Herceptin - Quick Side Effects Poll
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My nose is still runny - I'll be glad when it stops!! We're all keeping the Kleenex company in business for sure.
Littletower - My herceptin tx's would definitely wipe me out...I would be SO tired for the rest of the day and usually a day or two following. Some muscle aches and pains like I was coming down with something, but nothing that tylenol wouldn't take care of - they would always give me two tylenol right before my tx. I would get headaches too - they were often the worst of my SE's.
You're just about done!! Yay for you
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Thanks for the responses. Feeling a bit better today. Hope all are well.
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Achpurple;
Nope, I am not going to be able to take the Herceptin at all.
Sumair
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Hello Sisters
Today is an aniversary for me. Four years ago today at about 7 00 in the evening, a doctor said those dreaded words to me " I have confirmed that the tumour in your stomach is cancerous. You have cancer" Well it's 4 years later and I'm not intending to go anywhere associated with eternity in the near future. (They breed them tough in Belfast LOL)
I believe 3 things have helped me to get to today:-
1/ Early diagnosis - it's was totally by accident - or more likely it was the grace of God - that it was caught early.
2/ Timely intervention by the medical people coupled with incredible support of certain family and friends
3/ Prayer and in particular the prayers of others who prayed for me and thought about me.
So I will be saying a prayer of thanksgiving for a successful battle against the stomach cancer and for the gift of Herceptin which has enabled myself and the Oncology team to fight the metastasised liver cancer to a standstill.
Take care sisters and please God the Herceptin will keep working for me.
Frank
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Happy Anniversary Frank, and many many more.
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Yay Frank - here's to many many more anniversaries!!
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Hi, I haven't been on this thread in a while, but wanted to come give hope to anyone having joint pain as a side effect. I had it, mainly in my knees and elbows. My elbows were the worst, esp. my right side for some reason. There were so bad, I had difficutly when I was lying down in bed, reaching my night stand for my glass of water, it felt like I was going to drop it (my night stand is lower than my bed, it is a bit awkard).
Anyway, Wed. is three months since my last Herceptin and the joint issues are finally going away. My knees got better almost immediately after I stopped H. My elbows continued to hurt, so much so I planned to see a dr about it if they didn't get better within 3 months. My right one still aches sometimes, esp. after I exercise, but it is so much better than before!!
I hear the H takes 3-5 months to leave your system, but it does get better!
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Hello everyone
Apologies if a similar post has appeared before.I have had x15 treatments of Herceptin and was wondering if anyone has experienced sinus problems?
Liz
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It depends on what you mean by "sinus problems" - many of us have a constant drippy nose, nothing huge, just irritating. I often lose my voice for a few days in the middle of a cycle. Thought it was coincidence the first time it happened, but now it happens between every cycle. I have one more to go!
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Liz - I have had issues too. It's constantly running, sometimes a little sore, and it's definitely not unusual for it to be bloody. I've always had sinus problems/allergies but nothing like this. If it seems to dry at times, try Ocean nasal spray. It will help to moisten the area and hopefully help the inside from getting sore and irritated. I have finished 12 weekly sessions of Hercept, finished Taxol today!!!, and have 40 more Herceptin to go. I've been stockpiling in the kleenex - There's a box in every room, in the car, and in my purse!
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Hi to everyone again
Should have been more specific about the sinus problems. I do get a drippy nose but its not constant. My main symptom is a throbbing tenderness and pressure feeling in/around my nose.My face seems to ache too (basically sinisitis symptoms). It does however come and go a bit but when its bad can make me feel dizzy, or is dizziness a SE in its own right?
Liz
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That sounds the same as my symptoms - Not sure if it's ongoing sinus problems, the Herceptin, or a combination. I see my PCP on Friday to see what he has to say about it. There doesn't seem to be any infection although I do get headaches once in a while and the pressure around the nose and cheeks. I'm in Michigan and the weather here has been crazy - Warm, cold, warm, cold, rain, snow, rain.... - and I'm blaming some of it on that. If you have any medicine available to take for it such as an antihistamine or even a nose spray, that might help...I think the prescription nose spray I have - Nasacort AQ - helps to keep it from turning into an infection. Hope this helps and you feel better soon!
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Hi JulieLynn
Thanks for your good wishes. Interesting that you too have similar symptoms. I use a nasal spray but like you I dont think I have an infection. Will mention all this to my onco this fri and post an update.
Thanks for your help. Take care. Liz
P.S The weather here in Yorkshire, England is also rather wacky. Minus 5 one minute, then 18 degrees!!!!!!!!
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I started Herceptin since May 2011, together with Navelbine, Herceptin every 3 week, and Navelbin on DAy 1 and Day 8. My Pet scan end of Dec showed that I'm cleared, so oncologist took chemo out, but continued Herceptin since January. Yesterday I found spots on my body, about 10, which looked like mosquito/insect bites. Prior to this, I might have a few spots on my limbs, and some rashes near the ankle, but never too serious to catch my attention. This morning, I woke up with increasing spots, which I suspected is chicken pox. After seeing a doctor, he said it doesn't look like typical chicken pox and suspected that it is side effect of Herceptin, and adviced me to see my oncologist.(which I'll do later)
My left arm has been numb for past 2 weeks. My oncologist said it's probably due to the position of the nerve but now I suspect it is some virus attacking my nerve cells, especially below the armpit as my lymph nodes had been removed.
Otherwise, I look healthy, with weak nails, and some scars over the rashes I had. My hair is ok too.
I read that chicken pox could be dangerous, so am hoping it is just a side effect...
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I am going in for TDM-1 treatment #13 on Wednesday, so it's been nearly three weeks since the last one. (TDM-1 is Herceptin with an additional toxic molecule.)
I'm mostly doing fine, but today the "pads" of my fingers felt really sore, and when I looked at them, they each had a nasty dark red patch with what looked like spider veins and vertical and horizontal "wrinkles."
I wrote about this same thing happening to me back during Taxotere (the worst drug ever), and I described it as feeling like I had grabbed a hot plate from the oven with my bare hands. I had forgotten all about that until now. But it's ba-ack.
My vision has also deteriorated so badly that I find myself squinting like Mr. Magoo at distant freeway signs. (Don't worry, I can see the road and the cars ahead just fine, I just can't read signs if they're more than 100 yards away.)
And yes, there's that never-ending headache. Uggh.
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yinsan - you may have shingles, it is similar to chicken pox and affects your nerve cells. I had shingles when I was on the hard chemo0
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So I am due to have tx 15 on Fri. The sciatica symptoms I have been experiencing have got worse and im up in the night with body aches, mainly to pelvis and back.
Feels like bad flu on top of existing pain sites.
My question is: has anyone experienced an increase in bone/muscle pain towards the end of their Herceptin year?
Liz
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I have - several SE's have changed for me and I only have one more on March 13. I often talk to a nurse from Genentech (they make Herceptin) and she says that is normal for SE's to change for some people. The last two infusions have given me pharyngitis-like symptoms, she says it's not caused by an infection but that it is caused by Herceptin. I always take a Zyrtec everyday now and it helps with the muscle aches, but not the runny nose!
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Survivorwoman, years ago I had a deep cavity filled and the pain lasted about 9 months so maybe it is not from Herceptin.0
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Hi achpurple
Thanks so much for your post. Ive just googled pharyngitis. I have had a mild, red sore throat and sinus inflammation this week so the muscle aches could be a further symptom. Hope so as im scared silly it could be bone mets.
Its 3am and im going to see my onco as soon as possible in morning.
Liz
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Good luck Jackboo
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Anyone have atrial fibrilation after herceptin infusion? I can feel my heart skip or flutter. I read that it's not life threatening. I hate calling my oncologist again. I also have a very headache.
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On Feb, 16, 2012: 6,965 people reported to have side effects when taking Herceptin. Among them, 55 people (0.79%) have Atrial Fibrillation. http://www.ehealthme.com/ds/herceptin/atrial+fibrillation
For those who are 50 about 27% AF
Age 60 + about 64%
The older you are the higher risk for AF
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Thank you for your post panajayne. It is interesting that you responded and that I read your comment just when I woke up with excruciating pain again. I am heading back to the dentist this morning. I just want to get to the bottom of this pain.0
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Zits!!! Anyone else getting them after Herceptin? Thank goodness only one more, cause having my spotty skin back at this age, bites the big one!
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No zits here, but definitely tooth pain, deep inside of all of my teeth at once, especially those in the front. Also increasing bone pain - achey stiff feeling when I try to get up. I just had dose #13, so four more to go. (Not Herceptin, but TDM-1, which is Herceptin with an additional molecule of chemo.) All in all, the side effects are so mild compared to the hard stuff that I can't really complain.
We're all so blessed to have this life-saving drug. Ten years ago, we would have faced some grim odds.
Love to all.
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Yes windlass - it's important to remember what these drugs are doing for us!
I had atrial fibrillation after tx all through chemo and Herceptin....it really subsided quite a bit with the Herceptin, but I usually noticed it on and off for a day or two.
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Windlass- Thank you for mentioning your tooth issue in your post. I just came back from the dentist and was told there was nothing wrong with the tooth that was hurting. I had Herceptin #8 last week and although, I still have knee aches regularly, however, for the past month, I also had been experiencing tooth aches like the one that woke me up today at 5am. It must be a side effect of Herceptin. When I was doing Tykerb I had no pain.
I wholeheartedly I agree with you that we are lucky to have this drug, not only that it did not exist 10 years ago , but that women in other countries may not even have access to it at all, b/c it is so expensive. I am very grateful to have access to such quality care and treatments.
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I read that some of you have muscle and bone pain on Herceptin. I'm wondering if it's a cummulative effect. I had them on Taxol and tought it was over, but I'm having pain again, including sciatica. I finished 12 T/H and now on my 4th H every 3 weeks. What are you doing to relieve the pain?
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