HER2+ ER+ - huge side effects
Hi I was diagnosed with HER2 positive and estrogen positive breast cancer in October 24 Am having chemo / Herceptin - perjeta weekly until 20/1 then prob surgery end of February. As I’m older 73...
Forum Discussion
Hi @health123
Sorry to hear of your diagnosis and side effects.
I was diagnosed with stage 2, grade 2-3 triple positive and completed 6 rounds of TCHP chemo/Herceptin/Perjeta in 2024. While triple positive can be aggressive, it is also highly treatable - most tumours shrink or might disappear from the chemo.
I had a "half way" ultrasound, but ultimately it is the pathology report after surgery that gives you the info you need. It will tell you if there are any cancer cells left, which will guide further treatment.
Some of the treatments are fairly new, so there is not a whole lot of long term data around. Herceptin was a real game changer for the prognosis of HER2+ but wasn't discovered that long ago (and firstly only used to treat metastatic cases), so I recommend staying away from Google as much of the info is out of date.
I am sorry you are having major side effects. Please let your oncologist or breast care nurse know. You are nearly at the end of your chemo and effects can be cumulative - I remember feeling really rotten after the last cycle. I also felt surgery was a breeze after chemo, so you could be nearly through the hardest bit <3.
I got diarrhoea and used Gastro Stop to control it. You can also eat bland foods like bananas, dry toast and potato if you can stomach it.
I didn't cold cap and lost all my hair (including eyelashes & partial eyebrows after the end of chemo) - my head hair started growing back properly about 3 months after the chemo finished and my eyebrows/eyelashes are only regenerating now (9 months after chemo).
As mentioned by @arpie, please join the Triple Positive group to chat with kindred spirits xx
Sorry to hear of your diagnosis and side effects.
I was diagnosed with stage 2, grade 2-3 triple positive and completed 6 rounds of TCHP chemo/Herceptin/Perjeta in 2024. While triple positive can be aggressive, it is also highly treatable - most tumours shrink or might disappear from the chemo.
I had a "half way" ultrasound, but ultimately it is the pathology report after surgery that gives you the info you need. It will tell you if there are any cancer cells left, which will guide further treatment.
Some of the treatments are fairly new, so there is not a whole lot of long term data around. Herceptin was a real game changer for the prognosis of HER2+ but wasn't discovered that long ago (and firstly only used to treat metastatic cases), so I recommend staying away from Google as much of the info is out of date.
I am sorry you are having major side effects. Please let your oncologist or breast care nurse know. You are nearly at the end of your chemo and effects can be cumulative - I remember feeling really rotten after the last cycle. I also felt surgery was a breeze after chemo, so you could be nearly through the hardest bit <3.
I got diarrhoea and used Gastro Stop to control it. You can also eat bland foods like bananas, dry toast and potato if you can stomach it.
I didn't cold cap and lost all my hair (including eyelashes & partial eyebrows after the end of chemo) - my head hair started growing back properly about 3 months after the chemo finished and my eyebrows/eyelashes are only regenerating now (9 months after chemo).
As mentioned by @arpie, please join the Triple Positive group to chat with kindred spirits xx