Greetings (navelbine and herceptin??)

ncgirl · 03-03-2007, 08:25 AM

Hi, all, I'm newly dx with bc and 2 small mets to the liver. that was a shock on top of a shock, let me tell you. I am pr,er and her+. My onc has started me on navelbine and herceptin weekly. Is anyone on this regimen? Or been on it? I had a lumpectomy and reexcision with clear margins and node dissection with 5 of 20 +.
Supposedly this regimen is fairly well tolerated, and I have had one so far. I had really bad flu like symptoms the night of the infusion that lasted for about 7hours, and the next day, I was a little tired and achy but made it through the workday all right. In fact, the day after that (day 3?), I felt great, I had a good night's sleep, the first in a long time, and work was a breeze. Even walked two miles.
So, I just wanted to see who else has been on this tx, and how successfull were you. So far my onc is not telling me how long I will be on this weekly infusion, but says the herceptin will probably be "forever".
HOw long was it before anyone saw any results? I don't even really know when my next scan will be.
I have a million other questions, but can't thinkof them now, thanks, in advance for the support and info.

Christine · 03-03-2007, 09:24 AM

Welcome to the HER2 Support Group

Flu like symptons are associated with Herceptin. Did your onc also give you Benedryl? The tiredness is also from Herceptin, but should dimish as time passes.

Herceptin is generally very effective for liver mets. Also there are many long time survivors on these boards. I have been on Herceptin since August, 1999 and continue to do well.

Hugs
Christine

Mary Anne in TX · 03-03-2007, 10:08 AM

Hi! I did 8 treatments of Navelbine and Herceptin and did very well on it. It is the easiest combination I took! Just drink tons of water and walk and believe BIG that it is working for you. It seems to have worked great for me. ma

catgo · 03-03-2007, 01:20 PM

I have been on Navelbine/Herceptin for 8 months. I had mets to my liver & lungs and after 4 months everything was gone. My onc gives me Tylenol, Benydryl, Decadron & anti-nausea with each infusion. Besides an occassional headache I feel great. I take Herceptin 1week on, 2 weeks off & Navelbine, 2 weeks on, 1 week off. My onc & my second opinion from Sloan Kettering agree on continuing Navelbine for 1 year & herceptin forever.

janet/FL · 03-03-2007, 02:57 PM

Catgo
You have been on Decadron for 8 months. Do you sleep? I couldn't. But then I couldn't from the day they said I had breast cancer.

Andi · 03-03-2007, 03:05 PM

I have been on Navelbine/Herceptin weekly for lung mets since the beginning of January. I get the fatique from the Navelbine. It can be hard on the white blood counts, which it has for me. Because that makes my immune system really fragile, I have had some stomach issues at times, no nausea or diahrea, more like a good old fashioned belly ache. On the 16th of Feb, my whites were dropping, so they reduced the amount of Navelbine, but still gave it to me, the following week they went too low, so they just gave me herceptin.(which I do not receive any pre-meds with) March 2 I went in and had a chest xray as well as blood tests. The chest xray showed that my lesions are continuing to shrink and my blood counts were back up so I could have the Navelbine again. I went into this regimine right after having surgery, but the week I was off of the Navelbine, I could really tell how much it had really made me tired. I had so much extra energy that week. When I was on herceptin alone following my initial diagnosis, I had more hot flashes, runny/crusty nose, thin fingernails and my ankles would be stiff when I first got up, but after a few steps it would go away. I was off herceptin for about 3 months and the hot flashes went almost completely away, as did the nose and ankle issues. My fingernails remain very thin and now that I have started back on the herceptin, the other symptoms have returned, but I feel it is a small price to pay for keeping those cancer cells at bay. Good luck to you, and I hope you will tolerate your treatments.

Joy · 03-04-2007, 11:51 AM

I have also been on this combination. I started end of August 2006. So I have been on a weekly schedule for 6 months. Occasionallly the lower dose is necessary, but I have always been able to receive it. The only pre-med I get is Kytril. It has been my favorite chemo of all that I have been on (A/C-ick, ick, ugh-Taxotere/Xeloda - felt a little beat up-Taxol/Carbo-insidious low grade depression and fatigue).

I'm actually praying that I stay on it. I had good response after 6 weeks and now we are waiting to see what's the what. I'll know this week.

Anyway, I have horrible fingernails (Herceptin, I'm sure). And some cumulative fatigue (actually happy to hear others have had this as I've been feeling like a slacker again). Sometimes I get a yucky taste in my mouth a couple days after, but food largely tastes the same. Constipation has been a problems, but treatable. And the water advice is right on. I'm a good water drinker, but I need a lot more than usual on this combination (especially in Colorado). I also have the nose crusties from herceptin and weird cramps now and again.

But, I have happy new hair that needs to be cut and I feel quite good and can take care of my kids and everybody else's and go out with friends and ignore housework like usual.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Lolly · 03-04-2007, 11:07 PM

Hi, I had Navelbine/Herceptin weekly and found it very tolerable and very effective. I would sometimes only receive a half dose of Navelbine if my white counts were too low, but by the follwing week they would have recovered enough so that I could get the full dose. Had some stomach issues, but no real nausea however I got anti-nausea meds at infusion and pills to take at home if I needed. I would usually take one pill in the evening and then be fine the rest of the week. Good luck, keep us posted.

<3 Lolly

TheresaM · 03-06-2007, 09:01 PM

Hi: I did 6 months of Herceptin/Navelbine but I never responded to it. My cancer continued to grow and finally metastasized to my lungs during this treatment. I didn't respond to Herceptin/Taxol/Carboplatin before that. But i know lots of folks who did respond. I found the navelbine/Herceptin easy to tolerate except for fatigue towards the end of the six months. Also, I never let my doc give me any premeds after the first infusion, since I hate the feeling of the benadryl and the steroids. I took my chances with an allergic reaction. Never had one.

Good luck,
Theresa