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10-18-2007, 09:18 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,014
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Changed my Herceptin..question
I've been taking Herceptin now for almost 2 years on the weekly cycle. I had some trouble for the first year tolerating the side effects, headaches, crusty nose, the usual. I met with my oncologist on Tuesday and he agreed to continue it for as long as I wanted but we decided to go on the 3 week schedule. I was ready for a break, I got the triple dose. For the last 2 days, I have felt HORRIBLE. I can hardly pick my head up off the pillow in the morning, head is aching terribly and my body just aches. I really was looking forward to not having to go in every week but I sure don't want to feel like this every month. For you 3 week gals, is this normal and do you all adjust? I'm thinking I may not be able to tolerate the triple dose and have to go back to what I was doing weekly...sherry
__________________
Sherry
Diagnosed: December , 2005 at age 44
13+ positive lymph nodes
Stage IV , Her2+, 2 small mets to lungsChemo Started: Jan, 2006
4 months Taxotere, Xeloda, Hercepin
NED since April 2006!!
36 Rads to follow with weekly Herceptin indefinately
8 years NED now
Scans every year
Life is not about avoiding the thunderstorms, it's about learning to dance in the rain!
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10-18-2007, 11:16 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Morris, IL
Posts: 3,507
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Sherry
You probably won't see this until morning, I am on a Decadron high....I always had Herceptin every 3 weeks until lately...now I am on every 2...both have been fine for me. You must see what your body tolerates best...I would give the 3 week dose another try.
__________________
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Hugs & Blessings
Sheila
Diagnosed at age 49.99999 2/21/2002 via Mammography (Calcifications)
Core Biopsy 2/22/02
L. Mastectomy 2/25/2002
Stage 1, 0.7cm IDC, Node Neg from 19 nodes Her2+++ ER PR Neg
6/2003 Reconstruction W/ Tissue Expander, Silicone Implant
9/2003 Stage IV with Mets to Supraclavicular nodes
9/2003 Began Herceptin every 3 weeks
3/2006 Xeloda 2500mg/Herceptin for recurrence to neck nodes
3/2007 Added back the Xeloda with Herceptin for continued mets to nodes
5/2007 Taken Off Xeloda, no longer working
6/14/07 Taxol/Herceptin/Avastin
3/26 - 5/28/08 Taxol Holiday Whopeeeeeeeee
5/29 2008 Back on Taxol w Herceptin q 2 weeks
4/2009 Progression on Taxol & Paralyzed L Vocal Cord from Nodes Pressing on Nerve
5/2009 Begin Rx with Navelbine/Herceptin
11/09 Progression on Navelbine
Fought for and started Tykerb/Herceptin...nodes are melting!!!!!
2/2010 Back to Avastin/Herceptin
5/2010 Switched to Metronomic Chemo with Herceptin...Cytoxan and Methotrexate
Pericardial Window Surgery to Drain Pericardial Effusion
7/2010 Back to walking a mile a day...YEAH!!!!
9/2010 Nodes are back with a vengence in neck
Qualified for TDM-1 EAP
10/6/10 Begin my miracle drug, TDM-1
Mixed response, shrinking internal nodes, progression skin mets after 3 treatments
12/6/10 Started Halaven (Eribulen) /Herceptin excellent results in 2 treatments
2/2011 I CELEBRATE my 9 YEAR MARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7/5/11 begin Gemzar /Herceptin for node progression
2/8/2012 Gemzar stopped, Continue Herceptin
2/20/2012 Begin Tomo Radiation to Neck Nodes
2/21/2012 I CELEBRATE 10 YEARS
5/12/2012 BeganTaxotere/ Herceptin is my next miracle for new node progression
6/28/12 Stopped Taxotere due to pregression, Started Perjeta/Herceptin
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10-18-2007, 11:22 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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Sherry,
You are probably feeling the way you are because you most likely got a loading dose since you are switching to the every three week schedule. Give it a try as it does make your like simpler. I know that when I went on the three weeks regime I had to get a loading dose and didn't feel too great but then after that my infusions every three weeks only took 30 minutes. Other than joint pain I was fine. Hang in there
__________________
Kate
Stage IIIC Diagnosed Oct 25, 2005 (age 58)
ER/PR-, HER2+++, grade 3, Ploidy/DNA index: Aneuploid/1.61, S-phase: 24.2%
Neoadjunct chemo: 4 A/C; 4 Taxatore
Bilateral mastectomy June 8, 2006
14 of 26 nodes positive
Herceptin June 22, 2006 - April 20, 2007
Radiation (X35) July 24-September 11, 2006
BRCA1/BRCA2 negative
Stage IV lung mets July 13, 2007 - TCH
Single brain met - August 6, 2007 -CyberKnife
Oct 2007 - clear brain MRI and lung mets shrinking.
March 2008 lung met progression, brain still clear - begin Tykerb/Xeloda/Ixempra
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10-19-2007, 03:46 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Stockton, NJ
Posts: 4,179
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I switched from weekly to the every three week. You do not get a loading dose but you do get 3X the amount of drug than you did before which is just as large as the loading dose for the weekly. You will adjust. I regreted the switch at first for the same reasons as you but then it became the same as the weekly except there was freedom to go away - not shackled to the cancer center.
Everyone is different though. If after your fourth triple dose you are still feeling lousy - you can always switch back to the weekly.
__________________
Kind regards
Becky
Found lump via BSE
Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45
1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side)
2 micromets to sentinel node
Stage 2A
left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg
lumpectomies 9/7/04
4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol
Used Leukine instead of Neulasta
35 rads on right side only
4/05 started Tamoxifen
Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to
trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations
Oophorectomy 8/05
Started Arimidex 9/05
Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06
Arimidex Only
Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia
NED 18 years!
Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"
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10-19-2007, 04:47 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: WHITESTOWN IN
Posts: 148
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I remember when I first switched I noticed some headaches and more joint ache than before, but after a couple they lessened and now most of the time I am just fine. Just those pesky boogers! Yuck. Who would of thought one of my worse side effects of cancer would be boogers. lol But like Becky said give it a try and if it does not turn around for you swithc back.
__________________
DX IDC AT 42 12/7/06
2.2CM STAGE I GRADE 2
NODE NEG
PARTIAL 12/18/06
HER2+ /ER+(75%) PR+(5%)
4 DD AC CHEMO STARTING 1/10/07
4 DD Taxol Starting 3/5/07
1year weekly Herceptin starting 3/5/07
finished 2/18/08
changed to every 3 weeks 4/23/07
completed 33 radiation treatments 7/6/07
TAH and BSO 9/24/07
start Femarra 10/8/07
Started Neritinib trial 12/14/09
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10-19-2007, 06:37 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Thornhill, Ontario
Canada
Posts: 2,320
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Hi Sherry,
I have always been on the every 3 week schedule of Herceptin - I've had 7 infusions. The first one was the loading dose, given over 90 minutes. Then they switched me to 30 minutes, and I was very nauseous, headachey, very tired. Some of the women suggested slowing down the infustion to 60 or 90 minutes, my onc. and the onc. pharmacist agreed to try - what a difference for me. I now do a 60 minute infusion every 3 weeks. I still am a bit tired for the first 3 -4 days after the infusion, but nothing I can't live with.
Also for me the joint aches have calmed down considerably - but for me I think these aches were also impacted by starting Tamoxifen one month after starting Herceptin - my poor body was hit with a double whammy. I took a lot of Naproxen for a number of weeks, but now I hardly every do.
I would try the 3 week cycle for a couple of more times, as Becky and Kriss said, you can always go back to the 1 week schedule.
all the best
caya
__________________
ER90%+/PR 50%+/HER 2+
1.7 cm and 1.0 cm.
Stage 1, grade 2, Node Negative (16 nodes tested)
MRM Dec.18/06
3 x FEC, 3 x Taxotere
Herceptin - every 3 weeks for a year, finished May 8/08
Tamoxifen - 2 1/2 years
Femara - Jan. 1, 2010 - July 18, 2012
BRCA1/BRCA2 Negative
Dignosed 10/16/06, age 48 , premenopausal
Mild lymphedema diagnosed June 2009 - breast surgeon and lymph. therapist think it's completely reversible - hope so.
Reclast infusion January 2012
Oopherectomy October 2013
15 Years NED!!
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10-19-2007, 07:30 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 368
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I've always been on the 3 week schedule. Right after infusion I have headache, runny nose, blah draggy feeling for a few days.
But now the bone pain is getting unbearable, and I'm not sure if it's the H side effects or arthritis, or a combo. I go to see my GP today and see what she thinks.
I get a 90 minute infusion each time.
__________________
12/12/06- IDC Stage III, 4x A/C, 35 rads, Herceptin 1 year
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10-19-2007, 10:48 AM
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#8
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Guest
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Sherry,
Sorry you're having so many issues with three-week herceptin. I can't comment on my first dose as it was included with taxol and carboplatin--and it was hell.
However, after chemo I continued with the three week dose, and aside from usual suspects: cough, running nose, swollen feet and ankles and some shortness of breadth, I found it relatively easy.
I'd said give it at least one more try, as it's lots better than interrupting your life once a week. Also, easier on veins if you don't have a port.
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10-19-2007, 11:34 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 3,154
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Sherry,
Sorry that you are feeling strong effects..give your body time to adjust.
I did the 3 week herceptin and it was fine. Still had the crusty nose,
the joint aches /muscle cramping...but you body adjusts.
Wishing you the best,
Jean
__________________
Stage 1, Grade 1, 3/30/05
Lumpectomy 4/15/05 - 6MM IDC
Node Neg. (Sentinel node)
ER+ 90% / PR-, Her2+++ by FISH
Ki-67 40%
Arimidex 5/05
Radiation 32 trt, 5/30/05
Oncotype DX test 4/17/06, 31% high risk
TOPO 11 neg. 4/06
Stopped Arimidex 5/06
TCH 5/06, 6 treatments
Herceptin 5/06 - for 1 yr.
9/06 Completed chemo
Started Femara Sept. 2006
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10-19-2007, 01:33 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,014
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Thanks all. I am feeling much better today, 3 days out. I actually woke up and didn't feel like I was hit by a train. I guess I can tolerate it if it only lasts 2 days. I'm just one who doesn't like to just sit around. It's so hard for me to just sit and relax. Yes, the boogers are terrible for me also..lol...sherry
__________________
Sherry
Diagnosed: December , 2005 at age 44
13+ positive lymph nodes
Stage IV , Her2+, 2 small mets to lungsChemo Started: Jan, 2006
4 months Taxotere, Xeloda, Hercepin
NED since April 2006!!
36 Rads to follow with weekly Herceptin indefinately
8 years NED now
Scans every year
Life is not about avoiding the thunderstorms, it's about learning to dance in the rain!
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10-19-2007, 01:50 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,210
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Sherry, I'll have to let you know. I just began Herceptin alone this week. Had been taking THC and had heavy duty side effects. Will be interested to see how I adjust to the change. Right now just feeling some aches. Glad to hear you are sounding better.
__________________
Bonnie
Post menopause
May 2007 Core biopsy, Rt breast
ER+, Pr-, HER2 +++, Grade 3
Ki-67: 90%
"suspicious area" left breast
Bilateral mastectomy, (NED on left) May 2007
Sentinel Node Neg
Stage 1, DCIS with microinvasion, 3 mm, mostly removed during the biopsy....
Femara (discontinued 7/07) Resumed 10/07
OncoType score 36 (July 07)
Began THC 7/26/07 (d/c taxol and carboplatin 10/07)
Began Herceptin alone 10/07
Finished Herceptin July /08
D/C Femara 4/10 (joint pain/trigger thumb!)
5/10 mistakenly dx with lung cancer. Middle rt lobe removed!
Aromasin started 5/10
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10-24-2007, 10:15 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Detroit Metropolitan Area, Michigan
Posts: 592
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Sherry, I have been on the 3 week cycle for over 10 months now. I am very fortunate I don't have any significant side effects from the Herceptin. However, when I first started Chemo, a little old lady at Chemo suggested eating and drinking all the while during infusion. I think it really helps. You may want to give it a try. How long or over what period of time did your triple Herceptin infusion last? Perhaps if they slowed it down, the side effects might lessen. Best to you.
__________________
Aug06...Dx Age 50, IDC Left Breast, 6+/16 lymph nodes, Stg 3, ER+/PR+/HER2+
Sep06-Jan07...Mediport. Chemo: AC x 4, T x 4
Dec06-Nov07...Herceptin
Feb12,2007...Surg MRM Left & SM Right, reconstruct w/expanders
Mar07-Jun07...Saline Exp
Jun07...Start Tamoxifen
Jun07-Aug07...Rad x 25
Jun07-Oct07...Persistent fevers-unknown origin
Jun07-Nov07...PT for Severe PMPS & Capsular Contracture
Nov07...Surg Capsulectomy, Gel Implants, PMPS pain gone instantly.
Feb08...NED 1st CANCERVERSARY!!!!!
Feb08...2 months post surgery Caps Cont again :(
Mar08...Stop Tamoxifen. Start Arimidex.
Apr08...Sudden high fever, Hosp ICU 10 days, staph infect, emerg surg, implants removed. Outpt IVantibiotics Daily x 6 weeks
Feb11...NED 5th CANCERVERSARY!!!!!
Feb12...NED 6th CANCERVERSARY!!!!!
Aug12...Spotting. Surg=D&C
Sep12...STAGE IV = RARE BC METS TO UTERUS ILC ER+/PR+/HER2-Negative) (Different BC than originally diagnosed = IDC ER+/PR+/HER2+).
Sep12...Stop Arimidex. Start Afinitor & Aromasin.
Jan13...MRI = no progression no reduction
Apr13...Progression. Stop Afinitor & Aromasin.
Apr13...Start Chemo: Taxol & Carboplatin.
Nov13...Scans & Pelvic 95+% Reduction. Nueropathy>Stop chemo start Fareston.
Jan14...PET scan = no progression stable.
May14...Pelvic > Bleeding & cramps. TMs up.
May14...PET scan = uterine progression :(
May14...Stop Fareston. Start Chemo: Xeloda.
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10-25-2007, 05:45 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Poland Ohio just a little south of Youngstown.
Posts: 473
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Sherry, When I first started herceptin, I was on the three week dosage. I found that I didn't tolerate it very well and asked my onc if I could just try the weekly dose to see if it made a difference. I've been going weekly since last January. Yes, it's a pain in the butt to go every week but I honestly have no side effects. What makes it a lot easier for me is that I live about a quarter of a mile from my infusion center and I walk there every Friday. I know it would be a lot harder if I had to drive a good distance. But, for me, this works well, it's almost as if I'm not having any treatment except for the inconvenience and I can handle that.
The best thing to do is try it and see what works for you.
Prayers for you.
Hugs
__________________
Susan
Age: 61
dx: 5/25/06
2 cm/ 0 nodes
Lumpectomy rt breast on 7/26/06
ER/PR- / Her2+++
A/C x 4
finished taxotere 2/07
finished 33 rads
Herceptin finished 12/07/07 Yippee!
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10-25-2007, 09:39 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,014
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The bad feeling lasted for about 5 days. I'm going to give it another try and if I feel that bad, Im going to go back to weekly. I just live about 5 minutes from where I get chemo, so travelings not an issue. My infusion was 45 minutes, I'm going to see if that makes a difference. ...sherryg
__________________
Sherry
Diagnosed: December , 2005 at age 44
13+ positive lymph nodes
Stage IV , Her2+, 2 small mets to lungsChemo Started: Jan, 2006
4 months Taxotere, Xeloda, Hercepin
NED since April 2006!!
36 Rads to follow with weekly Herceptin indefinately
8 years NED now
Scans every year
Life is not about avoiding the thunderstorms, it's about learning to dance in the rain!
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10-26-2007, 08:52 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 182
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Hi Sherry;
you should be getting it over 90 minutes!....one time they made that mistake and did it faster and I felt soooo tired for several days that I could barely get out of bed. I now double check the pump rate myself.The nurses are in such a habit of setting for weekly at 30minutes that it is just automatic for them to put in the faster time without thinking that it is a triple dose.
kk1
__________________
KK1
April 2004 de novo metastatic left breast 1.5cm her2++,er+/pr+ with 2 small liver mets
weekly taxotere,herceptin, xeloda
Sept 2004 NED-3 herceptin, zoladex,aromasin
Dec 2006 recurrence in liver
Feb. 2007 liver resection left lobe removed-herceptin, zoladex, switch to Arimidex
NED 16 months added zometa
May 2008 new lesion in liver 15mm Tykerb/Xeloda/Herceptin
July 2008 stable...yeah!
Sept 2008 NED again !!!
Jan 2009 fell off the wagon again spot back in the liver and fell out of menopause.
Feb 2009 RFA and 2nd liver resection to remove spot ---back on the NED wagon again continue Tykerb, Herceptin.
March 2009- oophrectomy added Femara and bi-annual Zometa
May 2009- scans clear but suspect lung nodule
June 2009- Lung VAT wedge resection to remove nodule---fungus ball not cancer!! phew
Aug 2009- NED
Nov 2009-scans again clear YAHOO!
March 2010- scans clear continue Tykerb, Herceptin, Femara, Zometa Q6mo
Nov 2009-Nov 2019 scans clear done every 6 months
Feb 2020 - Fell out of the NED wagon hard! single liver lesions and large infect cyst. 3 weeks in ICU.
March 2021- 5 cycles perjeta, herceptin, navelbine. lesion stable.
June 2021 - 3rd liver resection to remove single liver lesion. Continued perjeta, herceptin.
Nov. 2021- PET scan show 5 hot nodes near liver. 9 cycles Kadcyla
June 2021- PET scan shows progression. nodes size unchanged but even more SUV uptake.
July 2021- start ENHERTU
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10-26-2007, 03:35 PM
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#16
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 14
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Hi, Sherry
I just completed my one-year Herceptin program last month. I was on the 3-week schedule too. It was harder in the beginning, but did get better. Your body will get used to it. I had a harder time with Decadron. Taking Claritin every day for the first week helped. Unfortunately, I continued having problems with nasal congestion for the year, but that is now going away. Hope this helped.
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10-26-2007, 06:17 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Lincoln, Rhode Island
Posts: 371
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Hi Sherry,
I am glad you are going to give it another try, I have been getting my herceptin every three weeks for a long time know. And some treatments are better than others why I have no clue. But I pray you can tolerate the triple dosage for it is a lot easier going there every three weeks. If not talk to your doctor and go back on the weekly treatments. Please keep us posted on how you are doing. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
__________________
Love and Hope
Karen
IDC
DX 1998 STAGE I ER+/ PR+
AC CHEMO TILL FEB 1999
Tamxofin till 2001
2001 exstensive liver mets and mets to lungs
Started weekly taxol
Jan 2002 found out I was strongly HER2POS+++ started herceptin continued with taxol and herceptin till June 2002 then from June 2002 till Jan 2005 just herceptin and Arimidex
2005 Navelbine herceptin had RFA Then back on taxol with herceptin
April 2006 progression again went on clinical trial with tykrerb/herceptin progressed on the started Xeloda/ herceptin
Feb 2007 started Doxil
August 2007 Taxotere,Carboplatin and Herceptin exstensive mets to liver and pancreas
October 2007 Had to stop Carboplatin due to sever allergic reaction
Jan 2008
Stopped Taxotere due to progression now on Gemzar and Herceptin
March 2008 Starting Carboplatin, Abraxane, and Herceptin.
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10-27-2007, 06:27 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 415
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Hi Sherry~
Hang in there w/the q3week Herceptin dose! It is sososo nice not having to go to the infusion center EVERY week.
I had been on the qweekly dose after finishing the 1st year of chemo, but found I couldn't tolerate the q3week/30min dose either - SO SORE! I felt like I had SEVERE arthritis from my skull to my tailbone and flu'ish too.
I eventually switched back to the qweekly dose.
BUT, when I switched Onc. & began treatment at a new center, I tried the q3week dose over 90 mins (that's the standard protocol @this new place. i asked if they could run the infusion over 30 mins & they said No.) and I've tolerated it really well.
No more severe arthritic pain, still mildly flu'ey w/in 24 hrs, but a couple of tylenol takes care of that.
I don't know if it's the slower, longer infusion time or the fact that I've been on maintenance Herceptin since 2003 & I've just adapted to this dose, but I much prefer the freedom of this schedule. (Unfortunately, that's changed as I've had to resume chemo for a couple of naughty supraclavicular nodes...)
Hang in there, try a slower, longer infusion as well as the other helpful suggestions posted here.
Hope your next time around is more tolerable!
Prayers, Faith & Courage~
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