Topic: When do Herceptin side effects go away?

Thanks! I am glad you reminded me about the mental exhaustion, I think I am in such a big hurry to get back to normal physically that I forget the emotional aspect.I have  had a very stressful couple of weeks and today I am really feeling the affects.I am wondering if my hot flashes will diminish now that I am off the herceptin?I am going right now for another glass of water!Take care. Jackie

Yes I would also say several months.  Runny nose was so annoying but pretty much disappeared I would say a month or so after the last herceptin treatment.  I too had slow hair growth (although my onc. says no herceptin does not do that .. I disagree) and it was almost another 6 months before my hair started growing at it's normal rate although it is still thin.  That could be the Arimidex. 

I forgot about the slow hair growth!  That's a definite side affect.  How do I know?  Because I had ovarian cancer 7 years ago and my hair grew back much quicker that time.  Of course the doctors deny the side affects.

panda - I see you have mentioned peeing.  I find I am peeing up to 5 times a night since being on Herceptin. (and never feel completely empty)  Did you have problems with peeing more?  I posted somewhere about it, but got little response, so I am not sure whether to blame Herceptin or chemo damage to bladder.

Hi,

I was very discouraged and surprised to see this post. In a few weeks, I have to start and stay on Herceptin for a year and was told there would not be any side effects.  Now I see this post with lots of SE's the most significant of which seems to be fatigue....I cannot take another year of fatigue....does anyone know if most people get se's on Herceptin?  Thx all. 

Moon wolf, I am still waking every two hours during the night to pee,but I think it is because I wake up from my hot flashes,which I think(please) are getting a little better.I was having to hustle to the bathroom during the day,but that has let up and seems better each day.But I am still so achy!   Ameron...Do NOT be discouraged,the fatigue is nothing like chemo,during chemo,I did not have enough energy to take a shower and had to have a commode by my bed. I really did almost nothing those months.My chemo fatigue lingered, but over the summer,while just on the herceptin,I got more and more energy. Part of my problem was on the days I felt well, I overdid and then was back in a slump.So try to pace yourself.And I am now 56, I do think age can play a factor in the fatigue.I do think I would encourage anyone who can to keep getting the herceptin weekly instead of every three weeks.Just from what I have read from other postings, the SE's are less.

My wife has completed surgery, chemo and radiation but is continuing Herceptin for a total of 12 months. As a dancer and dance teacher she has physical demands that are much harder now due to muscle fatigue. Does anyone know what she can do to counter or diminish these effects?

I just had my first TCH treatment last week. Before I started my doctor said some studies at the Mayo clinic showed that taking 2 grams of ginseng a day helped with fatigue from chemo--it didn't work for everyone, but for those it did work for, it helped a lot with the fatigue. I've been taking it and I don't feel tired, but it's really early on in my treatment.

From Maggie T

Hi folks I'm new to this but just wanted to say that I seem to suffer most of the same side effects as you all, muscle pain, peeing constantly through the night, nail destruction etc, but the worst of all is the huge red raised blotches I get in the various places, on my neck (beautiful for a low neckline) and my right arm mostly.  They start off as small prin pricks but then get to huge ugly shapes, coloured between red and a purplishness.  Does anyone else have this and although I have a cream to put on them they take forever to go. I finished my Herceptin about 1 month ago and my hair has grown and is now wavy whereas before it was really straight, so that is one really good thing.

I'm due for my final (18th) Herceptin this Friday.

When I read the list of possible side effects this time last year I was really worried, especially as I'm also on Arimidex which also has a long list of potential problems. I don't regret my decision to go ahead though - I have survived the treatment and hopefully increased my chances of survival from breast cancer.

I have had a lot of the side effects that many of you have mentioned - tiredness and weakness (which usually kicked in a few days after each infusion and lasted up to a week), slowing down of hair growth (it had been growing well after chemotherapy and radiotherapy), pain and stiffness in finger joints, spasms in toe joints, loose bowels (not quite diarrhoea, luckily), sometimes very dry, sometimes runny nose and brittle nails. Doctors and nurses of course weren't really interested in any of these so eventually I stopped bothering to tell them.

Anyway I want to encourage all of you to persevere - you can do it!

Hello everyone,

I have the same side-effects this was my 7th Herceptin infusion. My stomach hurt, runny nose and less energy. I drink a lot of water and it helps after the 2nd day of treatment. My DR denies these are side effects of Herceptin.

To everyone here..if this helps at all..when I was on Chemo for Her2..and I am a dog walker..I never missed a day dog walking through Feb till May 09..

I dropped cafine,,raw sugar..bad fats(fat on meat) and processed food..took up juicing,ate my veggies..friuts and salmon.chicken..

Felt really good my customers where amazed....

side effects were split nails..some loose poopy...never tired..

Herceptin..same thing..split nails..my hair grew back fast....stinging showing up now in body., one week when I finished Hercptin...

When I got my white blood cell shot..I did it 2 days after not one to get around the bone pain.

I hope this helps someone:>

God Bless

Carolyn