Herceptin & expriation date?

Chelee · 09-14-2010, 10:46 PM

I had my herceptin on Monday 9-13-10. Went in the ladies room & read the label on my Herceptin bag which said, "Return to pharmacy on 9-15-10 if not used". But under that it was actually imprinted into the bag the "Lot number and said expiration date 9-12-10". (I was there on the 13th.)

That makes me think the Herceptin I got was a day past the expriation date? (At one time they wouldn't even mix my herceptin till I was there and in the chair.) I'm going to call my chemo nurse and ask why the two different dates? Have any of you noticed an expriation date on your Herceptin bags? And don't they wait till your there before mixing it up?

Chelee

LouLou · 09-15-2010, 02:24 AM

I would say they have mixed and added the Herceptin to the bag of normal saline that had the exiry date 9-12-10. ie herceptin infusion in date, bag of saline out of date.
There checking system has failed them, or they noticed after they had already added the Herceptin to the fluid bag and decided that the cost of Herceptin out weighed having to throw it out and start again.
By the way I'm an infusion nurse

Nancy L · 09-15-2010, 06:43 AM

They have to wait until after they weigh you to determine the correct amount of Herceptin to mix with the saline. Lou Lou's explanation makes sense.

PinkGirl · 09-15-2010, 06:53 AM

It must have been the IV bag they were using. They need
your weight to determine how much H you get ... so it had to
be mixed that same day.

09-15-2010, 12:51 PM

My mother has weekly Herceptin infusions for almost a year now. They only weigh her on the days she sees the onc and never change her dosage due to a change in weight. She's lost about 10-15 pounds in the last year, and her dosage has never changed. DOesn't have anything to do with the expiration date, but I thought you might find it interesting that some centers don't mix the bag based on weight.

LouLou · 09-15-2010, 02:33 PM

I was only ever weighed once before I started Chemo and Herceptin, my dose was based on that weight for all my infusions.

shonda · 09-15-2010, 04:32 PM

I am weighed every month and my meds have always changed according to my weight unless we decided to keep the dose the same even though I had lost 10% or more of weight at the time. Usually I never loose weight and stay consistant so the doses changed very little.

Rich66 · 09-15-2010, 08:04 PM

Oh man..just picturing the size of your eyes when you saw that...and the muffled "&!*#!" outside the powder room door. Hopefully just stale saline.

Chelee · 09-16-2010, 01:03 PM

Lou Lou,
That makes sense to me...thanks so much for the feedback. Although I admit it didn't make me feel very comfortable at the time I read that on the bag. I had a similar problem about 3 yrs when I was getting herceptin. I read the label they put on the bag that had my name & all the other information...and at the bottom of the bag was typed, "Return to pharmacy on the 27th if not used". Well it was the 28th at that time. So ever since then I always check the label...I'd hate to think I'm getting herceptin that has lost some or all of it's potency?

I see some of you mentioned weight. I do get weighed 1st thing if I'm seeing the onc. But I've noticed regardess if my goes up or down it's always the same dose? (I know because I always read my bag.)

Rich, are you sure you were "just" picturing the size of my eyes and watching me say not so nice words...or were you really in my infusion room and saw my reaction? lol (You nailed it Rich...that is exactly what I was doing when I read that.) HA! You make me laugh all the time!

Chelee