HER2

laughs_a_lot · March 2011

I found out yesterday that I am HER 2 positive. So I now know I will be going for chemo. For those of you who have been HER 2 positive, did you have other chemo besides Herceptin? I know if you have chemo your hair ususlly falls out. I was not sure if this was true for Herceptin. I kind of suspect I will be having more than just Herceptin but thought if there was someone who had ONLY Herceptin, if your hair still fell out. I know I will be going to see an onocologist someday after my surgery on 3/22. I just don't yet know which one. None the less I got 5 really awesome scarves today for only $2. I know I probably can get them free but I wanted to get a jump on some of this stuff. This way I don't feel like I am taking action against the bc.

MAJW · March 2011

Don't...
Know anyone who has had just Herceptin...I'm sure is there is, they will respond.
Wishing you the best.

Lynn Smith · March 2011

MAJW said:
Don't...
Know anyone who has had just Herceptin...I'm sure is there is, they will respond.
Wishing you the best.

Wishing you the best
Wishing you the best for your surgery March 22. Will be thinking of you.

I didn't have chemo but my friends and niece had it.They had some problems but the center where they had the chemo did everything to make them comfortable.It was nerves for one and the other friend had allergies to it.Knowing me that would be my luck. Allergic.

Lynn Smith

Bella Luna · March 2011

I was HER2 postive and was
I was HER2 postive and was on Herceptin for a year. I had six infusions of Carboplatin and Taxotere. Once I finished with the six, I continued with Herceptin. I had a port installed prior to starting chemo. I would highly recommend getting one. They make infusions so much easier.

I did lose my hair and wore a wig that I picked up for free at a nonprofit program. I also had several headscarves. It's a process and you will get through it. It's not easy, but it is doable.

Best of luck.
BL

Mitzi333 · March 2011

Bella Luna said:
I was HER2 postive and was
I was HER2 postive and was on Herceptin for a year. I had six infusions of Carboplatin and Taxotere. Once I finished with the six, I continued with Herceptin. I had a port installed prior to starting chemo. I would highly recommend getting one. They make infusions so much easier.

I did lose my hair and wore a wig that I picked up for free at a nonprofit program. I also had several headscarves. It's a process and you will get through it. It's not easy, but it is doable.

Best of luck.
BL

My Chemo cocktail is the same as Bella Luna...
carboplatin and Taxotere along with Herceptin planned for a year. I've had 2 chemo infusions thus far and all is going well, Day 22 after first infusion. My hair is thinning. I've been told i will lose all of my hair ...so I'm expecting all of the hair loss any day. Wigs and hats are ready. Not sure you'll get hair loss from Just Herceptin...perhaps someone else will respond to that question. Check with your onc on your chemo cocktail...my thought with HER2 positive it wll be more than Herceptin.

Best Wishes on your treatments.

Mitzi ;0)

pinkkari09 · March 2011

I'm triple negative so I
I'm triple negative so I can't answer your question but I wanted to wish you well.
Hugs,
~Kari

new2me · March 2011

Mitzi333 said:
My Chemo cocktail is the same as Bella Luna...
carboplatin and Taxotere along with Herceptin planned for a year. I've had 2 chemo infusions thus far and all is going well, Day 22 after first infusion. My hair is thinning. I've been told i will lose all of my hair ...so I'm expecting all of the hair loss any day. Wigs and hats are ready. Not sure you'll get hair loss from Just Herceptin...perhaps someone else will respond to that question. Check with your onc on your chemo cocktail...my thought with HER2 positive it wll be more than Herceptin.

Best Wishes on your treatments.

Mitzi ;0)

Same here !!
Finished with Carboplatin and Taxotere but still on Herceptin. My hair is coming in thick and curly so the Herceptin alone does not make my hair fall out. I have no side effects for the hercptin at all. I too have a port and recomment you get one.
I would doubt you would go with herceptin alone - but I'm no doctor.

Please keep us posted and God be with you

Kelly

canoegirl · March 2011

new2me said:
Same here !!
Finished with Carboplatin and Taxotere but still on Herceptin. My hair is coming in thick and curly so the Herceptin alone does not make my hair fall out. I have no side effects for the hercptin at all. I too have a port and recomment you get one.
I would doubt you would go with herceptin alone - but I'm no doctor.

Please keep us posted and God be with you

Kelly

Me too
I had 8 cycles of chemo and lost my hair, but the last 4 cycles were Taxol with Herceptin and my hair started growing back before I finished the Taxol. Now I'm just on Herceptin (and tamoxiphen) and my hair is thick and a bit curly.

Good luck,

Marcy

CR1954 · March 2011

HER-2.........
I am HER-2+. I had A/C chemo and Abraxane, and yes, I lost my hair with those.

I had Herceptin infusions every three weeks for a year...a year is a pretty standard time frame for Herceptin. You will not lose your hair with Herceptin. If you need other chemo, your hair should grow back once you start the Herceptin.

It really did not cause me any problems and the year seemed to go by quickly.

Hugs,
CR

pbrndm5 · March 2011

CR1954 said:
HER-2.........
I am HER-2+. I had A/C chemo and Abraxane, and yes, I lost my hair with those.

I had Herceptin infusions every three weeks for a year...a year is a pretty standard time frame for Herceptin. You will not lose your hair with Herceptin. If you need other chemo, your hair should grow back once you start the Herceptin.

It really did not cause me any problems and the year seemed to go by quickly.

Hugs,
CR

HER2
I'm going to see oncologist in May. He says no chemo,but probably Herceptin for a year. No chemo because tumor was found very early and was very small, but Herceptin because HER2+. Doc said treatment would probably be every 3 weeks for 1 year.

Seems like Herceptin is usually pretty tolerable from what I have been hearing.

Goodluck!

tommaseena · March 2011

pbrndm5 said:
HER2
I'm going to see oncologist in May. He says no chemo,but probably Herceptin for a year. No chemo because tumor was found very early and was very small, but Herceptin because HER2+. Doc said treatment would probably be every 3 weeks for 1 year.

Seems like Herceptin is usually pretty tolerable from what I have been hearing.

Goodluck!

HER2+
I had:
A/C treatment 4 rounds started 3/15/09 completed 4/21/09.
Taxol w/Herceptin 5/7/09--once a week for 12 weeks THEN
Herceptin alone--every 3 weeks for one year finished 3/10.

I did lose my hair when I was on A/C but when I started Taxol w/Herceptin it started to grow back. I went about 3 months bald--I made the choice not to wear a wig--I wore a baseball cap when I dropped my son off at school but usually did not wear anything-on my head that is anytime else.

I had a double mastectomy and my my staging was stage 1 had not gone into the lymph nodes. I had a port--which I also recommend.

Best of luck.

Margo

Mothercrone · March 2011

tommaseena said:
HER2+
I had:
A/C treatment 4 rounds started 3/15/09 completed 4/21/09.
Taxol w/Herceptin 5/7/09--once a week for 12 weeks THEN
Herceptin alone--every 3 weeks for one year finished 3/10.

I did lose my hair when I was on A/C but when I started Taxol w/Herceptin it started to grow back. I went about 3 months bald--I made the choice not to wear a wig--I wore a baseball cap when I dropped my son off at school but usually did not wear anything-on my head that is anytime else.

I had a double mastectomy and my my staging was stage 1 had not gone into the lymph nodes. I had a port--which I also recommend.

Best of luck.

Margo

Hello Her2 Friends!
I was diagnosed with Stage II Her2 in September 2010 and had my mastectomy followed by immediate reconstruction on 10/28/10.

I had a portal installed and had my first chemo on 12/17/10. The chemo program I am on is:

Taxotere
Carboplatin
Herceptin

I get my full chemo treatmeants every three weeks followed a day later by an injection of Neulasta, which helps to stimulate healthy white blood cells.

Every week I also have a Herceptin treatment without the chemo.

I just finished my 5th chemo treatment last week. After my final, we shall take some tests to see if I need radiation. In any event, every third week I will go for a double dose of Herceptin for at least six months.

Every patient reacts differently with their chemo treatments. Generally, you will lose your hair. For me that's a small sacrifice to live well. Because I am also on anti-nausea meds, I did not experience any nausea or vomiting. I do have numb and cold fingers and feet, which is annoying but tolerable. Also metallic taste which is really awful but again, I am grateful that my chemo is giving me a new leash on life.

Herceptin should not give you any side effects, but again, everyone is different.

You will do fine with your treatments and will surprise yourself with your strength.

I just joined this site today and am thankful to read about so many wonderful people surviving cancer.

Bless You!

HER2

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