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Herceptin and Pertuzumab

san2020
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I've been having 3 weekly infusions of Herceptin and Pertuzumab. The whole process takes about 2 hours but the nurses are aware that I go straight to work afterwards and try and do it as quickly as they can. 
the side effects are very manageable.; nothing like the first 7 rounds of chemo. I've worked all the way through apart from having a week off when I had surgery. The main effects for me are:

aching joints - very bad at night but once I've been up for 30 mins eases off. I've been able to swim and go to the gym

runny nose

upset tummy

hair growth slow 

all these effects do not have a massive impact on my life. I can pretty much do everything I want to. I am so grateful there is something I could have to prevent it coming back

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    Thank you san2020 for sharing your experience with Herceptin and Pertuzumab. It's great that the side effects have been minimal and haven't had a big impact on your life. It's fantastic that you have even managed to keep on working and that despite the aching joints you are still swimming and going to the gym. 

    I hope the treatment continues to go so well for you and that you can keep on living a normal life! 

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Offline in reply to Moderator Lucie

    I too am having 3 weekly treatments of Herceptin and Pertuzumab and have just competed 14/18. However my side effects are terrible. Joint pains, in particular my hands mean that I can not unscrew lids on jars and bottles and I struggle to push the tablets out of packets. i'm shattered after 20 mins of walking, although I force myself to do this and I'm fatigued an awful lot even though I try to fight this, I generally need to lie down for a few hours a day, especially in the afternoon. I have itching and rash, although I'm managing this with prescribed creams and anti histermine. 
    I'm quite a positive individual, but I feel crap all the time and I'm getting angry/irritable more and more. My family are so supportive and help me, but I feel guilty about being ill. 
    Can anyone suggest how I can make these side effects better?

     

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