Herceptin and Radiation at same time

[tousled1]

I would like to know if there are any women on this board who have received Herceptin while undergoing radiation. My oncologist wants to start me on Herceptin this week and I will be starting my radiation July 5th. My last chemo treatment was May 17th and then 3 weeks later I had surgery. I was just starting to feel like an "almost normal" person again. I would personally like to wait until after I'm finished with the radiation to start the Herceptin.

I'm calling my oncologist tomorrow to schedule an appointment to discuss all my options with her before I start the Herceptin. I don't even have the staples removed from my mastectomy yet!

[sadie]

Hi Tousled1
I started Herceptin-only treatments on May 5th. I started radiation on May 24th.
I just finished my 3rd week of radiation. Skin is only starting to turn pink and it itches at times. Other than that, I am feeling fine.
I would be concerned too considering you still have your staples in. Talk to your onc and/or your rad dr about your concerns.
Good Luck!

[Julie2]

I had radiation while on Herceptin, I didn't have any problem.

Julie

[rinaina]

My onc doesn't want to do rads and herceptin at the same time because with rads there still can be very trace scatter and even though my right breast is the one affected, he doesn't want to throw a double whammy at my heart. So he said rads first then herceptin. Did anyone else get it this way or will be gettng it this way?

[Marlys]

I had Herceptin & rads at the same time with no ill effects.
Marlys

[panicked911]

Absolutely do it at the same time - there is reserach that shows that with Her2 rads don't always work and with herceptain it has a much better chnace. Both my oncologists insisted I do it this way and in fact would not let me go on the once every three weeks until three weeks past the last rad treatment b/c radiation stays in yourbody for about two weeks.

hope this helps

Susanne

[Chelee]

I just did what was suppose to be my last full cycle of chemo barring we see no recurrance. I have an appointment down at my current cancer center with the Rads dept...and one the next day at a well known cancer center.

But where I am currently going my case was already presented to the cancer board and it was decided back in Feb that I WOULD continue having my herceptin while doing rads. (At least that is how I understood it.) My first oncologist said I would do a year of herceptin once done with my chemo. He never once mentioned taking me off herceptin while doing rads.

Plus I know another women that has pretty much the same DX as mine...and she is doing herceptin and rads now as we speak. She is three weeks into it.
So I do know its done. But all these oncologist have their own ways...I don't know whats better....but they do both at the same time for some women.

Chelee

[Kimberly Lewis]

I started my rads with the hercetin last Dec. 05. My radiololgist was asking me if I knew of any studies that showed it was beneficial. Ha!
I did find one obscure statement somewhere that said it was synergistic... No problems for me in the treatments.

[Mgarr]

Had Herceptin & rads together on left side no problems.


Mary

[Andi]

I had radiation last Jan-Feb and continued to take my 3 week herceptin throughout with no problems.

[SandyR]

Hi Kate....I just found this article that you can present to your oncologist regarding your question about herceptin and heart during radiation. Here is the link:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medi...p?newsid=44608

Here is the beginning paragraph....run a copy of the article and give it to your oncologist!

"Researchers in the North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) have shown that patients who receive trastuzumab at the same time as post-chemotherapy radiation treatments for HER-2 positive breast cancer have no more risk for major side effects or complications than those who do not receive the drug. Mayo Clinic's Michele Halyard, M.D., presented these findings today, June 5, at the 2006 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Atlanta.

This study resulted from NCCTG clinical trial N9831, from which breakthrough treatment findings were presented at ASCO 2005. "The original N9831 study showed that trastuzumab reduced the recurrence of HER-2 positive breast cancer about 50 percent," says Dr. Halyard, a radiation oncologist at Mayo Clinic Arizona and lead author of today's study. "We hoped also to show that trastuzumab did not add complications to radiation treatment, and the current study has certainly proven that, providing good news for many women."
Good luck girl! You need to get herceptin at the same time, according to this article!!!!
----SandyR

[SandyR]

Kate, I also had herceptin during radiation with no adverse side effects....
you go now and educate your oncologist!!!!
-SandyR

[Andi]

I was in Phoenix last winter during the time I was due my radiation and Dr. Halyard was my radiologist.

[tousled1]

Sandy,

Thanks for the article. I have an appointment with the radiology doc on Friday when I'll get my markers put on a simulation done. I start the actual radiation July 5th.

Today I get my staples out and must admit I can't wait! Imagine actually looking forward to a doctor's appointment! I start my Herceptin tomorrow and will receive it alone every 3 weeks for a year.

I guess I was just hoping for a break from treatment. Since Oct 2005 when I was diagnosed, all I do is go to doctors get tests and treatments. I'm just starting to get my strength back and wanted to know what it would feel like to be "normal" again.

[jeff]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...=pubmed_docsum

There is a growing body of medical literature suggesting that herceptin is actually a "radiosensitizer"--that it is that it makes radiation treatments more effective!

My partner Rachel had radiation and herceptin at the same time (and on on the left side) a few years back and it seemed to go fine...

All the best,
Jeff

[tousled1]

Thanks Jeff, I'll look that article up as well.

After all the replies I've received here, I'll go with my doc's orders and get the radiation and herceptin simultaneously.

[Tom]

Dear Kate,

Jeff nailed it. I had an inkling it would be a good idea for Mom to get both at the same time, but the onc was saying to take our time and do rads first. I insisted that we get some Herceptin into her, and he finally agreed. Not only was there no problem, but about a month after we started the two together, out came a research study showing that the Herceptin was indeed sensitizing the malignant cells to destruction by radiation, and that there was an appreciable benefit to doing them together. I was happy to have gone with my instincts for a change, and the onc was surprised at the recent findings. My opinion continues to be, if it won't hurt you in some way, always act sooner rather than later when it comes to cancer. Good Luck with treatment.

Tom

[tousled1]

Thanks Tom.

I have a great oncologist and should thank my lucky stars. I tried my best to talk her into letting me do rads and then when I was finished with that do the herceptin. She absolutely would not budge!!!!

[sarah]

Had Herceptin during radiation.

[snoopy]

Had Hercpetin and Rads together with no problems. Onc mentioned the radiosenistising effect they were seeing as well