How long before starting Herceptin?

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1

I was told that I am her2 positive on 28th Feb but has not started herceptine. My next appt with the onc is on 8th april. I have been trying to get an earlier date with little success.

Can anyone tell me how soon after op or chemo did you start your herceptin treatment? I am really worried that the delay in taking herceptin will reduce its success rate. My last chemo was on 20th dec and my op was on 29th jan. I am going through rads (3/25) now.

Sari

2

Hi Sari

I started Herceptin two weeks before radiotherapy finished. I had surgery July 07, chemo, followed by 25 radiotherapy sessions. Have you had a Muga scan yet? I had one a few weeks before I started Herceptin and then my appts came through. Have you had a review whilst having radiotherapy. I had one weekly and would usually see my onc there it may be worth asking at your review.

Angela

3

No I havent had any test or scan - will ask the onc.

thanks for your rely.

4

I finished my treatment, chemo followed by 15 rads, beginning of June 06 and started herceptin at the end of July 06 (still on it). I had a muga scan before I started.

5

Hi,

I finished chemo mid oct and started rads on Nov 5th. I then commenced Herceptin on Jan 3rd, after having an echo first. I was told that ideally Herceptin should start no longer than 6 weeks after treatment. Obviouslythis only the opinion of my oncologist though,

Kelly
-x-

6

My treatment is scheduled the other way around I think

I’ve just had my second FEC, and will have one more FEC before starting Taxotere. I’ll be starting my Herceptin alongside my Taxotere, and then having mast / rads after my chemo has finished

Hope that helps, Rebecca

7

hi i had lumpectomy oct mastectomy and recon in dec. i had problems with wound healing and have only just had first chemo so 5 to go then i was told a month off before herceptin god knows when i will start tamoxifen. i did worry all the times inbetween say from dec too march when no treatment at all. still i hope they know what they are doing…but its out of my hands. take care julie x

8

I finished chemo end August. Started rads early October. Finished rads end November and started Herceptin the same week.
It seems we are all different but I was told that Herceptin was best started within 6 months of the end of chemo.
Good luck
Anne

9

I read that Herceptin had to start within 6 months of chemo ending, my chemo finished in December (21st) I am in the middle of 25 rad sessions at the moment. I asked my Onc whether I will be starting Herceptin after rads and he said ‘Yes, but not straight away’. I had my muga scan about 5 weeks ago, so I hope the ball has started rolling and I shall get some dates soon.

Good luck to you all,

Tracy

10

I have finished chemo 4 weeks ago, going for lumpectomy next week,I start herceptin tomorrow as onc said she wanted me to have one before op- then start rads about 4 weeks afterop

11

Finally I had a date for my 1st Herceptine…yeah! It will be on next Friday 25th April which is 4 months after my last chemo.

I also had a portacath inserted last Monday which hopefully makes it easier to administer herceptin.

Sari

12

Sarig

Please explain about portacath, I have appointment re Herceptin with my onc on 20th August and I am so scared about more punishment to my poor old veins. They are all lumpy and corded. The last two chemos were awful as they had a job to find decent veins. I am scared also about portacath fitting, but may be preferable to 3 weekly torture to find decent veins. I note that you had your first Herceptin in April so you are welll on the way. Please reasure a very nervous Herceptin newbie.

Judy x

13

Hi Judy
My Herceptin treatment started last Friday, purely by chance as I happened to be having a series of tests and saw the Onc at the same time. He asked me if I had time for Herceptin to start, so it did and now I will have one with each chemo and then for a year after. I have 5 chemo’s left before mastectomy, rads etc.

I’ve had no side effects from herceptin, it was quite a long time having it but that wasn’t a problem for me. So don’t worry about it, it was all very simple. Portacat is easy, all done under a local, you get a slight feeling of pushing pulling, but once in that’s it although expect a little bit of discomfort for a few days. Nothing bad though.

BTW my treatment is a little different as I am in France not UK.

Hope this helps.

14

hi judy
um a newb like you i start herceptin on the 8 set and im due to have portacat fitted the week be for i had a pickline for the chemo as my veins were bad,i will let you know how i get on,how are you doing ive been on the breast cancer roller coaster for a year this is my last lot of treatment hope the year goes quickly
sandra

15

Dear Peacock and Sandra - thanks for explaining it to me. I may opt for portacath if offered as I cannot bear the thought of them using me as a pincushion again.

love to you all
Judy x