PHESGO -subcutaneous pertuzumab / trastuzumab

Hi

sorry I am not on this new treatment but I am having pertuzumab / trastuzumab every 3 weeks until November. I have had  chemo and a lumpectomy and soon to have radiotherapy.

just wondering what is the difference between the IV and the subcutaneous treatment and what are the benefits please?

good luck with your treatment!

Hi  BaileyLady

Herceptin has been given for some time by subcutaneous injection and now the combined pertuzumab and trastuzumab ( herceptin) has been approved for use in the uk . It had already been approved by the FDA for use in the US in 2020. 

The therapeutic effect has been shown to be the same as the effect of the IV administration. My oncologist discussed it with me and gave me the option of changing to subcutaneous or staying on the IV . I opted to change after looking at the evidence ,  but was told I could change back if it didn’t suit me. 

I had my first one yesterday . Time for injection -  8 minutes injected slowly into my thigh . Stung a bit but not too bad and then I waited for 30 minutes to check all was well . No problems, so now a nurse will come to my home every 3 weeks for my remaining doses. 

So I would say that time saved is a huge bonus and as I’ve been having treatment since April 2020 attending the cancer unit can get a bit tiring . Also after so much treatment my veins are happy to have a rest as they were becoming more and more difficult to cannulate! I’m not sure all units will be offering it as soon as mine so you may not have an option at the moment . 

Hope that covers everything ! So far all ok and no difference in side effects compared to IV 

Best wishes for your treatment 

Many thanks for the info, that sounds great especially if you are having trouble with your veins.

I have got a port in my arm which is really good although the last two times we have used it have been a bit painful. This is because the skin is sore where they insert the needle.  Seems there is no real easy solution when they need to treat for such a long term.  By the end my port will have been used  21 times.

so glad your first time round has been successful with only a little bit of pain and hope it continues to go well.  Good luck.

This sounds very good! 

I’ve had 5 chemo sessions of pertuzumab / trastuzumab / docetaxel/ cardoplatin and 1 of just pertuzumab / trastuzumab. I’m due to have mastectomy and reconstruction at the end of April followed by more pertuzumab / trastuzumab. 

Can I ask if your hair continued to fall out with just pertuzumab / trastuzumab? I used the cold cap for the 1st 5 chemo sessions and then was told I won’t need cold cap anymore but my hair is really shedding after the pertuzumab / trastuzumab.

Xx

Hi

I had 3 sessions of EC, then 4 sessions of docetaxel, pertuzamab and trastuzumab in 3 weekly cycles And have now had 3 sessions with just p&t.  I was cold capping and had shoulder length hair. I lost a lot of hair throughout the chemo but kept enough that I didn’t need to wear a wig and the longer lengths covered a lot of the lower balder areas.

my hair started growing back in while still on docetaxal, but I also still lost some following the last docetaxal treatment as there other areas which has really thinned out since.  It is really weird!

so now I have got a bit of a pot mess going on with hair growing in all over that looks thicker than I had but is also coming in curly!

I am very happy it is growing in but I am also very unhappy with how it looks and hate looking at myself in the mirror as it doesn’t look like the me that I used to know!

but I am grateful to be alive and the chemo killed the cancer so what more can I ask for!

Thankyou so much for sharing your experience, it’s really interesting to see the different reactions, I’m hoping my hair will hang on in there for the rest of the t&p treatments! 
I’ve seen that hair can grow back differently, I had mine cut short before the cold cap and only had some shedding but it seems to have increased for some reason.

Hopefully when we’re allowed to go to a hairdresser you’ll be able to get pampered! 
xxx

Hi 

Ive to have one more docetaxel, pertuzumab and trastuzumab in a few weeks.  I will be taking T and P for a year after this and Ive thought about maybe trying the Phesgo after this last docetaxel session and love that it can be given at home and no more IV's.  

Just wondering how you got on with it Moppers?  Also Im so hoping that alot of the side effects Ive been having with the chemo will stop when I finish with the Docetaxel (had 3xEC also).   

Good luck everyone with your treatments. xx

Hello, 

I have asked my consultant if I can have this new PHESGO, I will find out after I’ve had my surgery at the end of this month.

I’ve also had one session of T & P without the docetaxel and I haven’t had any of the really horrible side effects that I experienced with the docetaxel so there is light at the end of the tunnel!! 
the only thing is that my hair has carried on falling out (I had cold cap with the docetaxel but not with the T & P).

I hope your treatment goes well. 

xxx

Hi Pineapple21 

Sorry to hear your hair has continued falling out, hopefully thats a result of not long completing the Docetaxel!!:)  Id given up the cold cap early on as it wasnt working for me but was hoping my hair could start growing again soon.  Thats great to hear thou that other symptoms are absent and as you say light at the end of the tunnel.  Cant wait as feel Ive hit a Chemo wall just now.  

Just had my last docetaxel today so know what to expect over next few wks but feeling glad thats the last one yipee

Thanks for Info and take care.xx

Hi Moppers I've just finished a year of Herceptin  injections my tip would be ask to be given the phial to warm up before it is injected then it doesn't sting so much lol also the slower the better .

good luck