starting hera trial monday!

Hi guys

Hope you are all feeling well today, i am due to start the 2 year arm of Herceptin on Monday for my stage 2 breast cancer, i'll be having infussions every three weeks and the oncologist has advised i have a portocath put in, i really do not want to go that route as i had to have a line in for chemo and couldn't wait to have the stupid thing removed, i found it so uncomfortable and infringing on my life, my veins are tiny and i know it would probably be best to have the port but i want to be "NORMAL" and having this will be a constant reminder (apart from the mastectomy scar!!) that i have had cancer. Do the ports hurt? and are they as intrusive as a hickman line, i also feel apprehensive about the side effects of Herceptin can anyone let me know what to expect, my onc said i may be kept in hospital over night (gulp) to monitor me and to make sure i tolerate it without to much hassle....i really hope you are all ok, would appreciate the advise of more experienced Herceptin users.
Thanx and hugs
Nikki

Hello Nikki,

First off, congrats on getting the 2 year arm. That's such good news.

Second, my partner Rachel is into her 8th month of herceptin (after dose dense chemo) and has managed it easily without a port. And she was told before her first chemo session that she has "@#%@ty" veins! But with the help of a great infusion nurse, who always remembers to put a heating pad on Rachel's hand first, it's been pretty easy. After the first "loading" dose (which took about an hour and a half), the subsequent infusions usually have taken about 1/2 hour to 45 minutes.

As for side effects, I think Rachel would say she's had none. Of course it's hard to separate out what's "leftover" from chemo, what's the lupron shots she's taking to suppress her ovaries, etc. But she has had nothing that seems directly in response to herceptin. Though I'd add that to me it seems that the day or two before an infusion (that is, at the end of each three week cycle) she has seeemed a little extra-tired.

Good luck!

Jeff

Congradulations and good luck! Just to let you know, my wife has been on weekly herceptin for over a year. Accessing her port is simple and virtually painless. She uses a numbing cream on it before she leaves for the hospital each week. As for side effects aside from some fatigue on the day of the treatment and weak finger and toe nails she has no other side effects.

Hi, I too was very scared to have a port put in but even though I have very good veins, they could not withstand the harsh chemos like Navelbine. So, I came to this site for support. Everybody here on this site told me to go ahead and have the port put in. Believe me,that was one of the most positive things in my fight with Metastatic Breast Cancer. One less thing to worry about. I love my port and if you decide, I know you will too. Take care.

Well, the good thing about herceptin is that it is not a vessicant meaning it will not harm your vessels. I have poor veins too and I managed without a port until we had add chemo for mets. Then I chose it because I knew I would need it for long term use. and it would never be remove. It is all left under the skin , nothing is exposed, leaving freedom to bathe, shower, swim. I love it. But if its just for herceptin and nothing else and you can handle being poked and have good staff to do it- go for it!
Elisabeth

I have had 2 ports; one with my original dx (April 2002) which I had removed and the second one placed May 2003 for my recurrance. In my humble opinion a port is the only way to go. The site where they place the port will be sore for about a week and I still have trouble wearing a car seat belt properly but other than those 2 little things I consider the port a god send. I would go nuts if someone had to poke at my arms all the time. I have been on herceptin for about 1 year now. Last May I started with Herceptin and Navelbine once a week; we did that combo for 6 months. Since January I have been on Herceptin only once every three weeks. For me, the Herceptin has no side effects what so ever except that I'm certain it keeps the "Big C" at bay. I felt just like you about the port at first - that it would be a constant reminder of the bad things going on in my life. That faded pretty quickly and I make sure to point out to anybody who wants to stick me (nurses/CT scans/PET scans/etc.) that I have a port - can they use that? They can't always but it's worth asking. I'm sending positive thoughts your way. Have a wonderful day.

Peggy in Orlando, FL