Please post your two cents on Herceptin "side effects" real or perceived!

pmm10414 · 12-20-2011, 04:15 AM

I agree. It gives you a sense of security. I could not imagine going through taxol again.

Rody · 12-20-2011, 03:52 PM

Have been on Herceptin every week since 10/07 for 1 year following TC chemo. No side effects noted. Restarted Herceptin after mets in lungs 6/09 and continue on every 3 weeks with different chemo regimins. Major side effects are constant liquid dripping nose, bleeding nose, dry eyes but dripping overflowing tears when up and active. Other side effects come and go and seem to be related to chemo drugs.
Thanks, Kay

Ms.Judi · 12-24-2011, 11:14 AM

I'm a Stage 3, ER/PR (-), Her2 (3+), post left mastectomy and currently on 3rd cycle of 6 TCH treatment. Herceptin is given every week until TC is finished then am scheduled to go to 3 week Herceptin infusions until Nov 2012. I won't really be able to assess the other effects until I'm on Herceptin only, but I am experiencing leg, foot and hand cramping as well as eye, nose and throat issues.

I'm so glad to know I'm not the only one with the nasal/eye issues. My onc nurse keeps suggesting an antibiotic, but I keep insisting the symptoms are more allergy-like. It's hard for me to separate my symptoms since I'm on 3 drug regimen but after reading these postings, I'm more convinced that the Herceptin is responsible for the ENT issues and it's not a "recurrent "head cold". My healthcare nurse advisor suggested I see my eye specialist (I have an appointment mid January so i'll let you know the outcome then) because she had another Herceptin patient with the runny and/or dry, scratchy eye symptoms who was successfully treated in office with laser surgery to her tear ducts. The eye doc said they were blocked, he could only attribute it to her current treatment since she had no history of a tear duct problem before Herceptin.

I also found a homeopathic nasal spray called "Allergy Buster" (OTC at drugstore) that really, really takes care of the nasal congestion and headache. The downside is it gives a really, really brief but intense nose burn. My husband tried it and said he got a mild burning sensation, but mine is definitely more than mild. We suspect it's because I had nasal irritation when I started using. But the relief it gives me, especially at night, is worth the few seconds of discomfort. P.S. We looked up the ingredients on the net and the main one is Capsacin. Duh! Ya think that might explain the nose burn?
Of course, check with your doc before using, but I went for that rather than Afrin or other OTC nasal sprays because it doesn't have a rebound effect like the other sprays when used over time.