I had Herceptin after chemo and the side effects were much less than during chemotherapy. I had an upset stomach and flu like aches and pains for a few days. I would take it easy for a couple of days. Taste and appetite returned after a month or two finishing chemotherapy.
Some on this thread have little or no side effects of their injections, many are working. I was informed that your immunity would still be lower than normal but not as low as during chemotherapy.
Great news you’re nearly finished chemo, you’re nearly there.!
@caz591 I finished chemo in October and had surgery in November. I’ve continued on 3 weekly phesgo since finishing chemo and results of surgery will determine whether that continues or whether I move onto kadcyla. But as for side effects with phesgo alone, they’ve been ok so far (touch wood) and I’ve had my 7th dose today. I can have a bit of a dodgy tummy for afew days afterwards but that’s about it. I did also used to get heartburn after it but haven’t had that for the last few doses. I continue to work before and after phesgo injections.
Hope everyone else is doing ok. @naughty_boob how is your cording now? I had surgery on 28th November and developed cording within afew days . I’ve had 3 sessions of physio in the last 2 weeks and that’s helping, but it’s so painful at times.
Thanks guys im glad you are feeling ok while on target treatment, i was worried i would still feel the same as being on chemo. I just want my taste and appetite back i’ve lost over a stone in weight and clothes are hanging off me. Cant wait to have a whopper meal lol
@rrey the cording is still painful. I’m having to wait 3 weeks for my next physio due to Christmas but have been doing my own massage and stretching. I try to do it in the morning before getting out of bed as I’m warm but then need to take paracetamol after I’ve irritated it. I do feel it loosening a little, it will just take time.
I’m so glad your cording was found early and you’re having physio straight away, hope that gives positive results.
@caz591 - I finished chemo in July, had mastectomy in August and finished radiotherapy in late October. Since then I have just been having the Phesgo which I am due to finish on 10th April 2025. My taste buds have always been rubbish but are way better than they were on chemo. I’m certainly eating properly again. I don’t get any real side effects from it and went straight into work after having it yesterday. I hope you find it way easier on its own. My heart ejection fraction has decreased a bit because of it (not that I would have known it if it hadn’t been for the MUGA heart scan) but now I am on a pill that has put it back to what it was before that I can come off in April when I finish Phesgo. Fingers crossed you sail through and get to enjoy that Whopper meal soon! X
And so it was that a year ago today I got the unwelcome news that my cancer was in my lymph nodes, I would need full body scans, yet more surgery and the full works of treatment due to my HER2+ status. I went hurtling into freefall, lost the plot, found myself up sh*t creek without a paddle and consequently put out a call for some HER2+ buddies to haul me out of this quagmire of craziness. Which they did and then some.
Many wonderful women heard my distress call, saw me floundering and came to the rescue. I never would have known that this thread would grow in the way that it has and sometimes I find myself wondering why. I have discussed this with the one and only @naughtyboob on a couple of occasions and we believe that it is quite simply needed, due to the long haul nature of HER2+ treatment. Personally, I think that her grounded common sense and outstanding gift for advice contributes hugely to its longevity, however, I also think that sometimes the right ingredients come together at the right time and I see this thread as a cocktail of absolutely fabulous women who have made something wonderful out of something horrible. (A bit like chemo!)
That we have created such a long thread of positivity amidst our own personal nightmares gives me the image of a glimmering ribbon of hope that continues to light the way for other women and very possibly men too, and it’s hope that everyone needs. I hate that they have to find us but the stronger we get, the easier it is for us to light the way for those who find themselves in the darkness of despair that comes with the dreadful news “You have breast cancer”.
We are lucky to live in an age where there are such effective treatments for our type of cancer and that it is available to us, however, the moral support I have received from you lot has been utterly invaluable, a lifeline. I repeat what I have said before, which is that I feel a strong sense of responsibility to continue to pay it forward, as while my team took care of the physical side of my treatment, it was this Breast Cancer Now forum that took care of my mental health and believe me, it was in peril a year ago. This year would have been unthinkable without you all and so I thank you. I’m so ridiculously grateful that we found each other and that we are right here waiting like a big safety net to catch the people who find themselves here in 2025. I wish you all light, laughter, health and happiness.
Thank you @salbert for creating this thread. I have also found it incredibly useful and supportive.
When I found out my BC was her2 positive I had no idea what that meant and made the mistake of asking Google and got myself in a right state. This thread has not only centred me again but have me so much hope that things will get better. They might not be the same as before but there is a definitely a light at the end of the tunnel.
The support on this thread acts like a long running safe and warm community. Thank you.
@salbert thank you for replying, i am feeling more positive now that you have not had any serious side effects while on phesgo. Being Her2+ is a long journey. Two of my sisters have breast cancer but they were Her2- and just had lumpectomies and radiotherapy their treatment was finished within 6 months. Hopefully 2025 will be a better year x
Hey @caz591 …me too will have last chemo in middle of Jan then surgery in feb… will you be doing lumpectomy or a mastectomy…my tumor shrinked until i cant feel it anymore…cant wait to finish chemo so w can focus on recovery next…All the best to you and may 2025 be good to all of us…
Hey ladies i hope you have all had a wonderful christmas! Mine was very steady as i was sore after my operation. It will be 2 weeks on wednesday! Cant believe where these 2 weeks have gone!
Had a bit of a anxiety state this morning and cried for first time in a while about it all.
Now i am coming to nearly the end of the treatment i had a bit of looming anxiety wash over me… the thoughts of it coming back… waiting for the results from my op which is on the 9th. My surgeon did tell me they expect clear margins and that my recent mri showed no signs that it had completely melted away… which i know is amazing but i suppose when you are waiting you cant help but have these thoughts pop in. My focus was all about xmas and now its over i feel a bit blue.
Anyone who had complete radiological response can put my mind at ease? Jemma:heart_hands:x
Hi @salbert first of all i’d like to say thankyou for starting this thread its been a lifeline to me. Its been so valuable to connect with people in the same situation as me, especially after the posts from the monthly starters groups fell away when they finished treatments and wewere still going. Now some of this group of lovely ladies are coming to the end of active treatment, apart from phesgo, and we are able to help others coming through. Which brings me to @jeml , so sorry you are feeling a bit low today, we all have our down days, its quite normal. However, just to reassure you that it is possible to have a complete pathological response from chemo alone, which hapened to me and i had a large tumour initially. So even if some small area left the surgery should be able to remove it with good margins. I presume then you will go on to radiotherapy, whixh will obliterate any stray cells. I know waiting for those results after surgery can be nerve wracking, i was fine until the day before my follow up and then had a big wobble, but all was ok in the end. There is always a plan of action even if the results are not quite so favourable. I’m looking forward to a better 2025.
Phew, our christmas visitors have all gone! Six days my son, daughter in law and grandaughter were with us. Nearly all christmas food has been consumed, i just need to sort out the fridge and tidy up a bit and i can relax and start new jigsaw. I have saved a few chocolates for me and my husband. It was a lovely normal christmas - i am so grateful for that after the year its been.
I had a double mastecomy so surely should have clear margins. Well mine is a patholigical response from a radiologist point of view as nothing was seen on mri after 5 rounds. So its just still waiting for the results from surgery… i think i have ptsd from going to bloody breast clinic at hospital hate seeing that waiting room! So glad you enjoyed xmas, sounds like a busy one! Mine was pretty relaxing really. Loved the morning seeing my girl opening her presents… she was scared of santa coming though… a suppose it is odd a big man coming down chimney whn you sleep she asked my why dont he use the front door mamma… she just about to turn 3… haha she has a point in a way.
@jeml haha, my granddaughter is just over 3, we havent got a chimney, but she was happy to leave out a mince pie and sherry for santa, and carrot for the reindeer. Her favourite present was some playdo and i’m now familiar with Octonauts. . I’m exhausted but we had a great time.
My daughter fell sleep on sofa so she did not get chance to leave something but we did have a little buffet so i told her he had leftovers lol maybe next year i will be able to take her somewhere to meet santa… see how she feels then. The sherry sounds nice haha lucky santa x
I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas no matter what utter rubbish you are dealing with right now … whether it be newly diagnosed , having treatment or recovering from surgery … 2025 is just around the corner and I hope that it brings with it recovery and many more Christmases to look forward to xx
@salbert wow I can’t believe it’s a year since you started your thread … what a difference a year makes x this time last year my dad had just found out his lung cancer had spread and I had no idea what 2024 Would bring . I certainly didn’t think it would bring with it the loss of my dad and my own cancer diagnosis … this time a year ago those sneaky cancer cells couid we’ll have been sat in my boob and I was blissfully unaware
@naughty_boob was the first to respond to my first post I think where I was still waiting for biopsy results and she directed me here when I found out I was her2… I remember googling and being so scared
. Thank goodness I found you all . I feel like I stumbled off the street into a cosy little club down an alleyway with great music , mood lighting and the best company ever xxx
Wow 2 weeks alteady how are you feeling now ? You are definitely allowed to have wobbles with what we are all going through it helps to let it all out and feel all the feels. I have had a few wobbles just thinking about hoe many more cycles i have once i have had a good cry and addressed how im feeling i usually feel a bit better tomorrow is always a new day and we are all here to vent to i have alot of appointments in January for my half way meeting with oncologist and surgery consultation hoping this gives me a boost for the other half xx
I still feel sore as its a big op but i can tell daily i am getting stronger too. Well its another week and another blooming virus in this house… honestly in a space of 7 week we have had about 4 different ones now its a joke i feel like i have 0 breaks!
How are you doing with the chemo? X
@farra mines is lumpectomy as well oncologist cant feel tumour its shrank to a smudge which is a good result. Originally it was to be a single mastectomy so im glad its just lumpectomy now. Im so glad this thread was started it has been a lifeline for me reading all your posts x
Aw thats good that your getting stronger each day, aw i know my parnter had some sort of flu then turned into a dodgy tummy bug im hiping weve all escaped it, yes ive had my 2nd one i was absolutely floored for 4 days fatigued and just no energy. So i tried to rest right up until Christmas. My tummy has been a bit sore this time and i am relying on the tablets alot more this time. I do hope that side effect doesnt get any worse xx
No sickness though? Aww bless you. I am starting to get my energy levels back after chemo because honestly it does proper exhaust you! You are doing fab though. It does get stronger each round but keep taking your tablets when you need it and keep hydrated its important even if you dont feel like it. I think i got dehydrated a few times me. Also if you feel like you need stronger tabs let the chemo hotline know and they sort it for you i had my 2nd phesgo today without chemo was quite refreshing! Had another emotional day though and phoned my mum up crying… ahh i need to shake it out of my head and let the positives take over.x
. I’ve had 3 sessions of physio in the last 2 weeks and that’s helping, but it’s so painful at times.
x
hate seeing that waiting room! So glad you enjoyed xmas, sounds like a busy one! Mine was pretty relaxing really. Loved the morning seeing my girl opening her presents… she was scared of santa coming though… a suppose it is odd a big man coming down chimney whn you sleep 
she asked my why dont he use the front door mamma… she just about to turn 3… haha she has a point in a way.
tomorrow is always a new day 
and we are all here to vent to 
i feel like i have 0 breaks!
im hiping weve all escaped it, yes ive had my 2nd one i was absolutely floored for 4 days fatigued and just no energy. So i tried to rest right up until Christmas. My tummy has been a bit sore this time and i am relying on the tablets alot more this time. I do hope that side effect doesnt get any worse 
xx
i had my 2nd phesgo today without chemo was quite refreshing! Had another emotional day though and phoned my mum up crying… ahh i need to shake it out of my head and let the positives take over.x