Still sore from surgery, but getting better each day. Wednesday I start Herceptin. I was on a TCH, Taxotere, Carboplatin, Herceptin, combo during chemo. I will begin a year of just Herceptin every three weeks in hopes of lowering my chances of the HER2 breast cancer from coming back. I always read up on things they are putting me on. I know Herceptin is new and scary, but is my best chance at not having the cancer come back. For anyone that thinks oh she is fine and in the clear, please read about Herceptin. I am thankful for it, but it is almost as bad as chemo. I will get this every three weeks for the next year. In a month I will also begin radiation everyday for four weeks. Cancer never really goes away, even after chemo and surgery. What are the possible Serious Side Effects of Herceptin? Heart Problems Herceptin treatment can result in heart problems, including those without symptoms (such as reduced heart function) and those with symptoms (such as congestive heart failure). The risk and seriousness of these heart problems were highest in people who received both Herceptin and a certain type of chemotherapy (anthracycline). One patient died in an adjuvant (early) breast cancer trial of significantly weakened heart muscle. Herceptin can cause serious heart problems, including: A decline in heart function Irregular heartbeats High blood pressure Serious heart attack Death Your doctor will stop Herceptin therapy if you have weakening of the heart muscle or changes in the heart muscle structure. Monitoring the Heart Your doctor will evaluate your heart function before and during treatment. For adjuvant breast cancer therapy, your doctor will also evaluate heart function after the end of treatment. Your doctor may run tests, such as an echocardiogram or a MUGA scan, and will review your health history to see how well the heart muscle is working. If you are taking Herceptin and have stopped treatment temporarily because of significant heart problems, your doctor should monitor your heart health more frequently. Infusion Reactions Some patients have had serious infusion reactions and lung problems; infusion reactions leading to death have been reported. Symptoms usually happen during or within 24 hours of taking Herceptin. Your infusion should be temporarily stopped if you experience shortness of breath or very low blood pressure. Your doctor should monitor you until these symptoms completely go away. Your doctor may have you completely stop Herceptin treatment if you have: A severe allergic reaction Swelling Lung problems Swelling of the lungs Severe shortness of breath Infusion reaction symptoms consist of: Fever and chills Nausea Vomiting Pain (in some cases at tumor sites) Headache Dizziness Shortness of breath Very low blood pressure Rash Lack of energy and strength Taking Herceptin Can Result in Serious and Potentially Deadly Lung Problems, Including: A severe shortness of breath Fluid in or around the lungs Weakening of the valve between the heart and the lungs Too little oxygen in the body Swelling of the lungs Scarring of the lungs Problems like these may occur after an infusion reaction. If you have trouble breathing at rest due to existing lung disease, or large lung tumors appear, you may have more serious lung problems. Your doctor should stop Herceptin if you experience lung problems. What is the Additional Important Safety Information associated with Herceptin? Worsening of Low White Blood Cell Counts Due to Chemotherapy Worsening of low white blood cell counts to serious and life-threatening levels and associated fever were higher in patients taking Herceptin in combination with chemotherapy when compared with those who received chemotherapy alone. The likelihood that a patient will die from infection was similar among patients who received Herceptin and those who did not. What Are the Most Common Side Effects Associated with Herceptin? The most common side effects associated with Herceptin in patients with metastatic stomach cancer are: The most common side effects associated with Herceptin in patients with breast cancer are: Low white blood cell counts Diarrhea Feeling tired Low red blood cell counts Swelling of the mouth lining Weight loss Upper respiratory tract infections Fever Low platelet counts Swelling of the mucous membranes Swelling of the nose and throat Change in taste Fever Nausea Vomiting Infusion reactions Diarrhea Infections Increased cough Headache Feeling tired Shortness of breath Rash Low white and red blood cell counts Muscle pain
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 18:20:36 +0000
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