1st Herceptin Treatment

Well my mom went for her first treatment on Wednesday.   The first treatment is to be the longest.   Well it was REAL long.   They took my mom in pretty quick and got her seated and then had to ask her questions and go over all of the side effects and she had to sign off on papers, etc.   That took about 15 to 20 minutes.   Then because they never did a CBC panel on her, they had to take a blood sample and test it right there.  So we waited another 30 minutes until the results were back and they were able to proceed.   They did start her first with some saline.   She did not have to premedicate or anything and there were no restrictions whatsoever.

Then they started the Herceptin.  Within about five minutes, my mom looked at me and said she felt funny.  She had a burny feeling in her chest and it was going down both arms.   I went and got the nurse and they stopped the treatment immediately.   Almost as soon as they stopped the treatment, my mom began to feel better.   They then ran the saline again and we waited until the doc arrived.   I don't think it helped that the lady across from my mom also had a small reaction to her chemo about 30 minutes before my mom did.  After my mom seemed well and the doc said to start a drip of Pepsin.   Then my mom tells us that she didn't eat all morning so we got her some crackers.  After the pepsin drip was done, they started the herceptin which was to run for 90 minutes.   She slept for a good while.   When they sat her up, somehow her iv came undone and the herceptin was dripping on her leg, etc.   We took care of that.  And she finished the treatment and then they topped it off with saline.

I told my mom to wait a bit before we left but she wanted to leave.  She was disappointed she had a reaction and it took longer than anticipated.   So we get onto the elevator and of course it had to stop on every floor.   She began feeling very dizzy and by the time we got down to the bottom floor she was pretty nauseous.   We had her sit for a bit and she went to the restroom.  I then got the car and took her home.  She was fine on the ride home, but when she climbed from the basement to her living floor, she was dizzy and nauseous again.   I called the nurse and she ordered Zofran.   

Needlesstosay, I was worried, but by the next day she was up and about and even drove to one of her social events.  Today she drove herself for her hair appointment.   The next treatment is in three weeks and it is only supposed to take 30 to 40 minutes for the Herceptin.  However, because of her reaction, they will start her with Pepsin first.  And they told her to eat breakfast.

Just wanted to share this with you.

Kathy