Starting Herceptin after Chemo
 

I hope someone on this board can give me some information. I will be completing my chemo on May 10, 2007. I had 3 rounds of FEC, will have done 3 rounds of Taxotere on May 10th. My onc. said he would redo my MUGA and then start Herceptin- which will be every 3 weeks for a year (17 rounds). How long should I be waiting after the last chemo on May 10 and the start of the Herceptin? I believe my onc. said "about a month", but I can't recall exactly - chemo brain for sure.
Any advice would be welcome, as I go for my Taxotere infusion this Thursday, and I would like to talk to him about this with some knowledge behind me.

Thanks
Caya

Hi I started my herceptin right after my last chemo, so mine was immediately.

I did not have to wait any period of time to start Herceptin after 4 rounds of Taxotere........I took it for almost a year--had to stop because of muga scan

results---mine started in the 65% range and over the course of the year went down to 50%--------make sure you have frequent mugas--I know many women who ended up on beta blockers with serious cardio problems....Herceptin works great, but you just have to monitor your heart to make sure its not taking too big of a toll.......

I had my last chemo and 3 weeks later started Herceptin

My herceptin started when I started my taxol. I received my loading dose of herceptin the same day I started my Taxol. Taxol first and then the longggggggg loading dose of herceptin. Boy, that was a long treatment day. Herceptin continued every 3 weeks along with 4 taxol treatmens. The taxol I received every other week. Sometime (I think twice) I received the herceptin and taxol on the same day.

Mary Jo

Hello Caya
I'm very similar to you in that I had 4 lots of FEC, followed by 4 lots of Taxotere, which all finished in November 06. They started me on Herceptin together with the Taxotere, I think on the 2nd or 3rd lot. I might be wrong (my own chemo brain here), but I believe it's thought to be more effective if given alongside the taxol, and that that is the treatment of choice if it's possible - it may not be with everyone? My understanding is that ideally you get it within 6 months of finishing chemo, so it could be that it doesn't matter too much. My oncologist was fine with me starting it after the Taxotere finished, if I didn't feel up to starting it alongside, so it probably isn't that crucial.

Best wishes with it all, anyway. I was quite afraid of starting it - what new and lovely side effects might it have? - but actually I've been okay with it. My heart function has come down a bit, but I've been told that they can stop the Herceptin, let my heart recover, and then they can re-start it hopefully. In other words, the heart problem is generally reversible, although of course it's a great idea to get regular MUGA's or echo's so it can be closely monitored before it gets too bad.
Take good care
Caroline

I waited three weeks after last chemo and first herceptin. I did have a muga in there, which amazingly it went up after chemo. Don't know how it did after I was completely done with herceptin.

My first herceptin was 3 weeks after my last taxol. I do herceptin every 3 weeks.

Thanks so much to everyone who replied. I fell better going in to talk to my onc. tomorrow.

Caya

Hi first time and have found it very useful. I'm hoping someone can help me with their experiences/information.
My last chemo was 26 Feb07 and am in the midst of doing my rads now and expected to finish by 1st week of May. My onc wants me to start on Tamoxifen and Herceptin as soon as possible. Also am aware that Herceptin given during rads treatment makes it more effective. I want to delay my Herceptin and not sure whether this is wise and for how long can I delay? Thx.