navelbine side effect

[kay b]

I just started my first treatment of navelbine and herceptin yesterday. But right after my treatment, I noticed that my heart was beating fast and didn't go away until later that night, and I couldn't sleep. This morning I woke up with flushed chest and face and lasted until late afternoon.

I was given Dacadron and Kytril before my chemo treatment, does everyone who gets this treatment get these pre med? My doc will be giving me Navelbine and Herceptin together every 3 weeks. Please share with me your stories of how often you got your treatments and if you got it together or separate? Thank you for all your times for sharing with me your experiences. Kay

[al from Canada]

Dear Kay,

The side effects you describe could be from the decadron. Linda was on the herceptin + navelbine and didn't require any pre-meds at all. Ask your onc about foregoing the pre-meds and see what he says.

Good luck,
Al

[lu ann]

Dear Kay, My face has been flushed after tx. with gemsar and herceptin. I thought it was from the rosacea that I have, but the nurse thought not. She didn't seem concerned about it enough to stop tx. or give me decadron for pre-meds. I was on navlebean prior to gemsar and don't recall having a flushed face, but did experience a drop in WBC. Blessings. Lu Ann.

[brittd01]

Hello! My Mom has been on Navelbine/Herceptin since last August for liver and bone mets. She has exactly the same reaction as you. Apparently it is from the pre med steroid and her onc. said she must take them. So now she makes a point to take ambien for a few nights after her tx which seems to help. She also takes this combo weekly and adds zometa for bones once a month.

Hope this helps!!

Love,
Brittany

ps. After only three months on navelbine/herceptin - her liver is NED and her spine met is shrinking.

[TriciaK]

Dear Kay, It's good to hear from you again and hear that your treatments are progressing and you're getting herceptin. I had 6 months of herceptin and navelbine with no side effects, or at least hardly any. I didn't have decadron, though, or kytril. I'm sure your doctor has a good reason for using them, but they are probably what are giving you the side effects. I would ask him if there is something else you can take. I had the common antihistimine they usually give, benydril,and that made me so sleepy I was shot for the day. When I finally went on just the herceptin I asked to take it without the antihistimine and it was much better, no real side effects at all. I think navelbine is about the easiest chemo, but it is very effective. The first dosage is usally a little harder on you, too, and maybe you won't have the same problems next time.Good luck and hugs, Tricia

[Karen t]

Dear Kay,

I was on weekly Navelbine/Herceptin for 6 mos from 8/04 to 2/05. Back on it again (weekly combo) since 8/05 and will continue indefinitely. Have never had pre-meds. My heart rate is sometimes elevated but my recent MUGA was fine. My mets were in my sternum and lungs but now stabilized. Hope this helps - and hope your situation can be resolved.

Karen

[kay b]

Hi Tricia,

It was so nice to hear from you. Today was physically very challenging day for me. I felt so weak and had an ache all over my body. Have you heard that before? Thanks for your support and prayers. Kay

[TriciaK]

Kay, Where do you go for your chemo? While I still lived in N. Az. part of the time I went to the chemo lab at the little Showlow hospital. THe girls there were great and I liked that they did the blood testing and chemo the same day. If that is where you go, be sure to tell all the nurses there "hello" from me! Tell them I have been NED (no evidence of disease) for several months and am doing well. I hope that your next treatments are easier than the first have been. I still think it is not the herceptin as much as what they are giving with it, but your oncologist surely has a good reason for all he prescribes. I am glad you are using this board. There is so much here of help and so much support! Best wishes!Tricia