herceptin after chemo finished

It seems that most folk have their herceptin alongside the taxotere. I finished my chemo on the 1st of May 2007 and didn’t start herceptin until rads finished at end of July. I am worried now as it seems from reading earlier posts that chemo much better when taken alongside herceptin. I was treated at Christies. Has anyone else had to wait until rads finished? love Eileen

Hi Eileen
My onc told me that herceptin should start within 3 months of chemo finishing - although I have read elsewhere 6 months. I had my last FEC on 30th August 07 and my first herceptin on 22nd November after WLE and midway through rads.
So it’s about the same time frame as you from chemo to herceptin - so don’t worry

Sharon x

Hi Eileen

Don’t worry. My rads finished on 14th December and I didnt have my first herceptin until 9th January. I was concerned at first, but it seems pretty normal where I live (Cambridgeshire).

Hope you’re doing ok

Julie xx

Thanks Sharon and Julie, feel a bit better now, I’ll find something else to stress about no doubt. Love Eileen

Hi Eileen.

I had my treatment at Christies too. I had my herceptin after my radiotherapy. When I was having my Tax chemo at christies it seemed that the people having herceptin alongside chemo were people with mets. Don’t know if this helps

hi Eileen
my treatment is chemo first - 4xepirubicin then 4x cmf, then 5 weeks radiotherapy and then onto herceptin…

everyone ive met on herceptin had their chemo first… I’m told my hospital is a ‘centre of excellence’ for cancer treatment so it sounds like your oncologist followed the same treatment plan, maybe thats best practise for our cancers?

it is so hard not to worry… what about asking the helpline? they know all about the latest good practise even more than my GP or Mac Nurse…or your oncologist?

hugs and good thoughts your way
suex

Well, Eileen, I finished my chemo (4FEC, 4TAX) on 1st November 07, rads completed 17th Jan 08, and I still haven’t started Herceptin! Had heart scan last week and going for results tomorrow, so all being well I should start soon.

I thought I’d read somewhere that Herceptin must be given within a year of chemotherapy, but perhaps I am wrong.

xxx

Just me, I know lots of people have herceptin a good while after chemo but lots of the people on here have the herceptin alongside the taxotere and I don’t think most of them had secondries. I think I read somewhere that it is more effective if given alongside taxotere. Thanks for your reply and good luck with the herceptin. love Eileen

hi there
I finished chemo in November, had rads jan , heart scan 17th jan and still no herceptin , i had to chase them myself, i had my appt today and i have to have another scan of my heart again next week !
galen x

Eileen, I saw my oncologist last week, and asked the question as to why some people have Herceptin alongside their chemo and others do not. He said that Herceptin is given separately from chemo when it is for adjuvant treatment, i.e. for primary breast cancer to prevent recurrence.

Galen, I finished my chemo on November 1st (4FEC and 4TAX), radiotherapy was completed on Jan 17th and am starting my Herceptin March 13th. Good luck with your heart scan, mine was OK at 70%.

xxx

Hi I have finished chemo 6 weeks ago. as Justme says I am having adjuvant herceptin as mine is an early cancer so is it is a seperate treaetment

Hi ladies,
I’m having Tax and Herceptin together.I’ve got lump in breast,lymph glands under arm and neck and something on my liver which they are unsure about.
Alli.

thanks for all your replies I’ll just have to find something else to mither about !!! love Eileen

hello Eileen,

I am being treated at Linda mcCartney Unit in liverpool, like all the other women there with primary breast cancer who are her2 positive - at least ive met loads, we had 3 x fec and 3 x Taxotere and had Herceptin at same time as last 2 Taxotere. I found something on the internet at the time that said this was very effective, think it might have been her2 support site in US, I badgered my onc about it but at Liverpool they were already using this combination. However, Ive seen people on here who have 4 FEC and 4 Taxotere, one more than me… so I think we are always going to be looking at what other people have had and wondering if weve had enough! Dont think I could have stood any more Tax though! In a way because your Herceptin started later you are going to be under treatment longer than me, so perhaps that is better! I think an awful lot is unknown at the moment about Herceptin and when to give it, and also for how long. We are all having it for 12 months but there are trials now with people having it for far less time.

Hope this doesnt worry you more, its not my intention, but I think some people might have been frightened reading that Tax and herceptin is only given for mets, its not.

Pauline x

I am in deep trouble. My mother had mastectomy done then the oncologist gave 8 cycles of chemo therapy then radio therapy and after that they suggested for herceptin injection. Now I am in India and the indian doctors are suggesting that herceptin should be given with chemo and now your mother has finished chemo and radio. Now it is too late and herceptin would not work. What should I do now? Is it true that herceptin would not work?

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Hello Mrs Masuda,
I am assuming your mum’s cancer is Her2 positive otherwise there is no need for Herceptin.

I am certainly no expert so do not take tge following as fact. I thought Herceptin can still be effective and started after chemo for primary breast cancer that is her2 positive. I think it is still the case that they expect the person to have had a certain type of chemo beforehand (anthracycline types).

If you do an internet search for herceptin.com you will find a website with more specific information.

It is not clear from your post where your mum has and is now being treated or why the treatment decisions should fall in your hands.

If you are in the Uk perhaps you might find it helpful to ring the helpline here to discuss things.

Wishing your mum and you all the best x ?