hi i know you can have this at home. is anyone having it at home and how did you get it. i dont mind paying for nurse to come and administer it. the thought of a year going to hospital is driving me mad. iam just giving up chemo cos cant stand it… thanks in advance
julie
Hi Julie
I haven’t started my herceptin yet - will hopefully be starting in the next couple of weeks - am seeing onc tomorrow to discuss it. But I have been told that the first 2 will be done at the hospital, in case of any reaction so that they can monitor me but after this the next 15 will be done at home. This is standard practice within my health board, (I’m in Dumfries & Galloway) - as far as I am aware it is a team from Edinburgh who come and administer it - though I’ll know more tomorrow - will let you know. Again as I understand it they consider it a cheaper option rather than having the chemo unit full - can’t see it myself but hey ho.
Margaret x
Hi Julie,
I will be starting Herceptin maybe August?
I am having my treatment at the Christie in Manchester and I have been told almost the same as Margaret. I know there is a specialist nurse at my hospital. Maybe there is one at your place too that you are as yet unaware of?
Don’t despair …within a few hours or days “the girls” on here will come up trumps with info /suggestions.
Kay x
I had the first 2 in hospital and now have the others at home. Here (in Bristol) the oncology centre can’t cope with the additional work caused by Herceptin at the moment so they have contracted it out to a private organisation called Healthcare at Home. It is good in some ways but not particularly so for me as I have very difficult veins and if the nurse can’t cannulate, there is no back up. Last week I ended up going to their clinic the day after it was due so that others could try (successfully)! 9 down and 9 to go.
Anne
Hi Julie,
I too dreaded the thought of herceptin 3wkly visits but mine is for life, but then my chemo nurse arranged for me to have it at home and OMG I must say it is a lot less stressful! They ring me the night before to confirm a time. They contact you if they are running late (which I must say is very rare) and the nurses are fantastic. Some peop;e prefer to go onto the chemo ward for their treatments to meet people etc… yes I enjoyed that bit, but the waiting I found stressfull and I could be there all day!!
At least at home I can still get on with things go out etc. knowing what time they were coming… I was worried that I would not be able to have treatm,ent at home as I have a Hickman Line, like you my veins are not very strong. But the nurses are trained to use PICC/Hickmans etc… so no worries there!
I attend Stafford Hospital. If u want to Private message me I can give you the companies name. Your Chemo nurse/Onc should be able to tell ou if this can be arranged for you.
I hope you are able to get it sorted.
Hugs
Mel
xx
hi spoke to breast care nurse about it and she said never heard of anyone having it at home. i knew it could be done as my sons firm pay for him private health care and when i read it it said herceptin at home. of course its tooo late for me to join i always miss out… i have a meeting with oncologist in june so will ask her then, thanks everyone.
Hi i just had to let you all know i have contacted health care at home via email. a response straight away and a number to ring to chat. again very nice. yes they do herceptin at home but must have first two at hospital as high doses and risks of reactions. apparently it wont cost me anything. still cant believe it. i need prob the hardest bit is my consultants approval and the hospital pharmacys approval… apparently it doesnt cost them anymore either. so who pays the nurses. i have checked they are in my area. so i will push for it at my next meeting with my consultant. as an anxious patient you never know she may reccomend it. mind you it must be rare or not approved at my hospital as my bc nurse said never heard of anyone having it at home…so thank you for al your help
Hi Julie,
I have Healthcare at home and they are fantastic!
Mel
xx
hi mel
i have just decided to put a discussion who has healthcare at home. how do you get them to come to you andwhat part of the country are you in. thanks
Hi Julie
I have Healthcare at Home. The first 3 Herceptin was alongside Chemo. The clinic arranged for a year’s course at home with no cost to me. I have just had cycle 8
There was only one time I was disappointed, they sent a nurse who wasn’t trained to access my portacath so I had to store the Herceptin in my fridge until the next day, I hope it was as effective by then as I know it only has a 24hour life span.
They are very accommodating, I have a job that requires a lot of time out and about, meetings etc, they will come at a time convenient to me.
I live in the Notts area and am registered with the Burton branch tel. 01283 501325.
If your hospital is part of the home care plan they should automatically refer you.
All the best
Carol
Hi
I get HAH as it was arranged through my onc, I was treated in Edinburgh but live in Fife. I think it depends where you live as they do not have nurses covering the whole of the UK. I asked where else they did it in Scotland and they cover most of it apart from the highlands. Ie I could get it in Aberdeen but not Inverness. They do have one nurse who does long distance.
They said they would also come to my work if I couldn’t get home in time. They are very accommodating and its nice to have a cuppa at home rather than be on a hospital ward.
The only slight grumble that I have is that you don’t know who you are getting until the day before and I have had 5 different nurses.
Kate
HI Julie,
My chemo nurse arranged it as the chemo ward at Stafford General Hospital is under pressure with trying to cope with so many patients so those strong enough can have treatment through them at home. This is going to sound so awlful, but they contract the task out to Healthcare at Home. It is the Burton Branch. (0870 600 1540) I had my first 6 x Fec at home. But as I reacted not to good to Taxotere I have that at the hospital. But That is my only journey, except seeing onc and and ct scans etc,… The nurses are fantastic and so thorough they are amazing! AT present I have had the same nurse, who yes they phone the night before to make time arrangements, which at present has been the same times to.
I also have the local district nurses who come every week to my home to flush and take bloods from my Hickman line (one more less journey!) I live in Cannock, Staffs…
I hope this is of help to you!
Hugs
Mel
xx