User Reviews for Herceptin intravenous

Diagnosed Christmas Eve 2008, Triple positive HER2, twelve months of herceptin treatment, no side effects.

I have been treated with herceptin for 10 months. My Muga Scans showed no signs of problems with my heart. I had severe fatigue, breathing problems, rapid heartbeats and weight gain that became life altering. The doctors couldn't find a cause, it was Herceptin. I had CHF due to Herceptin and nearly lost my life. The scans failed to show a problem until I was having CHF. Herceptin has helped many people but for a few this drug is deadly.

MEDICATION WORK FOR ME

I have been receiving infusions weekly for four months. For the past 2 months I have experienced extreme redness, dryness, and tighting of my eye lids. The skin and tissue of my right check is swollen, puffy, red, and extremely dry. My eyes water often. My oncologist dismissed it as nothing or a reaction to my eye make-up. I have worn the same hyperallegergic eye-make for many years. I have gone four days without any make-up after a treatment, and it is worse. It seems to get better as the week goes on, and then flares up angerly after my infusion. Please, has anyone else experienced this. It is very uncomfortable and disconcerting.Read More Read Less

When I first started there were chills and diarrhea. I receive it weekly because of my rx to drug. For a while I have been having joint pain but it got a lot worse about 6 months into my treatment. That being said I am cancer free right now so it is working. Hence, I will continue it until the end (72 doses total -- 12 with taxol and 52 Herceptin only). I thank each day I can tell all of you I am happy to be alive.

My BC treatment included the use of Hercerptin IV. My last injection of Herceptin was Dec 2008. Heart pumping action was diminished some but returned to normal sometime after treatment. Side effects seemed to be minimal. I worked all through my treatments. So far I am doing fine with no signs of a cancer return. I think this drug worked, easy to tolerate and I'm glad my doctor included it in my treatment options.

Ever since I've been on herceptin just by itself (without taxotere and carboplatin) I've been in constant joint pain; shoulders, elbows, fingers, hips and feet nothing helps! I feel like a little old lady with arthritis but I'm only 43. Does anyone else feel this way?

I was 30 when I took Herceptin. I was in a clinical trial for early breast cancer patients to decrease chance of reoccurence! No problems and have actually had 2 healthy beautiful little girls since then! Good luck to all ! I feel Herceptin is a very good drug!

Having a port makes getting infused much easier than an IV. Most important, my tumor has gotten significantly smaller with this medication. It is standard to receive Benedryl with Herceptin to avoid allergic reaction. However since I had to drive myself to Chemo, I forwent the Benedryl because it makes me too sleepy to drive. I said that to make note that I did not find any allergic reaction to Herceptin at all. I was told that it can cause left ventricle damage to the heart, but so far so good, the echo looks ok.Read More Read Less

I had a dbl mastectomy, with IDC/DCIS in one breast only, 2cm tumor, ER/PR weakly positive, grade 3, no nodes, no vascular invasion. No sign of IDC/DCIS in area around tumor. I did 5.5 cycles of Taxotere/Carboplatin with Herceptin for one year. I am assuming that surgery alone would take care of this monster but I did the chemo/herceptin anyway because of the her2 positive - I am 3+. I have 2 more herceptins to go. Basically I feel fatigued and have sleep problems. Heart is holding up at 70% -echocardiogram every 3 months. I would really like to know if 3-6-9 treatments vs one year or 2 years is beneficial? Herceptin has advantages but how is that measured? It is too bad there is no way to tell if herceptin is 'working' in one's blood sample. If it can cause so many short and long term health problems I do believe there should be a way to tell which women it will have a benefit FOR. Maybe some of us need more, or less, of this drug. The only way we know is by not having a recurrence, and many women who are her2 pos, have never had herceptin also never have a recurrence. Seems a bit of a crap shoot. So - are you scientists working on a way to see if herceptin is having the effect it should on an individuals immune system? How did one year become the standard? Read More Read Less

I had a lumpectomy, chemo, Herceptin and 32 radiation treatments for early stage breast cancer. The doc stopped my Herceptin treatments several times during a one-year period of time due to decreased heart function. My ejection fraction rate went from 68% with no heart problems whatsoever to 35% a year after stopping Herceptin. My heart has not regenerated as my onocologist told me it would. I just had an echocardiogram and it shows I now have mitral regurgitation (which can only be fixed with open heart surgery), ischemic heart disease any several other major problems. I went from being totally healthy and fit to being fatigued and in constant joint pain. I am so angry about Herceptin and its side effects. My oncologist said my heart would regenerate after stopping Herceptin. After 1 year and 5 months of stopping Herceptin my echo shows heart disease and major heart problems I never had and never expected. I am now faced with the prospect of open heart surgery. I am only 58 and extremely upset that this has happened. I wish I had never taken Herceptin. Be very careful! God be with all of you taking this drug.Read More Read Less

I was on herceptin for a year, during my chemo and double masectomy. After 2 months I took a PET scan and the cancer was gone. (it was in 3 places plus nodes) I give 100% credit to herceptin. I had ZERO problems or side effects from it. It was all the chemo, once that stopped, so did the side effects. I continue to go for MUGA scans and everything is perfect. Herceptin saved my life.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. I was given Herceptin along with chemo. The first 6 months I did not experience any side affects. The next six month I had moderate to severe stiffness in my joints. I finally realized I was given a steroid the first 6 months thats why I didn't have stiffness. Taking an over the counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory really helped. It took about 3 months for my stiffness to go away.Its been a year and a half and I feel normal again.

It's difficult to rate the effectiveness and satisfaction of the Herceptin treatment, for I've only been on this infusion for less than one year. I am experiencing muscle aches and shortness of breath. The doctor seems to feel this is more the daily dosage of Arimidex, rather than the three-week infusion of Herceptin. I also take the Zometa infusion every six weeks to help strengthen the bones. I'm not sure of the cause and effect of either treatment, but the side effects are disturbing. Hopefully, it will prove to be worth the discomfort.Read More Read Less

I had 12 months of Herceptin treatment after 4 rounds of chemo. I just finished last treatment. Compared to the chemo the herceptin was a cake walk. I did feel a little tired and my taste buds were not good for the 1st wk after. I do have severe bone pain in my knees, which I see a pain DR for, other than that I feel good & pray for a great out come. My Dr. had me have a MUGA scan every 3 months & actually my heart went from 76% to 78% which is great considering the history of heart disease in my family. Over all I have been pleased. I can live with the bone pain with meds. Bless you all. Read More Read Less

I had 7 months of weekly treatments of Herceptin following chemo(AC and Taxotere).I didn't really have any side effects however,after 7 months of treatments,a MUGA scan revealed an ejection fraction of 28.My oncologist ceased treatments saying I can never have Herceptin again.Sent me to a cardiologist who told me I have congestive heart failure.Sometimes it reverses so I am keeping my fingers crossed.Last MUGA showed improvement and I am due for another soon.I will be 3 years out in June and there is no doubt that Herceptin saved my life.It is a wonderful drug.Read More Read Less

I have experienced no side effects. My treatments have been very easy.

oct 2006 i had breast cancer. after four months of chemo i started herceptin in march 2007 with my last 2 doses of chemo. by May, i started feeling worst than i did with chemo.i had all the pain,fatigue,depression, and i did a lot of crying.i also had breathing problems. my doctor told me this was normal and it probably was a rection from chemo. by june my breathing became painful and that made my chest hurt. FINALLY in sept 2007 my doctor sent me to a cardio doctor. i am now jobless and fighting heart disease and heart failure. don't let this happen to you. i did 36 weeks of herceptin. breast cancer was a breeze compared to this. make your doctor listen, i was not given much info on heceptin and my doctor told me it was safe and chances of heart problems were not likely to happen to me. i am a breast cancer survivor,and i am alive thanks to my determination.Read More Read Less

I received herceptin during my chemo treatment and now herceptin only for 1 year ending 12/2008. I too had real bad muscle aches after the first couple of treatment and fatigue. But now I still have ongoing mucle aches it is not as bad as the first couple of Herceptin treatments. My heart scans have been good and not sure is the fatigue and muscle aches and chemo brain are from chemo, radiation and herceptin or all off the above from this last year of treatments. I want to know if anyone has continued Herceptin after the one year? I feel like it is working and really don't want to stop and risk a reaccurance. I feel like the herceptin is keeping the breast cancer away. My onco doc said the studies on Hercep do not indicate any longer term use gives better outcomes...Any one have any experience on longer use of Herceptin? Please respond. I can't find any information any where else regarding longer use of herceptin. Read More Read Less