Herceptin treatment post-chemo

Hi BCinParis​ (love the username), 

I hope you’re doing well following surgery, and I bet you are happy to see the back of Chemo. 

Regarding Herceptin for early HER2+ breast cancer - it is usually given either as a short injection or an IV infusion, depending on the formulation your team chooses. It’s generally administered in a hospital or oncology clinic, not by a GP.
You can find out more here: 🔗 her2-targeted-therapy-drugs

If you’re thinking of returning to Australia, it’s also worth checking the costs and availability of treatments, for example Perjeta has been approved (for early breast cancer) for the PBS but we are still waiting for this to be listed and can be very costly.  

All the best with your remaining treatment and recovery from surgery. 

An update and follow up question if anyone knows. I had my first follow up dose and they did an infusion, which might change to an injection once surgery pathology is back. They also continued the Perjeta, which I hadn’t realised they would. Does anyone know if Perjeta is ever given in Australia after chemo?

HiBCinParis​ sorry to hear about your diagnosis and subsequent treatment, it’s quite the experience. I hope you’re doing well following surgery. 
The outlineSuki​ provided is spot on. In my case the pathology from a lumpectomy showed cancer cells were still present after my chemotherapy. I had Kadcyla and it was administered intravenously on the ward. The visit took about 2 hours, including flushing the port a cath in my arm.  I actually didn’t start the full course for about 2.5 months after the surgery because I had to wait a month to recover and then complete 15 doses of radiation therapy over a three week period. My oncologist did give me a first dose prior to the radiotherapy and then paused and I resumed the remaining doses after radiation. I was beginning to feel pretty worn down by the combination of different treatments through the final months of my Kadcyla, but I was also recovering from COVID 19 so I suspect it played a hand in my feeling fatigued. But I also learned how to manage the energy levels and was able to increase my exercise routine and started yoga. 
all the best for your planning. ☺️

Hi BCinParis​ 

Congrats on finishing chemo and surgery - you have completed the worst bit now!  Hope you are doing ok.

Your pathology results from surgery will likely guide how your Herceptin is given.  If you have a complete response (ie no cancer), you can have the subcutaneous injection of Herceptin.  If there are cancer cells left you may be recommended to have Kadcyla intravenously (which is a chemo/Herceptin mix, but much more gentle chemo than what you have had).

I had pCR at surgery, so had the injection in my thigh.  I still had to attend the chemo ward at hospital to have it, but it took much less time.  Virtually no side effects - some local pain where they inject and a bit of tiredness.  To reduce pain, ask the nurse to inject slowly and remember which thigh they inject and alternate legs.

All the best and hit me up for more questions if you have any xx