Hi Ladies (and any gents!)
I’m going in for my first herceptin on 9th January, and its only just hit me today - and I’m starting to get scared !
I’ve had my heart scan done which came back fine, so looks like I should be ok, but any advice/info on what to expect would be really welcome.
Thanks a lot
much love
Julie xxx
Hi Julie
I had my first herceptin on the 27th November and worried what effect it would have on me and am due my 3rd one on the 8th January, i have had no side effects so far. I had to stay for 6 hours in total for the first one as thet like to make sure you have no reactions and i had my blood pressure and heartbeat monitored throughout the 2nd one i was there about 2 hours. I was told i may experience flu like symtems but as i was only 18 days after last taxotere i didnt notice any change i already felt rough from chemo. I think every treatment we have we get scared because its something else new.
I hope all goes well
Rachel
Hi Julie
I had the full course of 18 herceptin treatments with no problems apart from tiredness. It’s a walk in the park after chemo!
Good luck and let us know how you get on.
HiJulie I have just had my eighth herceptin. I got slight flu like symptoms after the first couple but after that I can’t say I feel any different. Don’t be apprehensive about it it is just a bit time consuming. I have mine at home every three weeks. Good luck Eileen
Hello Julie
Herceptin is nothing to worry about although the first one is a very long day as they have to monitor you for several hours after the infusion in case of any adverse reactions. Take something good to read or some knitting to keep yourself occupied. The second one is also a bit longer but after that the infusion takes just 90 minutes.
After the first one I had painful muscles and joints in my arms and legs for 24 hours but no other side effects. Recently I’ve been getting a few acne type spots on my face and neck after Herceptin. And I have a runny nose sometimes which my onc warned me about. But - as people say - Herceptin really is a walk in the park after chemo.
Good luck
Anthi x
Hello Julie,
I will be having my third herceptin on Jan 9th. I have had no problems at all with the first two. I didn’t have to stay in for hours with the first one as some seem to. The only difference was that I had to stay in the treatment room for my first one in case of a reaction, whereas for the second I could go back to the waiting room. I have had no side effects whatsoever.
After chemo, it really is a piece of cake.
Hi Julie
I shall also be starting herceptin on 9th. January so I share your worries. I shall also be starting radiotherapy on 7th and starting on Arimadex. It’s going to be quite a week!! I’m worried about having so many new treatments so close together - if I feel rough I shan’t know what to blame! Having just finished chemotherapy I realise that I have ‘pigeon-holed’ my anxieties about these next treatments, now it’s all happening I too feel nervous.
I have been told to expect my first herceptin to take six hours. I shall be thinking of you having yours at the same time.
Take care and good luck. We’ll have to ‘swop notes’ next week!
Best wishes,
Margaret.
Hi Ladies
Thank you so much for your replies. I’m a lot less worried now !
Margaret, good luck on 9th January too, and with the rest of your treatments (phew!) - we’ll definitely have to swop notes next week.
Thanks again everyone, I can always rely on you for support and advice.
Love to all
Julie xxx
Hi Julie
thanks for posting this thread. My first Herceptin is 10th Jan so it has answered my concerns as well
Good luck for 9th
Kx
Hi Julie, Margaret & Topper,
I had my first Herceptin last thurs (3rd Jan) and, like yourselves, was actually quite nervous about it.
I was prepared for a long day as I had already been told that I would be monitored for several hours after the initial ‘loading dose’. This worried me as I started to think that maybe things frequently go wrong and people have adverse reactions!
I really needn’t have worried though. At the unit where I have my Herceptin they give us IV piriton first, to reduce the risk of any allergic reaction (although that is very rare). The Piriton actually made me very drowsy and I wasn’t particularly ‘compus mentas’ when they put the Herceptin up!! I dozed on and off for a couple of hours, my obs were checked regulary during this time. I was allowed to go home at about 4pm. I had prepared myself for ‘flu-like’ symptoms but thankfully have felt absolutely fine so far,
I wish you all well for your appts on the 10th, do let us know how you get on and we can share this Herceptin journey together,
Take care,
Kelly
-x-
Hi again Julie
Well, how was it for you?? The first dose of herceptin is out the way and, although it was a very long day, it all went quite smoothly with no hiccups. I hope you had a similar experience. I was given some piriton prior to the herceptin which made me feel very sleepy and I dosed on and off during the day only to be woken up to have my blood pressure and temperature taken. No after effects to report as yet I’m glad to say.
Well, on to the next in three weeks time…
Take care and keep in touch,
Margaret.
Me again…
Forgot to say good luck to Topper starting herceptin tomorrow I think, and also good luck to Kelly with herceptin and her return to work. In a world where I’d forgotten what ‘normal’ was I have found work helpful in getting my feet back on the ground.
Take care,
Margaret.
Hi Ladies,
After reading your thread I think I have a gripe with our chemo clinic not the first either.
I had my first herceptin four weeks ago and only then by insisting they checked up on my heart scan which was holding things up and threatening to write to the hospital trust AGAIN. I was supposed to have it alongside my chemo but as ever it wasn’t ready and they hadn’t booked me in for a long appointment.
They decided not to push their luck with me and chased things up. I did get the herceptin and stayed the required six hours in the waiting room after treatment. Not once was I checked upon, no blood pressure or temperature checks which reading your threads I should have had. Well that’s how the department seem to run. I hate keep complaining but as this is my body, I only want what is due to me no preferential treatment.
Well I’ll stop moaning now its late I need sleep ready for tomorrows treatment but I am on pre chemo steroids and my body is buzzing!.
Bye for now ladies (And gents).
Carol
Hi Again ladies
I just reread my posting I must be tired, no my heart scan results didn’t threaten to write to the hospital trust I did. I really must have lessons in grammar (And spelling)
Hi Again
Had to spend the night in Hospital after the Herceptin as my temperature was up. Also I was sick and had a headache… been told to stay in for six hours for 2nd herceptin on 31st but hopefully all will be well then
Glad your’s went OK Julie
Kx
Hi Ladies
Thanks for your messages - well it went ok. Bit of a shaky start though as the Nurse had trouble getting the cannula in, and the fiddling about caused me to pass out and be sick when I came round. Not a great start it has to be said.
Was fine afterwards though, but after reading your messages realise that I should have at least had my blood pressure checked ! I was just sat around until 7.50pm when I could finally go home, but absolutely no checks were done on me whatsoever. Think I’d better say something next time !!
Topper - sorry to hear you had to spend the night in hospital - what a pain x
Margaret - Glad to hear yours went ok - I don’t think I had piriton like you though - sounds as if I should have done ! x
Kelly - Thanks for your message too, and hope your return to work has been ok x
Love to you all
Julie xx
Hi Julie
Sorry I got your post mixed up with Margaret’s.
So I am glad Margarets was OK!
It sounds like you were worse off than me. They just decided that as my temp wasn’t down by 6pm they would keep me in. You, poor thing were kept till nearly 8pm. I didn’t want to stay in but as I wasn’t feeling that good I didn’t really care.
They have said next time will be fine!!! Hope your’s will be too.
Much love
Kx
hello to all others on Herceptin and/or tamoxifen…
I started herceptin on the 3rd dec, initial load OK. Doc only asked to monitor pressure, and as I have a clinically low pressure normally and it did not do any change (strong heart, no history of heart failure), I stayed in only the morning. Since, I do my infusions at the doc office, where it is less than an hour from hooking me up (I still have my cat port from the chemo, so that is a doodle), and stepping out of the door!!! yeeppee. I am not experiencing any side effects - not from Herceptin, and not even from Tamoxifen (well, I already had sweats from the chemo, so I don’t count those…). Or at least, not so far…
Hi All
Just caught up with this thread. I started my herceptin on 20 Dec and had my 2nd one on Thursday. So far so good really, no side effects and just the same as chemo really at the hospital. Have to say got a permanent runny nose, but had it since November and as the chemo nurse pointed out, I have no nostril hair, so obviously nothing to help keep it in so to speak hence permanently running. LOL
Seem to do blood test at beginning but don’t wait for results, just get the herceptin ordered and ready to go.
Love
Dawn
x
Hi All
Herceptin Thurs. Its now Monday and I am back to feeling great!!!
Hi Dawn
Are you still having chemo?
I finished chemo on 30/11 and my nose hair has just come back. I hadn;'t realised how useful it is…also stops your nostrils sticking together!!
Kx