No problems to speak of. I did have fluid on this side that I didn't have with the L while not on hercepting but don't think that had anything to do with it...

03-15-2006, 01:24 PM

Thankyou ALL. looks like my surgeon is getting other opinions as well ;-) And other surgeons are obviously operating whilst on hercptin!

Jxx

Jackie · 03-16-2006, 06:47 PM

I had my tissue expander removed with implants placed while I was on Herceptin. My PS also did nipple construction. I didn't have any difficulty.

Jackie