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01-29-2008, 11:35 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Hilo, Hawaii
Posts: 1,867
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Herceptin, min side effects 4 me
I just finished my year long treatment of herceptin and I wanted to let whoever was interested to know that I had minimal side effects, if any. My energy level was normal, my weight remained normal, I had at times a very slight drippy nose, and no skin rashes or changes. Maybe I was just lucky, but that's how it was for me!
I am on Arimidex now and I am getting more side effects from that then the herceptin. So far....the Arimidex is fairly tolerable. It is mostly just in the joint of my left thumb.
But I know there are a lot of posts out there about significant side effects to the herceptin and I just wanted others to know that I am one who hardly had any side effects.
Best of luck to any of you about ready to embark on your treatment of herceptin.
__________________
*** 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
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01-30-2008, 05:56 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Sheboygan, WI
Posts: 2,582
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I didn't either
I handled herceptin well also. I was able to complete one year of it and it was given to me every 3 weeks. I did have a runny nose and wasn't able to lose the weight gained during chemo and herceptin. The moment herceptin ended - literally within weeks - the weight started to come off. I also had some joint aches - knees and hips mainly - but that was all minimal and very tolerable.
All in all, nothing to complain about and very thankful I could tolerate it for one year.
Hi Maryanne 
Hugs
Mary Jo
__________________
"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
Dx. 6/24/05 age 45 Right Breast IDC ER/PR. Neg., - Her2+++ RB Mast. - 7/28/05 - 4 cm. tumor Margins clear - 1 microscopic cell 1 sent. node No Vasucular Invasion 4 DD A/C - 4 DD Taxol & Herceptin 1 full year of Herceptin received every 3 weeks 28 rads prophylactic Mast. 3/2/06
17 Years NED
<>< Romans 8:28
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01-30-2008, 06:38 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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Maryanne,
Congratulations on completing your year of Herceptin. Hopefully the side effects you are having from the Arimidex will subside.
__________________
Kate
Stage IIIC Diagnosed Oct 25, 2005 (age 58)
ER/PR-, HER2+++, grade 3, Ploidy/DNA index: Aneuploid/1.61, S-phase: 24.2%
Neoadjunct chemo: 4 A/C; 4 Taxatore
Bilateral mastectomy June 8, 2006
14 of 26 nodes positive
Herceptin June 22, 2006 - April 20, 2007
Radiation (X35) July 24-September 11, 2006
BRCA1/BRCA2 negative
Stage IV lung mets July 13, 2007 - TCH
Single brain met - August 6, 2007 -CyberKnife
Oct 2007 - clear brain MRI and lung mets shrinking.
March 2008 lung met progression, brain still clear - begin Tykerb/Xeloda/Ixempra
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01-30-2008, 02:34 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Louisville KY
Naples FL
Posts: 665
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I finished Herceptin in November, 07. It was very easy with no side effects. Mugas stayed the same and very little fatigue. Arimidex is
another story. Bone ache most of the time, better with exercise.
Patb
__________________
patb
Diagnosed June, 06, Stage I, Grade3, ER+PR- Her2positive, No Nodes. A/C X 4. Radiation 33 with boost, Herceptin every two weeks until Nov.
07, Arimedex for 5 years. Mugas and Echo and chest xRay. Bone scan of whole Body, and Back of Brain and spine MRI.
CT scan of Lungs every six months
due to two small places. December
2009, bone scan due to bone pain.
Follow up test in 2010.
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01-30-2008, 02:58 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 64
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It was pretty easy for me too. Drippy nose was the most significant. My vision has also deteriorated some, but that might just be me getting older.
__________________
Mary in Toronto
1998 left side ER/PR+, node-, lumpectomy and rads
2005 right side ER/PR-/HER2+, nodes+, neoadjuvant AC, taxol, lumpectomy, rads, 12 months herceptin
2008 back to the left, ER/PR+/HER2-, node-, bilateral mast.
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01-31-2008, 08:10 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Carmel, Indiana
Posts: 98
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Thank you for sharing your positive experiences about Herceptin! I had my last chemo on 1-16-08 and will continue with the Herceptin every three weeks, starting next week. I'm hoping that I tolerate it well without many side effects. I'm also hoping that the acne/rash that I got after each chemo is NOT from the Herceptin!
I have something I've been wanting to ask. I am 41 and my periods stopped when I started the chemo. My mother went through menopause early at 43. I don't know if I should go on Tamoxifen or take the shots that suppress the ovaries and take Arimidix or an AI. It seems like there is a lot of research on this topic right now but not many conclusions.
Thanks for your input!
Beth
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01-31-2008, 03:29 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Hilo, Hawaii
Posts: 1,867
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For Beth
Beth, what is your main concern? Is it to get the hormone inhibitor medication and yet trying to avoid menopause? The reason I am asking is because to get advice or comments on this situation, you might want to open up a new thread. It might not be seen very much on this one.
Maryanne (harrie)
__________________
*** 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
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01-31-2008, 04:25 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Carmel, Indiana
Posts: 98
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I don't really care about avoiding menopause as much as I was wondering which medicine is more effective.
__________________
DX 9-19-07 at age 40
DCIS, Inv. Duct. Car. 3 cm
Positive lymph node biopsy
Er+Pr+Her+++
Carboplatin/Taxotere/Herceptin
10-1-07 -- 1-16-08
Herceptin every 3 weeks until 9/24/08
Lump. and node dissection 2-12-08
BRCA1 and 2 negative
30 rads finished 4-23-08
oophorectomy 5-6-08
Femara started 5/25/08
Zometa for osteoporosis every 6 mo. started 9-24-08
Married 16 years!
3 kids - daughter (10), twin sons (7)
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01-31-2008, 05:27 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 305
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Congratulations on completeing your Herceptin! That must feel great.
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