HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post

StephN · 09-29-2009, 12:12 PM

Dear Chelee -
So bummed to get home and see you have another go-round with this darn disease. You have been very good about your followups, and it does pay to stay on it.

About your "shaking chills." That is what happened to me with my loading dose of Herceptin and others have reported the same. This is mentioned in the possible side effects and seems to occur fairly often. I only had this with the loading dose, but I thought I NEVER would get warm! Used heating pad, drank hot tea and put on 2 pairs of socks!

As for the back pain, this could be the Zometa. I don't believe I could attribute such pains to Herceptin in my case. But I did have some joint discomfort from the Zometa. That pain should lessen fairly quickly. I think I took Aleve and that was all I needed to get those pains "under the radar."

Within a couple of days your body should be able to handle this first blast of treatment. Also, remember that sometimes pains can be a sign that the drugs are working at the tumor sites.

09-29-2009, 12:12 PM	#3
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Re: Had my Herceptin/Zometa infusion Dear Chelee - So bummed to get home and see you have another go-round with this darn disease. You have been very good about your followups, and it does pay to stay on it. About your "shaking chills." That is what happened to me with my loading dose of Herceptin and others have reported the same. This is mentioned in the possible side effects and seems to occur fairly often. I only had this with the loading dose, but I thought I NEVER would get warm! Used heating pad, drank hot tea and put on 2 pairs of socks! As for the back pain, this could be the Zometa. I don't believe I could attribute such pains to Herceptin in my case. But I did have some joint discomfort from the Zometa. That pain should lessen fairly quickly. I think I took Aleve and that was all I needed to get those pains "under the radar." Within a couple of days your body should be able to handle this first blast of treatment. Also, remember that sometimes pains can be a sign that the drugs are working at the tumor sites. __________________ "When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau Live in the moment. MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~ Found suspicious lump 9/2000 Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR - Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds 36 rads - very little burning 3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED! 2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18 All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?) 2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava 2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec. Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011 STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer 7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED 2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED. Same news for 2016 and all of 2017. Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018.