Herceptin Injection
Hi There. I have been told Herceptin injection will be available soon. Has anyone had one already. Don't want to jump out of frying pan into fire! :)
Forum Discussion
You must be on the same timetable as me Jenny. I have 8 to go as well.
N
That is very interesting Nadine, I will ask again when I go in for mine tomorrow. I spend on average 2 1/2 hrs each time for mine as my veins are terrible and still have another 8 treatments to go.
Cheers Jen ?? ?? ?? xx
Hi. The Herceptin injection is being offered at my chemo unit. The chemo nurses discussed it with me on Tuesday as an option I may wish to consider. I was told that the injection is on average about 5 mls. The dose is still based on the weight of the patient. It goes in the upper thigh. It takes about 3-5 minutes to receive this drug opposed to 30 -45 minutes to receive it by IV. It's common to get a raised bump at the injection site but that goes down in a couple of hours as the body absorbs the drug. It is being offered to women who are already receiving Herceptin by IV as studies have shown no real concerns switching between the two different delivery methods. I guess new patients may also be offered it. At least 3 women in my chemo unit are having the injections. I was also told there are no plans to allow the injections to be self administered (like Neulasta) at this stage.
Not sure if I will take it up especially since I just had a second surgery to correct my port.
Cheers
Nadine
I asked my chemo nurses about it last time I went in for my herceptin, she asked an on duty oncologist he just shrugged his shoulders. I am very interested in finding if it would suit as k have another to go and my veins are useless so its a drama everytime I have an IV. Guess I'll have to wait till July to see my oncologist.
Cheers Jen ?? ?? ?? xx
Hi, I'm getting herceptin via IV at the mo. I've heard conflicting stories on whether it will be available to me. I've heard of at least one place that is using it already.
Hello, it's Lisa from the Policy Team. A new form of Herceptin, called Herceptin SC, has been listed on the PBS for people with HER2-positive breast cancer. As you said, it is administered as an injection which takes about 2 to 5 minutes to deliver. We have developed a Beacon article which provides more information about this new form of Herceptin. You can read the article here. If you would like to know whether Herceptin SC might be suitable for you, it would be best to talk to you medical oncologist.
Warm regards,
Lisa
