Short shelf life for Herceptin???

[Barb]

Hi Gina
In Australia, I understand it is the norm here for one to enter the onc treatment room before they are allowed to order the Herceptin to be made up. I also had infusions when I went to UK earlier this year, and it was only made up when we signed in for treatment.
As for it losing its potency, I must confess I was most nervous that it might, as I took some Herceptin with me to UK in a 'freezer' bag. I wasn't allowed to put it in the aircraft fridge, so it was outside its normal cold environment for about 48 hours! I guess I won't know until maybe sometime down the track if my tumour markers start climbing.
I was interested to read the various comments of ladies as to how often they have their infusions in the US and some of the reactions felt by them.
I have been having Herceptin weekly for 2 years until I went to UK. There, the practice is to have a triple dose every 3 weeks over 1.5hrs. When I returned to Australia end of Sept, patients here had just been given the OK to receive it every 3 weeks as a triple dose so I felt it was a good step in the right direction trying to lead a normal life. However it was administered in 1/2hr. I became intolerably tired, I am not sure if others were the same, but the time for infusion has been changed to 1.5hrs.
Although I am described as a junior member (I don't know the reason for this), I am quite senior, so all my aches and pains, which sometimes are many, have mostly been attributed to the old degenerative disease, arthritis! For me, who knows but I shall keep on trying to be mobile! Barb

[al from Canada]

Hello Gina,
I can't understand how this can happen. Assuming that all countries are at least as backward as Canada, herceptin has to be filled at the hospital pharmacy which must be first, ordered by the consulting physican. I can't imagine someone just walking-in off the street, sitting down and getting a herceptin infusion without first seeing a doctor. To my knowledge, the pharmacy can't fill the Rx without a doctors note. My experience is that the most time in the infusion room is spent waiting for the pharmacy to fill the Rx, not getting the infusion itself.
As for weight gain.....who knows? What makes more sense to me, that is; if you want to pursue this line of reasoning, is that the doseage should get adjusted to the level of HER2 expression from your IHC / FISH test. The higher the expression, the higher the doseage? I'm not a pharmacist though so at this point.......
Al

[sarah]

Herceptin is very expensive so whether or not you have to see a doctor before the infusion, I doubt very much that they would make it up before they see you and you're about to get your infusion.
sarah

[Susan]

I know when I get my herceptin, they mix it when I get there. They have'nt told me because of short shelf life. But it only takes a few minutes to do it.

Sue

[RhondaH]

I think a lot of this has to do with not wanting to prepare it and not use it or possibly changing the dosing schedule or possibly weight etc.

Rhonda Hoffman

[Yorkiegirl]

I know mine is mixed when I get there. I have heard it does have a shelf life not sure of the amount of time.


Vicki

[Martha McKendrick]

I live in Wisconsin and I asked if I could watch them prepare my "cocktails" and the staff said sure so I was able to actully watch them prepare my Herceptin so I know it is fresh. Maybe you can ask to watch so you can feel more assured you are getting good stuff?