Mrs Carol W

A Chinese nurse advised me to drink two glasses of hot water just  before my chemo treatment. The chemo nurses also soaked my arm in hot water before they attempted to insert the cannula ... all this of course was towards the end of my treatment and it did seem to help. Too late for you but if someone else is having difficulty it might help!

Hi Rennay,

I feel for you - my only heart issue was that the hypertension that I had prior to surgery got worse leading to higher doses of Catapres and the Arimidex side effects listed elsewhere.

Like you I had quarterly heart ultrasounds but did not have problems so could complete the full year of Herceptin. I have heard of others not being able to complete the program.

My attidtude is what will be will be the doctors have so many treatment options available and what they advise depends on so many factors.

We are so lucky this and many other treatments are available on the PBS now thanks in part to lobbying by BCNA 

I try to remain positive and took pleasure in helping to organise my stepsons wedding a year ago; We have my older sons engagement party in a week and look forward to more family weddings and will damn well see some grandchildren arrive on this earth and hopefully grow to maturity as Mum did.

Hope this helps,

Carol

Dear Kay,

I also had a lot of joint pain but I put this down to also being on Arimidex (for post menopausal women and having no break between 4xAC; 4x taxol with peripheral .. pins & needles and numbness which eventually went; then radiotherapy to 4 locations starting 3 days after final chemo concurrently with Herceptin. After I think the 2nd or 3rd herceptin started on Arimidex which I am still on. Now 4 + years since surgery and 3 years into Arimidex - side effects weight gain, arthritis rings enlarged 4 sizes; elevated blood pressure; joint pain; osteporosis but finally over the hot flushes!

Carol

My main problems with Herceptin was that I had issues with cannulation. However I persevered learning that having more fluids e.g. water or juice before I was due for treatment and not rushing round or getting het up (easier to say than do!!!) helped here. I did not want to have a port as would have happened had they had a second time of trying 3 places to get in.

Also I think most of my other side effects were due to being put on Arimidex.

Hi Carol

I started on Herceptin in January this year and am 12 treatments in 5 to go. I am having a lot of trouble with joint and muscle pain and was interested to know if anyone else has this issues. I still have loss of feeling in my toes and balls of my feet but I am putting this down to the Taxotere.

I am hoping that the aches and pains might reduce when the Herceptin is finished. No problems with the heart so far. My kids think I don't have one anyway so thats no surprise.

Any info would help

Kay

Hi Carol

I started on Herceptin in January this year and am 12 treatments in 5 to go. I am having a lot of trouble with joint and muscle pain and was interested to know if anyone else has this issues. I still have loss of feeling in my toes and balls of my feet but I am putting this down to the Taxotere.

I am hoping that the aches and pains might reduce when the Herceptin is finished. No problems with the heart so far. My kids think I don't have one anyway so thats no surprise.

Any info would help

Kay

Hi Carol,

I was one of the first to go on Herceptin after it went on the PBS.

My experience wasn't good. My heart function plummetted and I was taken off the treatment after 11 sessions. I should have had 18 all up but it wasn't to be.

My heart is still in trouble and I am now under a heart specialist.

You can't win sometimes  can you! LOL

Did you have any problems?

Rennay