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Kavy · 02-21-2007, 03:37 AM

Hi, Betty,

I've been on Nalvabine/Herceptin since May 2006, and Nalvabine has been a very good and easy chemo for me. My liver mets did not show up on the October cat scan, and my lungs mets are reduced to a small one. My hair grew back, no nausea, some neuropathy. Sometimes I have low red blood counts and I have to take arasnep, and sometimes my white blood counts are low and I have to skip chemo. I take Nalvabine 2 weeks on and 1 week off. In the beginning, I used to take decadron and anti-nausea before the Nalvabine infusion, but now I do not take any premedication, and I feel fine.
I believe they do not give you neulasta for low blood counts when taking nalvabine because nalvabine is given weekly, and neulasta has to be given every 3 weeks. I had neulasta when I was taking taxotere and herceptin every 3 weeks, but never with nalvabine. I asked for neulasta too, because I did not want to skip chemo, but the nurse told me that it takes 3 weeks for the neulasta to work.
Yesterday I had a cat scan to check the mets, and I will get the results in a week. Stressful time again. Prayers, please.
I hope this combo wil be easy for you too, and give you great results.
Take care,
Karla.

02-21-2007, 03:37 AM	#10
Kavy Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 157	Hi, Betty, I've been on Nalvabine/Herceptin since May 2006, and Nalvabine has been a very good and easy chemo for me. My liver mets did not show up on the October cat scan, and my lungs mets are reduced to a small one. My hair grew back, no nausea, some neuropathy. Sometimes I have low red blood counts and I have to take arasnep, and sometimes my white blood counts are low and I have to skip chemo. I take Nalvabine 2 weeks on and 1 week off. In the beginning, I used to take decadron and anti-nausea before the Nalvabine infusion, but now I do not take any premedication, and I feel fine. I believe they do not give you neulasta for low blood counts when taking nalvabine because nalvabine is given weekly, and neulasta has to be given every 3 weeks. I had neulasta when I was taking taxotere and herceptin every 3 weeks, but never with nalvabine. I asked for neulasta too, because I did not want to skip chemo, but the nurse told me that it takes 3 weeks for the neulasta to work. Yesterday I had a cat scan to check the mets, and I will get the results in a week. Stressful time again. Prayers, please. I hope this combo wil be easy for you too, and give you great results. Take care, Karla.