Anyone had chemo plus herceptin following surgery (for HER2 positive breast cancer)?

I had the above plus Herceptin.  I had the Herceptin which was given by injection.  I was absolutely fine with it.  I just had aching joints but that started when I had the original chemo.

I also had radiotherapy and that wasn’t too bad.  I was very tired during that treatment, but no more than I was through all treatment.

Thank you for replying.  Did you have all 14 rounds of the Kadcyla (I think it's called that )?

Yes.  I don’t know the official name for the drug but it was Herceptin.  I was injected into the leg, they did opposite legs each visit.  This was 2016/2017.  It was much easier than chemo.  I was in and out in 30/40 mins.  I drove to appointments and was able to call at shops sometimes after.

I had herceptin every 3 weeks for a year alternate legs each time  along side paclitaxel for 12 weeks for my HER2 positive  ER positive breast cancer last year once the chemotherapy was finished I still had a good few herceptin left and didn't have any side affects from the injection at all in and out in 15/ 20 mins .

Hi Rhapsody 

I had 6 rounds of chemo which I really struggled through especially the last three which I nearly gave up on .

When I was told I would have to have 14 rounds of Kadcyla I went home and cried. 

I read up about Kadcyla and found out that most recipients don't have any problems with it which was true for me , apart from a bit of tiredness after the infusion I found I was OK,  it was a bit weird not coming home with a bag full of medication because I didn't need anything. I went back to work and got back to a normal life whatever normal is.

The only thing with Kadcyla is you still have to bloods just before every infusion. 

I hope this helps and if you have any questions please feel free to ask and I will try and answer them.

carolyn

Thank you Carolyn. I'm so pleased to hear how well you're coping with Kadcyla! My next questions would be:

1. Did you lose your hair again ? (I've just got about 1mm length and still look bald)!

2. Did you need the Filgrastim injections after each cycle?

3. Did you still have to take your temperature each day ?

Thank you again for your response. 

Hi

No I didn't lose any hair, like you I was pretty bald when I started Kadcyla but my hair kept growing throughout the treatment. 

The photo below is about six months after treatment finished, It should have been about shoulder length but I had it trimmed a few times so that I didn't end up with a mullet.      

                                                           No I didn't have Filgrastim injections and also didn't take my temperature every day as I wasn't told to and didn't need to. 

I know it's  hard to take in the fact that it's still chemo but it's so different. 

The first three of Kadcyla took half hour for infusion then monitored  for 20mins the rest of them took half hour for infusion and straight out with no need to be monitored. 

Hope this helped . if you have more questions I will be happy to try and answer them and good luck with the rest of your treatment 

carolyn

Hi had grade 3 Her2 positive cancer, mastectomy and reconstruction on left side, had 6 rounds of chemo and then they said they wanted to give me  one year of herceptine, I found herceptine a doddle, good luck  

And my hair kept growing back all the time whilst on herceptine.

Thank you. Good to know how well you coped. Did you have a positive lymph node at surgical biopsy?