Herceptin ?

I had my LOADING dose of a 3wk regimen of Herceptin alone on 8/18/05 ( I was dx w/ Stage 1, Grade 3, No nodes, ER/PR-, Her2+ on 2/1/05, had partial mastectomy on 2/7/05, finished 6 rounds of dose dense Taxotere, Epirubicin & Cytoxan on 5/18/05 followed by 33 rads). After my last dose of chemo I became anemic (8.1 rbc), but refused a blood transfusion due to the other risk factors. About a month later I was at 10.9, not sure what it was when I started Herceptin. Shortly after starting Herceptin I began experiencing dizziness (off and on). When I checked the Herceptin side effects it showed that this occured in 13% of the cases. Did any of you experience it after the loading dose and did it go away in time?

I actually felt pretty good after the 1st loading dose. The 2nd dose however left me feeling like I had a hangover. Dizzy !!! I felt like I could not look up or sideways very fast or my head would "spin". I still have a little "twinge" of nausea. Very tolerable - no meds for any side effects.

My dizziness lasted about 5 days. I got to the point where I did not feel comfortable driving a car. But now I am back on the road as the family Taxi!

My blood pressure also went up. The onc's main concern was that my blood pressure was higher than normal for a few days. This was last week. I got a brain MRI and an EKG because of the dizziness. Everything came back OK thank God! I too have the exact Stage I Dx as you- only I am 5% ER positive.

I go in for round three of Herceptin this coming Friday. Onc feels that I can go in every 2 weeks if I want. I hate being dizzy- but would rather have this than chemo again!

Maria

My loading dose literally sent me into shock. Crashed BP, O2 levels, no blood clotting, etc. and life in the ICU for 3 tentative days, then into the regular hospital for 6 more. Don't remember dizzy, but do remember close to death.

Love and light,

Lisa

Oh my gosh Lisa, and they STILL let you continue? Was that the 3 week or weekly? Was the next dose easier?