HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post

StephN · 10-08-2009, 06:29 PM

The main problem with missing a dose, for whatever reason, is that you then need a new LOADING dose. So skipping this one and thinking you can get that regular dose just any time is not correct. In my case whether, sick, traveling or being with a dying family member, I had only ONE day after my scheduled day to get my dose and stay on schedule.
This has gone on for years so I am very plugged in to this routine. I was on the 3 week dose.

Think of it as if you were taking a course of antibiotics. You don't just stop for a few days and then resume taking them. You take the doses as prescribed from start to finish.

I have a hard time thinking your onc will prescribe a loading dose as a last one for you. Now that you are off schedule, your pharmacy orders for the infusion are also out of date and would have to have new orders. So it is not so simple, even though it is a hardship to get to the clinic.

10-08-2009, 06:29 PM	#12
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Re: Should I do one more Herceptin? The main problem with missing a dose, for whatever reason, is that you then need a new LOADING dose. So skipping this one and thinking you can get that regular dose just any time is not correct. In my case whether, sick, traveling or being with a dying family member, I had only ONE day after my scheduled day to get my dose and stay on schedule. This has gone on for years so I am very plugged in to this routine. I was on the 3 week dose. Think of it as if you were taking a course of antibiotics. You don't just stop for a few days and then resume taking them. You take the doses as prescribed from start to finish. I have a hard time thinking your onc will prescribe a loading dose as a last one for you. Now that you are off schedule, your pharmacy orders for the infusion are also out of date and would have to have new orders. So it is not so simple, even though it is a hardship to get to the clinic. __________________ "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.