|
01-12-2009, 04:06 PM
|
#1
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 43
|
Help, Herceptin weekly?
Hi to all, Had an appointment with the nurse today to go over chemo treatment scheduled for Wednesday. She tells me Dr. wants to give me TCH every 3 weeks but also herceptin every week for the next 18 weeks and then to complete a year. This is the first I eard of this. My dr. told me last week herceptin given every 3 weeks with chemo. The other 2 drs consultes with told me the same. Has any of you heard of Herceptin every week like this for Stage 2A. I told the nurse I wanted to stick with the every 3 weeks treatment and she said okay. why did she even bring up the herceptin weekly for the next 18 weeks? Am very confused.
|
|
|
01-12-2009, 04:46 PM
|
#2
|
Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Posts: 9
|
Hi, Snufi,
I had a 4 course of regular chemo, then a course of Herceptin with another drug every week for 2months or so. Then I began a year long course of every 3 weeks. I believe this is standard. This is my 2nd time for BC after a break of 15 years, so I am being extra agressive and have continued my Herceptin for over 2 years. There are very little side effects- they monitor my heart every 2 -3 months and the rate has stayed acceptable. This is a great drug. I had friends 15 years ago with HR2 and they did not make it and didn't get this drug.God bless,
Jeani
|
|
|
01-12-2009, 05:17 PM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: East Texas
Posts: 40
|
Every week
Hi,
I had herceptin weekly while I was having chemo and then switched to every three weeks after I completed the chemo. I think I was told my ONC thought it might be easier on my body and possibly more effective. I was also in a clinical trial and the weekly admission was part of the protocol. I asked to switch to the every three weeks after I completed chemo because I work and it was more convenient.
I had a complete pathological remission at surgery after the chemo...so for me, at least, it was a great choice to do weekly. However, I don't really think studies show any difference between the weekly and three week cycles.
I know it is stressful to think you have a plan and then find there are other ways...but I don't think you can go wrong either way.
Peggy
__________________
Stage IIIC
Diagnosed 5/05
FEC100 x4, Taxotere/Xeloda X4 (both with Herceptin)
Mastectomy, Rads x33 Herceptin X 9
3 Years NED!
|
|
|
01-12-2009, 05:51 PM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Southern California
Posts: 33
|
I started out with it every 3 weeks. When I developed cardiomyopathy, I took a herceptin holiday for six weeks. Then I started back with weekly treatments with no further problems.
__________________
Diagnosed 11/06; IDC
Stage 1, Grade 2
MRM 12/06; 19 nodes removed, all negative
ER/PR-, HER2+++ - 4 rounds AC - every 3 weeks
- 3 rounds Taxol + Herceptin - every 3 weeks (developed allergy to Taxol so stopped treatment)
- Weekly Herceptin after Herceptin-induced cardiomyopathy from treatments every 3 weeks
|
|
|
01-12-2009, 06:10 PM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Posts: 347
|
I also had Herceptin weekly during TCH, and switched to every 3 weeks after. My onc told me he thought it was fine to do it every 3 weeks, but weekly was the way it's been done for a long time so they just keep doing it that way, so I think either way is totally fine...don't worry about a thing.
__________________
"Dancers Against Cancer" in the Eugene, OR Komen Race for the Cure 2010
Diagnosed 8/7/08 with stage 3 invasive ductal carcinoma, micropapillary pattern, Her2 3+, ER+,PR-, grade II, positive lymph nodes.
Received 6doses of Taxotere, Carboplatin with Herceptin continuing for a year...DONE.
1/28/09 Left Modified Radical Mastectomy, Right Simple Mastectomy.
Surgery pathology: No invasive carcinoma present and 17 lymph nodes removed all negative! Only small amount of carcinoma in situ in left breast.
March/April '09, Radiation to left chest wall.
Currently involved in Neratinib clinical trial.
"Well being I won
and wisdom too,
I grew and joyed in my growth;
from a word to a word
I was led to a word
from a deed to another deed." (Odin)
|
|
|
01-12-2009, 08:38 PM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 203
|
I had mine given weekly - my dr. said that his anecdotal experience suggested it was better. I took every opportunity to give myself any advantage in my treatment.
__________________
Dx 8/06 Age 43 Stage IIIA multifocal throughout breast, largest tumor 5 cm, grade 3, comedo, ER+PR+HER+++
Neoadjuvant A/C 4X Dose Dense
11/06 Bilateral Mastectomy (no choice on the right, my choice on the left)
Taxol+Herceptin weekly x12, continuing with Herceptin, finished one year in 12/07
33 Rads
Femara for 5+ years, staying on (started with Arimidex, switched after about a month, much happier)
Abnormal brain MRI shows no cancer, but "extensive white matter diease" - unknown cause
BRCA negative - lots of cancer in my family
survivor of thyroid cancer
also have Crohn's disease
CT and bone scan say NED as of 5/13
dx with severe cardiomyopathy 5/12 (likely due to chemo and Herceptin), ejection fraction in low 20's, now up to 40, went to 50, latest read 12/13 is back down to 35
1/13 Acute pancreatitis - are you kidding me?
9/13 started Humira for Crohn's. starting to have some energy again
B12 and Vit D both needed supplementation
Cataracts in both eyes noted 6/12 - surgery in the next 2-4 years?
4/14 Kidney stones/blockage/infection - related to Crohn's Disease
5/14 My aunt passed away - she was diagnosed after I was with Stage I - not Her2+, then Stage 4 for about one year
6/14 Scans - still NED, thank God. However, broken rib (I didn't notice) lots of bone degeneration osteopenia/osteoporosis. I also still have cardiomyopathy secondary to chemo.
|
|
|
01-12-2009, 08:58 PM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 144
|
I had Herceptin weekly for the 1st 6 months, then my doctor was less strict and let me do a 3-week dosage around the holidays and for me to do a summer trip.
When I did Taxol for a recurrence I had Herceptin weekly with it.
I think the weekly was slightly easier. I definitely felt more flu-like symptoms when I did the 3-week dosage, but it didn't last too long and it was convenient.
__________________
- Anna
Stage I - DX 9/2005 ER/PR-, HER2+, grade 3, DCIS, IDC multi-focal (1.05cm)
DD 4 A/C finished Jan 31, 2006
Herceptin weekly finished Jan 31, 2007
recurrence to chest wall on last month of Herceptin
Stage 3B - 3/15/07 - 2 carcinomas in dermal lymphatic
Rads finished 6/5/07
12x TH finished 9/10/07
12/07 - Clear scan!
3/08 - 4 month Melatonin trial
1/09 - osteoperosis - start Alendronate
2/09 - 4-month Simivastin trial
3/13 - take drug holiday after 5 years of Alendronate
|
|
|
01-12-2009, 09:13 PM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,014
|
I did taxotere, xeloda, and herceptin together. The taxotere was given every 3 weeks, I did herceptin weekly. My oncologist told me that personally, he favored the weekly doses. After I finished chemo, I continued to do herceptin weekly for 2 years. After the second year, I got tired of going to the clinic every week, so we swiched it to every 3 weeks. I have always had side effects with herceptin and it is harder physically on me to do it every 3 weeks but emotionally it is better. You are basically getting the same treatment, it's just with the 3 week dose you get triple the amount, this is what most people do. Having done them both, the weekly dose was easier to tolerate. I am adjusting to the 3 week doses and have them drip it a little slower to help with the side effects, terrible headaches and sinus issues and fatigue...sherryg683
__________________
Sherry
Diagnosed: December , 2005 at age 44
13+ positive lymph nodes
Stage IV , Her2+, 2 small mets to lungsChemo Started: Jan, 2006
4 months Taxotere, Xeloda, Hercepin
NED since April 2006!!
36 Rads to follow with weekly Herceptin indefinately
8 years NED now
Scans every year
Life is not about avoiding the thunderstorms, it's about learning to dance in the rain!
|
|
|
01-13-2009, 05:55 AM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 1,486
|
I also did Herceptin weekly for six months. I think it was easier on my body than when the dose was increased to every three weeks.
I have been taking the Herceptin for three weeks for five months now. I start my sixth month of Herceptin tomorrow.
Amelia
|
|
|
01-13-2009, 11:56 PM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Hilo, Hawaii
Posts: 1,867
|
Snufi,
I had TCH every 3 wks, 6 times. During the TCH, I was given herceptin every wk. After the TC was done, I did the herceptin weekly until it made one yr. I had minimal if any side effects from the herceptin.
Maryanne
__________________
*** MARYANNE *** aka HARRIECANARIE
1993: right side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads
1999: left side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads, tamoxifen
2006:
BRCA 2 positive
Stage I, invasive DCIS (6mm x 5mm)
Grade: intermediate
sentinal node biopsy: neg
HER2/neu amplified 4.7
ER+/PR+
TOPO II neg
Oncotype dx 20
Bilat mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction
oophorectomy
2007:
6 cycles TCH (taxotere, carboplatin, herceptin)
finished 1 yr herceptin 05/07
Arimidex, stopped after almost 1 yr
Femara
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 08:46 AM.
|