Herceptin Joint Pain - Does it last the whole year??

[futurefocus]

Yes they reconstitute it with saline water....much better. The perservative is for the Herceprin shelve life not our lives!

[atdec05]

Hi all,

I've been experiencing joint & muscle pain as well. I had some blood work done and they ruled out thyroid, rheumatoid arthritis, and autoimmunite problems.

The rheumatologist could only diagnose me with creptitus. Do your knees make a crunching sound when you go up & down stairs?

I am taking Glutamine, but so far no difference. Can you point me to the thread that talked about mixing Herceptin with saline.

My last treatment is Jan. 31, so I'm hoping I will make it through with no permanent damage to my cartiledge.

- Anna

[futurefocus]

I don't know where the thread is but I can tell you I read it on the official website for the herceptin drug. It suggests that if there is a reaction try and remove the perservative and reconstitute it with sterile H2O. Hope this helps. I am new so not so familiar with the threads yet..sorry.

[futurefocus]

Glad to hear your are almost done...Hang in there...it can only get better!

[tousled1]

Here is what you are looking for and it was posted by Lolly.

It's possible you're having an allergic reaction to the dilutant being used, which is normally benzyl alcohol. Here's a quote from the Genentech web page regarding dosage instructions for Herceptin, along with a link to the page:

"...If the patient has known hypersensitivity to benzyl alcohol, HERCEPTIN must be reconstituted with Sterile Water for Injection (see PRECAUTIONS). HERCEPTIN WHICH HAS BEEN RECONSTITUTED WITH SWFI MUST BE USED IMMEDIATELY AND ANY UNUSED PORTION DISCARDED. USE OF OTHER RECONSTITUTION DILUENTS SHOULD BE AVOIDED..."

Genentech/Herceptin Page
http://www.gene.com/gene/products/i...#administration

[atdec05]

thanks for the info, but would joint pain be considered an allergic reaction? I guess I'm wondering what the connection is between mixing Herceptin with alcohol and joint pain.

- Anna

[tousled1]

Anna,

I don't know what the connection would be. I called my oncologist today and discussed having the Herceptin reconstituted with saline water for my infusion tomorrow. I'm thinking in terms of alchol dries things out and perhaps that is what is happening when it's mixed with the Herceptin -- it dries out the cartledge or something in the joints. At any rate, I'm hoping that tomorrow when I get my infusion the Herceptin will be reconstituted with saline water. The point I'm at now with the muscle/joint/bone pain I'm willing to try anything if it might help.

[tweet7805]

I was on Herceptin/Taxotere wkly for 11 treatments March-June couldn't do last treatment because it dmg my lung(taxotere). Back on Herceptin July - Current to end 3/29/07. Then I understand I won't do anything else unless there is reoccurrence. Mamo on both was clean Nov. 2006. So I am glad to hear other people having problems with side effects and this is not in my head. I have joint pain in knee's, shoulder and hands, horrible neuropathy in hands and feet and fatique so bad sometimes I can't do anything but sleep. My disability carrier is on my back about returning to work but I don't see how I can work particularly with this horrible fatique although I know some do. I fear cancer has come back because fatique seems to be getting worse. I just don't know what to do, but my next appt is 12/27 so will discuss all with onc and see if he can advise and maybe alleviate some of my fears.

Thanks for listening
DX 10/11/05
Lumpectomy 11/22/05; DX IDC; Stg IIA;1 Sent Node Pos.; Grade III; HR/PR -; HER2 +++
AC - 12/29-2/28/05
TX/HERC 3/7-3/29 Wkly; Taxol discontinued 3/29/06 Alergic Reaction
Taxotere/Herc 4/7-6/14/06 8 Wkly
Herceptin E/3 Wks 8/06 - 3/29/07
33 Rads 8-9/19/06
Clear Mamo Nov 2006

[gin-tx]

I have not have joint pain that you describe so maybe it was the combination of Herceptin and Taxotore mixed together. I get Aridia and have some knee pain but had that before I started treatment 6 months ago. You mentioned neuropathy, I always thought that was associated with other conditions such as Diabetes but maybe I am incorrect.

This is my second episode of BC, first 11 yrs ago. I was rediagnosed in April 2006, much more aggressive than first suspected. My biggest complaint is with the area that had a malignant tumor on spine and I had 18 radiation treatments to get rid of that. I cannot lie flat on my back, pain is terrible, I take pain pills and try to function each day. Still work part time but don't know for how much longer I'll be ble to manage that. At this point have no idea how many more Herceptin treatments I will be getting, I suspect I'll be doing this a yr from now. Keep me informed of your progress and how you are doing.

hugs,

ginkott1@aol.com