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11-24-2006, 03:39 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Louisville KY
Naples FL
Posts: 665
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Herceptin Treatment
I am new to Herceptin and am having it weekly for 30 minutes after the first
loading dose for 90 minutes. How long do you have to take benedryl with the
treatments because this ruins my whole day and I can't drive and can barely
stay awake.
Thanks for any information on this.
Patb
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11-24-2006, 03:43 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Southern, CA
Posts: 2,511
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Once they do your loading dose and find out you don't have any reactions to herceptin...you should be able to do the rest of them without benedryl.
Chelee
__________________
DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes.
Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs.
Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06
Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07
3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07
9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV.
9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa
9-29-09 Power Port Placement
10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head.
11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed
12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa.
3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed.
4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone.
5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy.
Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time.
7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.
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11-24-2006, 03:53 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ireland
Posts: 3,463
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My Dr insisted I have Benadryl for every treatment and like you it just put me asleep for the day.
I think he was just being over cautious!
Tricia
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11-24-2006, 03:57 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 115
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I had a full dose for the first laoding dose. For the second dose I convi ced the doc to cut it in half. By treatment 3 I flew solo without it. You eed to be your own advocate. Speak to the doctor directly about it and make your argument for foregoig it logical and persuasive. Chances are she will not order it.
Good luck.
Susanne
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11-24-2006, 04:02 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: melbourne, australia
Posts: 267
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I have never had Benadryl and I can't see any reason i'd even have needed it. I suggest you just tell them you don't want it.
Good luck
Christine
__________________
Christine
DX Sept 03 age 40 Stage 2B Grade 3 mastectomy (after 2 prior breast conserving surgeries)
"at least" 2.3 cm 3/12 nodes ER+/PR+ Her2+++
8 FEC. Tamoxifen then Arimidex. Ovaries out.
"late" Herceptin for 2 years (18months after chemo) on HERA trial. finished Herceptin Nov 2007.
Multiple bone mets May 2012 and now liver August 2012.
Abraxne, Herceptin and Zometa.
June 2013 Tykerb, Xeloda and Xgeva
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11-24-2006, 07:36 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: ontario, canada
Posts: 48
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Hi Patb,
I had my first Herceptin last week. The only pre-med the onc ordered was 650 mg. Tylenol. I had no reactions whatsoever of any kind. I had asked the chemo nurse about Benadryl, as I had heard some pts. get it, and she said they don't usually give it as a pre-med. Unless there is strong evidence for you to have it, ask about going without. Good luck.
Take care,
Karen
"The Good Lord gave us mountains, so we could learn how to climb!"
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11-25-2006, 09:24 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,380
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Patb, I had benadryl, tylenol and an anti-emetic with my loading dose. I felt worse from the benadryl and the anti-emetic than anything else. Since I had no reactions to the Herceptin, I asked my dr. at the time of the second treatment to eliminate the premeds, which he gladly did. I am so sensitive to benadryl, I was not only out the day of the treatment, but "hung over" the next day. It was definitely the worst part of the treatment.
Hopeful
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11-25-2006, 10:40 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Naples FL
Posts: 1,744
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I never had any benadryl either...not even at loading dose.
__________________
 Suzan W.
age 54 at diagnosis
5/05 suspicious mammogram-left breast
5/05 biopsy-invasive lobular carcinoma with LCIS,8mm tumor,stage 1 grade 2, ER+ PR+ Her2+++
6/14/05 bilateral mastectomy, node neg. all scans neg.
Oncotype DX-high risk
8/05-10/05 4 rounds A/C
10/05 -10/06 1 yr. herceptin
arimidex-5 years
2/14/08 started daily self administered injections..FORTEO for severe osteoporosis
7/28/09 BRCA 1 negative BRCA2 POSITIVE
8/17/09 prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy
10/15/10 last FORTEOinjection
RECLAST infusion(ostoeporosis)
6/14/10 5 year cancerversary!
8/2010-18%increase in bone density!
no further treatments
Oncologist says, "Go do the Happy Dance"
I say,"What a long strange trip its been"
'One day at a time'
6-14-2015. 10 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!
7-16 to 9-16. Extensive (and expensive) dental work done to save teeth. Damage from osteoporosis and chemo and long term bisphosphonate use
6-14-16. 11 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!!
7-20-16 Prolia injection for severe osteoporosis
2 days later, massive hive outbreak. This led to an eventual dx of Chronic Ideopathic Urticaria, an auto-immune disease from HELL.
6-14-17 12 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!!
still suffering from CIU. 4 hospitilizations in the past year
as of today, 10-31-17 in remission from CIU and still, CANCER FREE!!!
6-14-18 13 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!! NED!!
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11-25-2006, 11:45 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Central Coast, CA
Posts: 3,207
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I never had any premeds with Herceptin, and never had any problems. Try requesting at least a reduction in the amount, then when that goes well maybe they'll let you wean yourself completely!
good luck
Chris
__________________
Chris in Scotts Valley
June 2002 extensive hi grade DCIS (pre-cancer-stage 0, clean sentinal node) Mastectomy/implant - no chemo, rads. "cured?"
9/2004 Diag: Stage IV extensive liver mets (!) ER/PR- Her2+++
10/04-3/05 Weekly Taxol/Carboplatin/Herceptin , complete response!
04/05 - 4/07 Herception every 3 wks, Continue NED
04/07 - recurrence to liver - 2 spots, starting tykerb/avastin trial
06/07 8/07 10/07 Scans show stable, continue on Tykerb/Avastin
01/08 Progression in liver
02/08 Begin (TDM1) trial
08/08 NED! It's Working! Continue on TDM1
02/09 Continue NED
02/10 Continue NED. 5/10 9/10 Scans NED 10/10 Scans NED
12/10 Scans not clear....4/11 Scans suggest progression 6/11 progression confirmed in liver
07/11 - 11/11 Herceptin/Xeloda -not working:(
12/11 Begin MM302 Phase I trial - bust:(
03/12 3rd times the charm? AKT trial
5/12 Scan shows reduction! 7/12 More reduction!!!!
8/12 Whoops...progression...trying for Perjeta/Herceptin (plus some more nasty chemo!)
9/12 Start Perjeta/Herceptin, chemo on hold due to infection/wound in leg, added on cycle 2 &3
11/12 Poops! progression in liver, Stop Perjeta/Taxo/Herc
11/12 Navelbine/Herce[ptin - try for a 3 cycles, no go.
2/13 Gemzar/Carbo/Herceptin - no go.
3/13 TACE procedure
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11-25-2006, 10:37 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Grand Terrace, Southern California
Posts: 114
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I need the bendryl. If I don't take it I will start coughing and my heart start beating fast. It depend with the person. Ask your doctor for half on your next treatment and work yourself off. If you have any side effect stay on it.
__________________
04/97- breast bx. diagnosis breast cancer.
05/97- radical mastectomy; 5cm tumor & 11 lymph nodes.
10/97- City of Hope, high dose chemotherapy.
11/97- 36 radiation therapy.
01/98- NED; tamoxifen.
02/02- breast reconstruction.
08/04- recurrence; mets to rt lung; thoracentesis; femara.
09/04- thoracentesis; ER/PR +, Her2+++.
10/04- total abdominal hysterectomy.
02/06- mets to 9th rib; monthly zometa; arimidex.
06/06- medi port insert; weekly herceptin.
10/06- 3 weeks herceptin treatment.
02/07- mets to liver; arimidex
11/07-liver clear
02/08-chemo taxol/herceptin weekly treatment
12/08-taxol not working
01/09-navelbine/herceptin weelky
03/09-navelbine not working
04/09-xeloda/tykerb
09/09-30 radation to neck; xeloda/tykerb not working
11/09-Gemzar/herceptin weekly
04/10-tykerb/herceptin weekly
06/10-cancer spread to left lung;stop treatment; tap
07/10-right lung collasps; TDM1
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11-26-2006, 09:23 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Wilmington, Del.
Posts: 1,126
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I have a mild cough with herceptin. I was one of those people who was terrified of getting an allergic reaction to all of the BC drugs, because Ive had asthma and allergies since childhood. I also had an anaphylactic reaction to penicillan, and I never want that to happen again. I read about people with mouse allergies getting allergic reactions to herceptin, so I actually had my allergist test me for mouse allergy. The test was negative. The oncologist gave me no premeds for my herceptin loading dose, maybe due to allergy test results. For subsequent doses, took a benedryl tablet on my own before herceptin dose. Now I don't take benedryl because I'd rather stay alert. I was so afraid of the BC drugs that I know the nurses and doctors thought I was a little crazy. So be it. I was no hero. My fears lessened as treatment progressed and I tolerated it well. Now I'm a model patient.
__________________
MJO
IDC, Stage I, Grade 2
Oncotype DX Score 32
Her2++ E+P+, Node Neg.
Lumpectomy 11/04/05 Clear Margins
3 Dose dense AC (Couldn't tolerate 4)
4 Dose dense Taxol & Herc. (Tolerated well)
36 weeks Herceptin (Could not complete one year due to decrease in MUGA score)
2 years of Arimidex, then three years of Femara
Finished Femara May 2011
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11-30-2006, 07:43 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Michigan
Posts: 98
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I got full dose of Benadry (don't know how much that was) with my 1st loading dose & 2nd dose of Herceptin. Since this made me sleep most of the weekend, I asked to have it cut in half. Now I get a very very nice nap during the treatment and sometimes I take another nap a few hours later at home. Then I'm good the rest of the weekend. I LOVE those naps. It's the best sleep I ever get!
The nurses told me to take a double dose of over-the-counter benadryl at bedtime if I'm having trouble sleeping. They said that would do the same thing for me as what I get at the treatment.
__________________
Dx Oct 2005 IDC
Lumpectomy
1cm / Stage 1 / grade 3
Sentinel node neg
Her2+++
ER+ / PR weakly+
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11-30-2006, 09:31 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 1,055
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I hated Benadryl and decadron. They made my heart race. Then I would have the hangover feeling. I only had to do premeds with T & H. Once on Herceptin only, no premeds. 30 minutes and I'm out of there. Drive home and live life. I have some of the other side effects, crappy nails, etc. If your office has a phone-in nurse triage line, call in and state you are considering discontinuing Herceptin unless they cut back on Benadryl, they may be more receptive. Wait and see what they tell you when they call back. During taxol, they wouldn't cut back on the dosage but the nurses dripped it very slow once I complained. If you are scheduled to see the onc tell him how miserable the benadryl makes you feel. I guess your onc is worried about you having a reaction. As so many of us are doing it w/o premeds, it can be done. Good luck, BB
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11-30-2006, 09:35 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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I received benedryl and tynol with my first herceptin treatment. Now I don't get any premeds.
__________________
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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