start Herceptin same time as Radiation?

[Anita]

I'm Stage 1, multifocal medullary bc, grade 3, no node involvement, er + 15%, her2neu3+. I've finished chemo - 4 A/C, and will start rad 11/28 (33 treatments). Originally, my doctor had told me we would do the radiation first, and then Hepceptin for a year and then Tamoxifen. Last week she said we would start rads and Herceptin together - but mentioned it might make symptoms worse. Now I find myself wondering if this is a good idea - has anyone gone through both of these treatments at the same time? I'm wondering if this will make the rad burns worse? Maybe I'm worrying for nothing.
Anita

Hi Anita.

When my Mom's lymph node involvement was discovered eight months after her original surgery and radiation, she had an extensive axillary dissection, followed by another round of radiation on the same side. Her oncologist said that we "had time" and could wait until after her rad to begin Herceptin. I became concerned at the delay in giving the Herceptin, so he said we could do both at the same time. I checked with her radiation oncologist, and did some quick research on the matter, and she then went on to receive both simultaneously. I watched her skin carefully, and the only difference was a slight thickening of her skin where the two radiaition course overlapped. Other than that, she did just fine. I always beleive that the faster you begin whatever treatment, the more likely you are to have a successful outcome.

Best Wishes.
Tom

[Maryanne]

Anita,

I had 4 ac followed by 4 taxol with herceptin, then 33 radiation, never stopping Herceptin. I will be on Herceptin for a total of one year.
I had no problem with this what so ever.

Maryanne

[Anita]

thanks, Tom and Maryanne for the quick replies. You've relieved my mind. I'lll go ahead with both and hope my luck is as good as yours.

Anita

[sassy]

Mine was exactly the same as Maryanne, no problems. Do check on having herceptin in conjunction with a taxane, taxol or taxotere, rather than by itself. Study shows that the two together is more effective than administered at different times.Sassy
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Hi,
Please follow the link below and this wil lhelp you decide.

http://www.cbcrp.org/research/PageGr...?grant_id=1696

I personally had rad together with Herceptin and did not have any major issues.
I think if your radiation oncologist or medical oncologist tries to tell u to wait till radition finishes to give u Herceptin, then u should show this research paper. This is what I did exactly at a large hospital in Boston and the radiation and medical oncologist were caught off guard about this research and readily agreed.

What part of the country are u in?

[panicked911]

I am also stage 1 multi focal and no node or vascualr incovement but her2 3+ and strongly er (80) and pr (70) + . I started Herceptain last week w/out chemo and currently taking tomaxefen as well as luprene injections. I have my first radiation appt. next week. My oncologists who beleong to major new york city cancer center said that for radiation to work well, I needed to take the herceptain at the same time. So far handling all well - first dose of Herceptain was really hard butr all symptoms disappeared the next morning. Good Luck to you and I hope this helps

[Anita]

Thanks for the link, Unregistered Guest. Very interesting and convinces me further this will be a good thing. Thanks.

Hi Anita,

On Nov/17/05, I finished 16 radiation treatments. I started Herceptin a couple of days after the lst radiation treatment. I had two doses of Herceptin while taking radiation with no ill effects such as skin irritation or burns from the rads. I took Gina Popp's advice and put zinc cream on the soles of my feet nightly during radiation treatments - 'Thanks Gina!'
My surgeon originally refered me to the radiation specialist following my lumpectomy (March/04) but the the radiation specialist told me that I was too swollen and bruised from the surgery for him to do rads. He went out to confer with his onc colleagues and came back and said the concensus of opinion was that I should take chemo first and then take radiation. He refered me to an oncologist who put me on chemo. In the meantime, Herceptin was approved here in Ontario just as I was finishing the chemo treatments and therefore I got Herceptin and radiation almost simultaneously. By the way, I have suffered no ill effects from the Herceptin apart from chills during the infusion.
Hope this helps!
Best Wishes,
JoanM

Hi Anita,

I'm late to this thread but still wanted to add my voice to the chorus: my partner Rachel did radiation simultaneous with radiation and had no negative effects that we can tell. We actually pushed for this treatment plan because at least a couple of small studies have suggested that herceptin may work as a "radiosensitizer"--that is, it may enhance the effects of radiation (as your oncologist seems to be aware of).

The only thing to think about is if the radiation is on your left side you want to be especially careful about having your heart checked every few months.

Good luck!

Jeff

[sherri]

I've done radiation with Herceptin. No problem and my left breast had cancer. I did a lot of research at the time and did find out that they are better together.
Good luck to you.

Hi Anita,
Sorry I wrote as unregistered. It was me.
I would say go for Radiation with Herceptin.

[Anita]

thanks to all who replied. I'm convinced that it is best this way so I'll proceed and feel quite relieved. This support group is great!! thanks JoanM for the zinc cream tip. I'll look for it.

Anita