Pacitaxel & HP

Hi JazzyJay, I'm on Paxitaxel. Have it once a week, every week for 12 weeks. On week 5 currently and have not been sick once. In fact I've had very few side affects at all. I'm on Herceptin for HER2 and have that injection every 3 weeks. I've not yet encountered any side affects with that either. I've been lucky enough to have it at home and because I use a cold cap I would say it is about 4 hours, without that it would be less. Within those 4 hours though I also have steroids, antihistamines etc. I would definitely give it a try if you can. Good luck. 

Hi JazzyJay1

I had 12 weekly Paclitaxel last year as well as 18 x Herceptin injections every 3 weeks. Like Lifesabeach, I didn’t have any nausea at all, but I did have some side effects.  I had treatment on Thursdays and I was very tired and lethargic on Saturdays and Sundays so spent a lot of time in bed, but Mondays to Fridays were fine.  I had a lot of nosebleeds and a dodgy stomach most weekends. I also developed a cough which took ages to clear.  However the main side effect I had, and still have 10 months later, was peripheral neuropathy meaning the balls of my feet are numb from nerve damage which can occur with Paclitaxel.  If you start to feel tingling or numbness in your hands and/or feet you must let your team know as they will monitor you closely and may reduce your drug dose.

I didn’t seem to get many side effects from Herceptin, except that I suddenly got acne on my face having never ever had spots before.  I’m not sure if that was from chemo or Herceptin but the timing seemed to point to the latter.  I did most of my Herceptin injections myself at home due to covid after being monitored at the hospital for the first four doses - very easy to do once you get used to it!  The first few times they give your injection, they monitor you for an hour or so afterwards to make sure you’re not having a reaction to it.  After the first two, they just let me go straight afterwards.

I also had to take steroids, antihistamine and a stomach pill the day before, the day of, and the day after my chemo, but I think that was because I had a reaction to Paclitaxel on the first dose.  The steroids make it difficult to sleep plus they give you a very healthy appetite!

As for timings, I also did the cold cap which meant an extra 30 minutes before (at the same time as premeds), then an hour for Paclitaxel, then 40 minutes afterwards so it does take longer than just having the chemo.

Hope that helps but let me know if you’ve got any other questions.  Wishing you all the best for a hopefully easier time than before!

Loffie x

So is the Herceptin and the P one a injection so not through my PICC line? i thought they was a drip? my daughter does all my home injections. 

I was just panicking as i was so sick with the EC and i done the cold cap but my hair started to fall out after the first EC ive now decided to not continue on with it and leave the cold cap. 

I done the cold cap for the past 2 ECs but after my first session towards the end of the 3 weeks my hair has started to come out. i have now shaved it off and not continuing with Cold cap. So the HP is done through injection? i am so confused. Is the paclitaxel through my PICC line then? x

Paclitaxel is usually done as a drip through your PICC line, but Herceptin has 2 options - injections or drip, so I guess it depends which your hospital is offering.  I guess you might be having the drip if you’ve been given a longer time to be in the unit.  Might be worth checking with your BCN.  It’s all very confusing sometimes isn’t it?! xx

Sorry for all the questions is the pertuzumab also given as an injection or drip too? 

That one I can’t help you with I’m afraid as I didn’t have Pertuzumab - I wrongly thought the P in HP meant Paclitaxel!  That’s probably  where the confusion between drip and injection comes in.  Hopefully someone else will come on and help you out on that question x

Oops sorry. Ye I’m having the palitaxel every week with the herceptin and pertuzumab every 3 weeks for 4 cycles. I just read online though you normally continue it for a year or 18 cycles. Hopefully if they give me it through injection and I then won’t need to go the hospital every three weeks. 

the pharmacist is calling on Monday to confirm everything but I’ll make sure to ask about it.