Reaction with re-load dose of Herceptin?

[momo]

I had to take a break from Herceptin of 3 weeks. I've had 15 out of 18.

I have to choose whether to restart or not. Am I more likely to get a reaction by going back on it again do you think? I would need to have a re-load dose over 2 hours. (I did not have a problem the first time around.)

Thanks

[Rich66]

What kind of reaction made you stop?

[momo]

I didn't stop because of Herceptin problems. I have not had any problems or side effects from that. I stopped because of personal problems - nothing to do with Her or cancer.

[Jackie07]

If you did not have reactions in your previous 15, there shouldn't be any problem for the next 3.

I thought most patients in UK only gets 12 weeks of Herceptin. Have they changed the practice? [I could be mistaken - just remembered that there's a study done in UK several years back stating 12 weeks of Herceptin is about as effective as the whole year.]

[momo]

Jackie - I have not heard of the 12 week one. I have heard about a study on 9 doses being sufficient. So, I may be continuing when I don't really need to. I suppose I may as well do it all just in case.

[weety]

I had to stop and restart herceptin and they did not give a "re-loading" dose. I just picked up where I left off. I was wondering about this so I asked Lily at Jhopkins breast cancer site and she said "reloading" is not necessary for herceptin breaks. All my research seemed to indicate otherwise, though, so I don't know the right answer. I'm thinking maybe the reloading dose is either outdated now or maybe just indicated when the breaks are much longer. Anyone with any other information???

[Rich66]

I don't have it handy but..there has been talk about benefit of increasing the usual Herceptin dose. I don't think that's been put in place but..if you could get a boost via "reload" or whatever term works, might be worth getting.

[Chelee]

Weety, My onc lost track of my Herceptin infusions once and "thought" I had missed some due to down time I had for a femur surgery. I found out accidently from my chemo nurse that I was given a "loading dose" of Herceptin when I shouldn't have.

Then my concern was I had a higher dose then needed but was informed it was fine and it wouldn't hurt me...that actually it might benefit me. Who knows...all I know is I'm still told a loading dose of Herceptin is necessary when starting it back up. That still seems to be the protocol at my center.

Chelee

[momo]

weety - they told me that if the break in Herceptin is only a week then you just carry on with normal dose. Mine was over a week late (3 weeks actually) and that is why I had a re-load.