Herceptin side effects

The last time I spoke about Herceptin and it's side effects I proudly said I didn't seem to be experiencing anything other than a running nose. Spoke too soon!!

I had my tenth Herceptin last week and just after the nurse left I wondered why I felt so tired? That fatigued feeling got a whole lot worse and by evening it felt like chemo all over again. Thankfully it had mostly worn off the next day but it did give me a bit of a surprise. I had been told this could happen but was pretty sure I'd managed to avoid it after ten treatments. I have seven more treatments to go so it will be little me off to bed after the nurse leaves 'til well into the next day. Actually when put like that it sounds quite nice!

The other alarming thing that has happened is that my eyelashes have started to fall out again. The air was blue when i noticed. Now, what I want to know and nobody seems to have the answer, is this a side effect of herceptin or a side effect of chemo? My eyelashes did grow back in much longer and thicker than before and I thought aaah a nice reward for months of feeling crap. Again, spoke too soon!! Joking aside I am more than a little concerned that I'll wake up to find them all gone. I found it distressing the first time ( shallow I know when you're receiving life saving treatment) and if it happens again I don't suppose I'll be over the moon. I just love putting on mascara and seeing LASHES. If anyone out there has experienced this let me know. I also want exact timescale of regrowth. Only joking....

As a note at the bottom( Ha Ha) I also seem to have diarrhoea rather a lot and I know this can be a side effect with Herceptin. God, serves me right for being so confident!! Ah well it could be worse, I might have the aching joints or a frozen shoulder as well. Now that I think of it......


Marjory

And now for the science bit.....

Thought I would write a bit about my ongoing treatments now that the chemo is over. People keep saying to me ' so glad you're treatments over' and mostly I just smile and agree but it's far from over.



For the next five years, or more, I will take Arimidex daily. Arimidex belongs to a group of drugs called aromatase inhibitors which interfere with the action of aromatase which is an enzyme that affects the level of the hormone oestrogen. As my breast cancer was oestrogen sensitive the plan is now to have as little, or no oestrogen in my system.



I don't seem to get any side effects from Arimidex but I believe it can cause aching joints and muscles.



The chemo seemed to bring on the menopause with my oestrogen levels at rock bottom, which was a good thing. Didn't last though! My last blood test showed a sharp rise in oestrogen levels which basically means my ovaries have recovered from chemo. So what do we do now?!

I have two choices. First is a monthly injection of Zoladex which would keep oestrogen levels down. Second is an oophorectomy. This is surgical removal of the ovaries, which I think is the option I will choose. If you're going to do something do it properly!!



I also have Herceptin at three weekly intervals.

This is given the same way chemo is given through an intravenous infusion that lasts approx two hours. Healthcare at home are a group of nurses who do this for patients at home. Again not much in the way of side effects. I tend to feel exremely cold for the rest of that day then have diffuse joint pain for a couple of days following treatment. I thought I had hayfever with a constantly dripping nose but the nurse has told me this a very common side effect of Herceptin-how odd!

You can read more about herceptin treatment by following the links on the right column of this site.