Herceptin

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HapB
HapB Member Posts: 527
edited June 2017 in Breast Cancer #1

Has anyone here been treated with Herceptin?  I wasn't expecting side effects but I feel like I hve been hit be a truck tonight. Severe headache, body aches, bone aches. 

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  • Mariangel43
    Mariangel43 Member Posts: 79
    #2
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    Sorry for SE

    No dear.  Maybe someone can tell you.  Why don't you check on the company site?

  • Apaugh
    Apaugh Member Posts: 850 Member
    #3
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    yep

    I have been on Herceptin treatments since November of 2016.  I get it every 3 wks.  At times I feel like little critters are in there chewing on my bones.  Stretches, pain meds, hot baths.  

    Hugs,

    Annie

  • Apaugh
    Apaugh Member Posts: 850 Member
    #4
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    Apaugh said:

    yep

    I have been on Herceptin treatments since November of 2016.  I get it every 3 wks.  At times I feel like little critters are in there chewing on my bones.  Stretches, pain meds, hot baths.  

    Hugs,

    Annie

    Herceptin

    What is Herceptin? It is not chemotherapy or a hormone therapy.  It is called a monoclonal antibody which utilises the natural immune system to kill tumour cells. Although cancers grow mainly beyond normal growth control, they are sufficiently similar to the own body’s cells to enable them to hide from the immune system (the body’s defence mechanism against “foreign” attack). There are, however, some subtle differences between cancer cells and normal cells. Some of these differences may be detected with special sensitive laboratory tests. In the case of breast cancer there may be too many copies of a cancer-causing gene called an oncogene. This oncogene called HER2 is part of a family of genes called c-erbB-2 (otherwise known as her-2-/neu). Each HER2 gene results in the expression of a receptor on the surface of the cell. If the gene makes too much receptor, it is referred to as being “over expressed".  Cells that over express too much of the HER2 gene can be a specific target for therapies such as Herceptin. Technology now exists to make antibodies in the laboratory called monoclonal antibodies.  Specific antibodies have been made to detect and attach to the HER2 receptors. The antibody is therefore known as anti-HER2 called trastuzumab or its commercial name Herceptin…”

     

  • Apaugh
    Apaugh Member Posts: 850 Member
    edited July 2017 #5
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    yep

    It causes these side effects but they are treatable with OTC and pain meds.  They run their gammit between infusion times and can be rought.   Some people will call it chemo becuase they schedule it that way at the offices adn treat it the same way during the infusions.  It is not a walk in the park for sure.  It is one more tool to beat cancer.  I am sorry you are hurting. 

    Hugs,

    Annie

     

  • meschellejensen
    meschellejensen Member Posts: 117
    #6
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    HapB

    I do not have any answers about Herceptin, but I am so sorry for what you are going through!  I will continue to pray...

    Meschelle

  • KarenBinETN
    KarenBinETN Member Posts: 10
    #7
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    Herceptin

    HapB: This is my second time on Herceptin so I may be some help. I was on it for a year in 2014-15 and am now receiving it again. I found when I was just on Herceptin alone, I did much better than when I was/am getting it with other drugs. That said, I know, at first it can be hard on the body. Are you getting Neulasta shots the day after Herceptin?

    Karen

  • HapB
    HapB Member Posts: 527
    #8
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    Karen

    No Neulasta needed yet. They check my blood every week. I am doing better this week. not great, but better.

  • KarenBinETN
    KarenBinETN Member Posts: 10
    #9
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    HapB

    Better is good. Maybe great will be soon! 

      I've been on Neulasta from the get-go this time. I get it on Friday the day after chemo and by late Sunday afternoon I'm exhausted and body aches set in. So far, I've found if I get a little ahead of it, incredibly with Tylenol Extra Stength, I can usually sleep it off. If I delay on the Tylenol, the body aches are intense so I only did that once. It may just be me but it seems my reactions to everything are higher, stronger, worse than the first time around. I'm only three years older but apparently they are three VERY big years. LOL

  • Apaugh
    Apaugh Member Posts: 850 Member
    #10
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    KarenBinETN said:

    HapB

    Better is good. Maybe great will be soon! 

      I've been on Neulasta from the get-go this time. I get it on Friday the day after chemo and by late Sunday afternoon I'm exhausted and body aches set in. So far, I've found if I get a little ahead of it, incredibly with Tylenol Extra Stength, I can usually sleep it off. If I delay on the Tylenol, the body aches are intense so I only did that once. It may just be me but it seems my reactions to everything are higher, stronger, worse than the first time around. I'm only three years older but apparently they are three VERY big years. LOL

    Neulasta is rough on most

    Iw as lucky enough not to have to take it all the time.  I only had 4 times and it was awful.  Once they feel your counts are good, they will stop those.  Just dealing with the other treatments is enough hell to add the Neulasta.   My heart goes out to you and prayers you wont have to do it much longer. 

    Keep fighting tough, this too shall pass.  be good to yourself and rest.  the body heals as it rest.

    Hugs,

    annie

  • KarenBinETN
    KarenBinETN Member Posts: 10
    #11
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    Neulasta

    Annie, this time they started me on Neulasta from the get-go. I think because my first go-around with Chemo (Taxotere, Carboplatin & Herceptin in 2014), my counts went so low I had to have a transfusion and skip a treatment. So this time, I think they are trying to avoid that. 

    The last cycle, I swear the Neulasta hadn't been in me two hours until I felt those now-familiar body aches and pains. By Saturday, I was down for the count. So Hap, I'm right there with you!

    Karen

  • HapB
    HapB Member Posts: 527
    edited August 2017 #12
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    neulasta?

    Karen and Annie, were you on Neulasta for Herceptin?   I have not had Neulasta for Herceptin and the pains are from the Herceptin infusions only.

  • KarenBinETN
    KarenBinETN Member Posts: 10
    edited August 2017 #13
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    Neulasta

    HapB, I think my neulasta is more for the taxotere than the Herceptin. But they didn't even wait to see if my counts dropped. They just started me on the neulasta right after the first infusion. 

      It may have been because my first time on chemo (in 2014-15) for Her2+, my counts dropped a couple of times so that may have been part of the decision. My counts were a little low at my last draw but not enough to warrant postponing treatment or getting a transfusion. 

     As to the side effects, with the Neulasta, I get body aches and tiredness. My other problems are from the Taxotere, Herceptin and Prejeta or so my MO and nurses tell me.

     The neulasta shot itself doesn't hurt me directly.

     I get my four cycle on Thursday and see MO on Wednesday so we'll see what's going on this week then!

    Karen

     

  • Apaugh
    Apaugh Member Posts: 850 Member
    #14
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    No Neulasta with Herceptin

    Nope, just for my chemo, not for the Herceptin.  But the herceptin did make me feel bad but my bounce back was quicker ea. time.

  • pinkpal57
    pinkpal57 Member Posts: 2
    edited August 2017 #15
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    Herceptin

    This is my second time on Herceptin.  The first time I was almost ten years younger, which could have something to do with why I feel sick and tired most of the time this go around.  I believe I only have two more treatments and I cannot wait to be done.  I feel like a nauseous wet noodle most of the time; fatigued, depressed, nauseous, cannot sleep, horrible hot flushes and night sweats....  My advice is to hang in there, take advantage of whatever support you have, and take good care of yourself physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

  • Apaugh
    Apaugh Member Posts: 850 Member
    edited August 2017 #16
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    Still feeling that way.

    It has been 4 weeks and since my last herceptin and I still feel like crap.

  • HapB
    HapB Member Posts: 527
    #17
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    pinkpal57 said:

    Herceptin

    This is my second time on Herceptin.  The first time I was almost ten years younger, which could have something to do with why I feel sick and tired most of the time this go around.  I believe I only have two more treatments and I cannot wait to be done.  I feel like a nauseous wet noodle most of the time; fatigued, depressed, nauseous, cannot sleep, horrible hot flushes and night sweats....  My advice is to hang in there, take advantage of whatever support you have, and take good care of yourself physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

    Herceptin

    That about sums up how I feel. I just feel horrible and sick. I don't onow how people can function for a whole year like this. I need to get back to normal asap to support myself! I am divorced and there really is no support system that will fill the gaps for this length of time. Thanks for the input. I hope you feel better once you are done with this! 

  • HapB
    HapB Member Posts: 527
    #18
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    Apaugh said:

    Still feeling that way.

    It has been 4 weeks and since my last herceptin and I still feel like crap.

    Annie

    I hope you feel better soon!  Our bodies are put through so much with all of these drugs! It feels endless!

  • KarenBinETN
    KarenBinETN Member Posts: 10
    edited August 2017 #19
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    HapB said:

    Herceptin

    That about sums up how I feel. I just feel horrible and sick. I don't onow how people can function for a whole year like this. I need to get back to normal asap to support myself! I am divorced and there really is no support system that will fill the gaps for this length of time. Thanks for the input. I hope you feel better once you are done with this! 

    Perception

    So sorry you are still going through these troubles with Herceptin, Hap! Hopefully you will gradually start to feel better. My first time when they said a year, I thought it would be hell, the last six months I was just doing Herceptin and I didn't have bad SE. Hopefully yours will get better too.

  • Stategirl91
    Stategirl91 Member Posts: 1
    #20
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    Heceptin body pain

    I feel the same way.  I had my first Herceotin infusion on 8/9 and my body still feels like I've been beat with a baseball bat. I had been getting herceptin as part of my 4 drug chemo cocktail, but never had these side effects after those infusions.  Now my muscles and joints ache like crazy and I get super hot at night.  I wasn't planning on side effects with herceptin on its own. ...ugh!!

  • HapB
    HapB Member Posts: 527
    #21
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    Stategirl91 said:

    Heceptin body pain

    I feel the same way.  I had my first Herceotin infusion on 8/9 and my body still feels like I've been beat with a baseball bat. I had been getting herceptin as part of my 4 drug chemo cocktail, but never had these side effects after those infusions.  Now my muscles and joints ache like crazy and I get super hot at night.  I wasn't planning on side effects with herceptin on its own. ...ugh!!

    Stategirl91

    How long is the drip that they do with your Herceptin? I have gone to a bag of saline before and a 90 minute drip and also take steroids before and after. It has helped a lot. Still the week after the infusion is awful. 

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