May need to hold off on Herceptin

Christine Walas · 12-24-2006, 06:22 AM

I am taking Herceptin alone. I just completed my radiation treatments.

Christine

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DCIS/IDC/Pagets Disease
Lumpectomy - No clear margins
Mastectomy left breast 6/23/06 – IDC at cauterized margin
Two sentinel Node biopsy - clear
HER/2/Neu +3 over expression
Taxotere/Cytoxan started 8/11/06 -10/13
Radiation 10/30 – 12/8
Herceptin 10/27

penelope · 12-24-2006, 09:28 AM

It is probably from the radiation not the herceptin. They always gave me herceptin treatment reagardless of my blood because it is an antibody not a chemo. They will not discontinue them unless your heart muscle weakens. This is checked by a Muga scan.

Christine Walas · 12-24-2006, 09:33 AM

My medical oncologist told me on Friday that if my counts do go any lower that they would hold off on the herceptin until they are back up.

Heart Sutra · 12-24-2006, 09:35 AM

Hi Christine,

We don't have an answer for you, Sue hasn't started Herceptin yet...starts chemo on Jan 2.

we just wanted to welcome you. This is a great site and you'll certainly find someone who has "been there/done that"

tricia keegan · 12-26-2006, 03:10 AM

Hi Christine, I have never heard of herceptin being stopped for low blood counts only for low mugga score's and agree this must be from the rads rather than the herceptin but maybe someone else knows more.
As far as I'm aware the herceptin is still effective if stopped for a short time as a lot of people have this happen with low ejection fractions and then continue.
Hopefully it won't be necessary to halt it in your case though.
Tricia