Re: I couldn't make this up if I tried
 

A good morning to my smart, witty friends. I have not been on the site for a while and decided to check in. Just read the entire thread about princes and pr***s. There are some really good doctors out there, but the arrogance of some of them is hard to believe. Kudos to you who have called them out and moved on. Kudos for all the facts and wisdom shared on our site. I am so blessed to be a part of this group.

Re: I couldn't make this up if I tried
 

I was going to say what Rhonda said so well. It's quite possible to develop an allergic reaction to something you used to be able to tolerate. It happens to me all the time. The older I get, it seems the more things cause dermatitis or hives or histamine reactions or whatever. So the length of time you've been getting the preservative does not rule out the possibility of sensitivity now.

Re: I couldn't make this up if I tried
 

switching docs sounds like the way to go. and having any tumor, even a small one, after tch, is worth a second opinion anyway. if tch didnt finish it off, will just herc ? something more aggressive , like achemo added to herc. such as navelbine, tykerb, t dm-1 when its approved ?

Re: I couldn't make this up if I tried
 

Your doctor is totally incorrect. Nina is getting her Herceptin in the brain/spine through a bag under the skin called an Ommaya reservoir. There is a specific directive not to use the preservative included water. It is really frustrating as they could use gamma irradiated water. Tell your doctor that the kits are put together by one of the friends of a person on this website. Yes there is preservative. No, not everyone is affected, but there are a bunch that are. The Herceptin by itself will cause the body to start to react by ites very nature. I was able to work with MD Anderson to get done for Nina what every one else is fighting to do. It takes everything I have to get things done, and I am very persistent and knowledgeable. I hope the others do their homework, and get mean as you need to.

Re: I couldn't make this up if I tried
 

But Rolepaul, her doctor will just say she has been "reading more crap on the Internet"!!! lol

Re: I couldn't make this up if I tried
 

Maybe this will help:

http://www.globalrph.com/trastuzumab.htm

"Reconstitution: Reconstitute each 440 mg vial of Herceptin with 20 mL of Bacteriostatic Water for Injection (BWFI), USP, containing 1.1% benzyl alcohol as a preservative to yield a multi-dose solution containing 21 mg/mL trastuzumab. In patients with known hypersensitivity to benzyl alcohol, reconstitute with 20 mL of Sterile Water for Injection (SWFI) without preservative to yield a single use solution."

It should be noted that benzyl alcohol is a neurotoxin. (All kinds of nifty results pop up if you google it with that as an additional search term.) Here's one link that doesn't give me the feeling of high credibility generally (the site has an obvious bias), but it has sources listed at the end (three good links, one possibly broken).

http://chemicaloftheday.squarespace....l-alcohol.html

This really makes me wonder if chemo brain is caused by the chemo drugs, or if those of us who have been impaired have actually been damaged by the other stuff they slip us when we're not looking.