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Chelee · 01-17-2010, 03:01 AM

Valerie, Herceptin is famous for causing nose and sinus problems. The first yr I did herceptin I had such a dry, crusty and bloodly nose. It was just awful. Every thing was trial and error till I found ways to manage it. Once your nose is that dried up, raw and just plan sore all the time it takes a while to get it under control. I just don't want you in a panic thinking the worse because this really is one of the "most" common complaints about herceptin. Especially when your new to it. The pressure you mention in your sinuses is normal too. I use to get terrible pressure and even headaches from the herceptin. Especially the day of my infusions.

The saline will help but you have to first get the inside of your nose healed up. If it's the raw and crusty right now you might need to have your onc write a "prescription" for an antibiotic ointment to put inside your nose. This worked great for a gal I know at my center. I don't meant neosporin that you get over the counter...this is an actually script your onc can write for you. This would be different then your onc giving you an antibiotic for your sinus infection that treats the entire body. This ointment/creme is just for inside the nose and works wonders. Then once the ointment heals it up you continue to use the saline and it should be fine. It's a pain but it will get better.

Jackie is right...CT's are cheap. They do give a good picture though. However I always push for MRI's because I try to avoid radiation exposure ever chance I can. If my onc had her way she would always order a CT to save money. So they always go for the CT first...but I always tell her no I want a MRI.

Your onc is just being safe and making sure everything is ok. But I will bet you this is just the herceptin playing havoc on your sinuses and nose. There is a thread on this board titled "Herceptin side affects real or perceived ". If you do a search for it you will see how many of us have had to deal with the nose problems. But in time it normally gets better.

It's so hard once dx with bc...every little thing we experience our mind goes to the worse possible senario. It's so stressful...so believe me...we all understand how you feel. Try not to worry...easier said then done...I know. But I really believe it's no more then a side affect of herceptin. We are all here for you.

Chelee

01-17-2010, 03:01 AM	#8
Chelee Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Southern, CA Posts: 2,511	Re: ct scan for sinuses? Valerie, Herceptin is famous for causing nose and sinus problems. The first yr I did herceptin I had such a dry, crusty and bloodly nose. It was just awful. Every thing was trial and error till I found ways to manage it. Once your nose is that dried up, raw and just plan sore all the time it takes a while to get it under control. I just don't want you in a panic thinking the worse because this really is one of the "most" common complaints about herceptin. Especially when your new to it. The pressure you mention in your sinuses is normal too. I use to get terrible pressure and even headaches from the herceptin. Especially the day of my infusions. The saline will help but you have to first get the inside of your nose healed up. If it's the raw and crusty right now you might need to have your onc write a "prescription" for an antibiotic ointment to put inside your nose. This worked great for a gal I know at my center. I don't meant neosporin that you get over the counter...this is an actually script your onc can write for you. This would be different then your onc giving you an antibiotic for your sinus infection that treats the entire body. This ointment/creme is just for inside the nose and works wonders. Then once the ointment heals it up you continue to use the saline and it should be fine. It's a pain but it will get better. Jackie is right...CT's are cheap. They do give a good picture though. However I always push for MRI's because I try to avoid radiation exposure ever chance I can. If my onc had her way she would always order a CT to save money. So they always go for the CT first...but I always tell her no I want a MRI. Your onc is just being safe and making sure everything is ok. But I will bet you this is just the herceptin playing havoc on your sinuses and nose. There is a thread on this board titled "Herceptin side affects real or perceived ". If you do a search for it you will see how many of us have had to deal with the nose problems. But in time it normally gets better. It's so hard once dx with bc...every little thing we experience our mind goes to the worse possible senario. It's so stressful...so believe me...we all understand how you feel. Try not to worry...easier said then done...I know. But I really believe it's no more then a side affect of herceptin. We are all here for you. Chelee __________________ DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes. Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs. Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06 Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07 3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07 9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV. 9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa 9-29-09 Power Port Placement 10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head. 11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed 12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa. 3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed. 4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone. 5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy. Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time. 7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.