Herceptin Injections For Breast Cancer

[DENZIL88]

Good afternoon. I have just finished x8 Cycles of Chemotherapy for early Breast Cancer diagnosed in July - chemo started in August. The Lump was Hormone fed and HER2+ so also had the HER2+ Targetted Therapy Injections Herceptin (Phesgo) with the first x4 Chemo Docetaxel. The lump has significantly shrunk and scar tissue just showing on Ultrasound on Friday. Lumpectomy surgery to follow. My question is does anybody know if Herceptin Injections ALONE cause White Blood Cells to drop or is that just in conjunction with Chemo? I have to have these injections by District Nurse at home 3 weekly until November. Some say white cells only drop whilst having Herceptin alongside Chemo... worried about my white cells being low for another 9 months. Many thanks

[Sqad]

I'm not an expert in this field, but for what it is worth.

Both Herceptin and Docetaxel, may but not always damage the white cells. In combination they give good results against certain cancers e.g breast, but by themselves are less effective. Giving Herceptin alone reduces prognosis, but I have no idea if it lessens white cell mortality.

[DENZIL88]

Thank you Sqad. I had to have Filgrastim stomach injections throughout chemo (for 5 days after every session) to boost my white cells but do not need these anymore so hopefully white cells will be OK which has been my main worry throughout chemo in case of infection etc.

[LadyCG]

Hi Denzil,

The Docetaxel is the more likely culprit.

[DENZIL88]

Yes Docetaxel was brutal. Also had x4 Epirubicin for the last 4. They certainly threw everything at it ! x

[dokej94]

15.55 just a heads up OP this user is not qualified medically or otherwise to give this advice . ‘sqad’ is a retired doctor, the user Ladycg is not.

[Neveracrossword]

Dokej94, your intervention is perhaps unnecessary. The heading to Body and Soul clearly states 'Inofrmation here is only advice from other members and must not be taken as professional guidance.'

[Buenchico]

A screen shot from the manufacturer's website:
https://i.postimg.cc/zBW8LyXV/Herceptin.jpg

So, as I read that, a low white (and/or red) blood cell count is a possible side effect from Herceptin but, just like most side effects, not everyone will experience it.

Full source:
https://www.herceptin.com/

[Peter Pedant]

No or yes - I am a self proclaimed expert
there is also at least one retired oncologist who lurks

yes Herceptin can cause low white blood cells
White blood cells (WBC) are important for fighting infection. While receiving treatment, your WBC count can drop, putting you at a higher risk of getting an infection.
package insert
https://www.oncolink.org/cancer-treatment/oncolink-rx/trastuzumab-herceptin-r

it is a monoclonal antibody so that doesnt surprise me at all

I note you are on filgastrim - which I was on as well. I bet your havent gone down to 400, ( yes 0.4 = you cant see any)

it is vital that you dont use our advice to fiddle and fine tune your therapy, but follow the advice of your team treating you. Because the results are always worse.

and you dont have to be a doctor to say that !
Good luck

I imagine there is a cocktail of drugs to choose from that cause low white blood cells - I had vinc, cyclo, pred, gemcitabine, ritux, roob to choose from. dont fiddle with any

[Peter Pedant]

I wish people wdnt remove posts. It may be something that is good gen (pukka stuff) but that the mods ( who cant know EVERYTHING) just dont understand

[LadyCG]

It's interesting that a Mod suspended the troll rather than banning it. It's almost like they didn't want to remove all the posts.

Anyway, Denzil, were you covered with GCSF at any point?

[Peter Pedant]

yeah that is the old name for filgastrim.

[naomi24]

The troll is banned.

[AnOtherMod]

I suspended the first troll, the comment at 18:17 is fair enough but his/her other post was unpleasant and I removed it. I banned the same person when they returned in a new name to repost the same stuff.

Peter Pedant is wrong about anything useful being removed.

[LadyCG]

The Ed has recent spoken about the sarky comments about non-medically trained people giving advice in Body-and-Soul so the comment at 18:17 should not remain.

I fail to see where I've given advice on this thread in any case. Moreover a troll is a troll, they should be banned and all their posts removed.