Herceptin injection side effects insights

Hi all, 

In April I was diagnosed with breast cancer E+ and HER2+  and have just finished my chemotherapy treatment. I had 6 cycles every 3 weeks of Docetaxel and Carboplatin alongside immunotherapy treatment herceptin which was given by an injection in my leg. I have suffered very badly with nausea and vomiting which got worse each cycle but was somewhat managed with medication. I still struggled a lot for at least 10 days after treatment with a range of symptoms. 

I am due to to have just my herceptin injection now every 3 weeks and am wondering what other peoples experinces are in terms of side effects of having just the herceptin injection? I know everyone is different and i'm sure most of my sickness etc was a result of the chemotherapy but was curious about others experinces and the difference between just having herceptin on its own versus alongside the chemo? 

 

 

  • Hello,

    I had herceptin every three weeks after Chemo and a double mastectomy. I had no side effects at all from having herceptin. I also had two different types of chemo, with a really bad reaction to the second type...so for me herceptin was fine.

     

    Good luck, you'll be OK x

  • Hi, I had herceptin too....absolutely no problems whatsoever, other than sometimes the injection site would be sore and itchy but I really think that was down to which nurse was doing it....

    good luck, I'm sure you will find it a breeze..x

  • Hi was just wondering are you having the herceptin for 18 rounds you say there wasn't any side effects was you able to work through it 

  • Hi,

     

    I was on a trial and had 9 rounds of herceptin ( apparently early indications is that 9 work as well as 18)  and so my onco asked if I would be willing to have 9...

     

    I was perfectly able to carry on working throughout, I found herceptin a breeze after chemo! Have you started it yet? X

  • That sounds positve only ive reading your on it an it side effects are really bad I was hoping not I had a tough time with chemo having to have bklod transfusions so was really hoping after radiotherapy I could go back to work an just have the injection time off I start in 1st November 

  • Hi 

    I too was the same as you im due to have just the injection have you started it yet if so how you finding it 

  • Hi,

    Just having the injection on its own hasn't been too bad. I've always got a localised allergic reaction so the only thing I really get it a bit of an itchy leg later in the day when I've had it. Other than that I don't get any other symptoms.

    I was in a bay with some other women who are also only having Herceptin and they all said they didn't get any side effects from it. 

    I still get very tired and have felt a bit sick now and again but I think that is because I had surgery recently and am possibly still recovering from the chemo. I don't think these side effects are to do with the Herceptin. 

  • Hi 

    It all sounds quite positive i think its a scary process all of it its tbe fear of not knowing how you will react especially when chemotherapy was bad. 

  • Good luck for November 1st. For the very first one they like to keep you in for a while ( I was in 8 hours) in case of reaction, then the second one just a few hours then it's stab and go. 
     

    I did suffer dry eyes but in all likelihood that was chemo related, i did struggle through chemo and really worried about herceptin but needn't have, I know many women who had herceptin and didn't get any side effects at all. The trick is to go in, get stabbed and carry on with your day as normal....don't give it a second thought, you don't want to be talking yourself into side effects that aren't there ( something that I'm very prone to do) our minds are very powerful....let me know how you get on xx

  • Hi 

     yes the mind is very powerful im just waiting on my breast nurse calling me back because I was wondering do you have to have bloods taken before the herceptin like chemotherapy I got told I'd be having these injections the day I got my surgery results and met the radiographer so I've got questions that I didn't think to  even ask at the time .I've had herceptin before with chemotherapy had a really bad time but I was hoping that was the chemotherapy and the herceptin will be just jab go get on with life untill it's time for next one because I've got another 13 to have so I don't want to be not well all that time as I said before I'm hoping to get some normality back an go back to work after radiotherapy because not working is really starting to bother me now ,but ive got to see how I react to radiotherapy hopefully that will be ok aswell