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01-13-2009, 10:52 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Franklin, MA
Posts: 131
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Length of Herceptin Infusion
Hi All,
When I went for my "every 3 week" Herceptin on Friday, instead of a 90 minute infusion I got a 30 minute infusion.
One of the oncologists in the practice had been to the San Antonio conference and said that she learned there that this would now be normal practice. However, I can't seem to find anything that supports that.
Don't get me wrong - I'd rather get done with treatment an hour earlier...I just want to be sure it is safe. I get regular echocardiograms and they have all been normal since I started Herceptin over 3 years ago.
Any thoughts from this group of knowledgeable people would be appreciated.
__________________
Diagnosed 10-03-2005 (34 wks pregnant, 38 yrs old)
Lumpectomy Nov-2005. 10/18 Lymph Nodes impacted
Mets to liver, spine & femurs (thus being stage IV right from the get-go)
ER-, PR-, HER2+
Taxol/Herceptin/Zometa started Dec-2005. 11 cycles of Taxol.
Sept-2006: PET/CT scan of mets to liver, spine and femurs - Stable. Activity in R breast & mediastinum (not seen in prior scans).
Navelbine (3 wks on/1 wk off) as of Oct--2006 & continued Herceptin (every 3 wks) & Zometa (every 6 wks)
Jan-2007: PET/CT Scan - Stable. Continued Nav. through March-2007, then Herc./Zom. only after that.
June-2007: PET/CT Scan - activity in mediastinum. Back on Navelbine as of July-2007.
Scanned Quarterly since Oct-2007 - a few small scares, but otherwise stable due to continuing weekly Navelbine, Herceptin and Quarterly Zometa.
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01-13-2009, 11:13 AM
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#2
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 12
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don't know if this helps as I have had treatment in Italy, but my herceptin was always about 30-40 mins, and only first one was longer...
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01-13-2009, 11:49 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Morris, IL
Posts: 3,507
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Colleen
I have always been 30 minutes except for the first one...which took a couple hours...5 years of 30 minutes both when I got it every 3 weeks and weekly and every 2...same time frame and never a problem!
__________________
"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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01-13-2009, 02:10 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Sheboygan, WI
Posts: 2,582
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I had my year of herceptin in '05 - '06 and they were all 30 minutes except for the first one.
Mary Jo
__________________
"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
Dx. 6/24/05 age 45 Right Breast IDC ER/PR. Neg., - Her2+++ RB Mast. - 7/28/05 - 4 cm. tumor Margins clear - 1 microscopic cell 1 sent. node No Vasucular Invasion 4 DD A/C - 4 DD Taxol & Herceptin 1 full year of Herceptin received every 3 weeks 28 rads prophylactic Mast. 3/2/06
17 Years NED
<>< Romans 8:28
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01-13-2009, 03:05 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Thornhill, Ontario
Canada
Posts: 2,320
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Colleen,
After the initial Herceptin infusion I had the 30 minute one, but I felt a bit nauseous. So we switched to 60 minutes for the remainder of the infusions, and this was much better for me.
all the bset
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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01-13-2009, 05:16 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 43
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I will be praying for you Colleen, for a full recovery!
Snuf
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01-13-2009, 05:17 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 43
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prayers
I will be praying for you colleen, for a full recovery! Have faith in Jesus!
Snufi
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01-13-2009, 07:18 PM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 19
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I just finished my year of Herceptin and was told that the infusion center I go to is now switching from 90mins to 30mins for the every three week Herceptin. Not sure why ... I assumed there must be a new guideline or something. Peace to all. Mary Ann
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01-13-2009, 07:42 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 415
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I've been on Herceptin for almost 7 years now. When I was first diagnosed I was being treated at a private practice & was always told Herceptin was a 30min infusion whether the qweekly dose or the q3week dose. Then I moved to a large academic cancer center & their protocol is 90 mins for the q3week dose. I begged, I argued, I told them someone was going to have to pay the additional hour of parking...but to no avail! Protocol is protocol, though I believe 30mins for the q3week infusion is considered "off-label" but not unsafe or ineffective. Hopefully the 30min infusion will be the new SOP! Yay!Cheaper parking!
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01-14-2009, 10:31 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Franklin, MA
Posts: 131
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Thanks for all of your input (and thank you, Hopeful, for the link to the abstract). I'm glad I will safely shave an hour off of every Herceptin treatment going forward (and take that extra time for lunch with my husband before the end of the kids school day).
__________________
Diagnosed 10-03-2005 (34 wks pregnant, 38 yrs old)
Lumpectomy Nov-2005. 10/18 Lymph Nodes impacted
Mets to liver, spine & femurs (thus being stage IV right from the get-go)
ER-, PR-, HER2+
Taxol/Herceptin/Zometa started Dec-2005. 11 cycles of Taxol.
Sept-2006: PET/CT scan of mets to liver, spine and femurs - Stable. Activity in R breast & mediastinum (not seen in prior scans).
Navelbine (3 wks on/1 wk off) as of Oct--2006 & continued Herceptin (every 3 wks) & Zometa (every 6 wks)
Jan-2007: PET/CT Scan - Stable. Continued Nav. through March-2007, then Herc./Zom. only after that.
June-2007: PET/CT Scan - activity in mediastinum. Back on Navelbine as of July-2007.
Scanned Quarterly since Oct-2007 - a few small scares, but otherwise stable due to continuing weekly Navelbine, Herceptin and Quarterly Zometa.
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