Seeking advice on breast cancer treatment: Paclitaxel and Herceptin

Hi Loni, I just finished my 9th paclitaxol / herceptin weekly treatment after 4 bi-weekly infusions of AC. Minimal side effects compared to AC, really. I lost most of my hair after the 3rd red devil infusion (despite the completely miserable use of the DigniCap), have a thin layer left with 3 more weeks to the finish line. No nausea or gut problems. No neuropathy thus far, using ice packs on the wrists and ankles. Nose drips from no nose hair, mouth a little tender, like I ate too many Sour Patch Kids. The steroid they give before the infusion seems to cause water retention, looking a bit puffy, and I don’t sleep well for a couple of nights after each treatment. I definitely haven’t lost weight :) My best advice is to stay active - at least walking, strength training if you can’t get the heart rate up from the steroid. I was prepared for a lot worse than it has been. I have 2 nieces with similar treatment plans 5 years ago. They’ve both said they think my activity level has given me a leg up in managing side effects.

I did paclitaxol/herceptin treatment. I didn’t have the option to do herceptin without chemo. I was told my insurance wouldn’t pay if I didn’t do chemo since it is the approved standard of care by my insurance company. I did okay with chemo portion, some minor gut issues at first. I drank a lot of water and exercised regularly and it seemed to help me get through it. I did cold capping and lost very little hair. The whole year I was on herceptin I had higher than normal blood pressure and runny nose but no cardiac issues. I hope your treatment goes well.

Many in this community have walked a similar path with paclitaxel and Herceptin, and connecting with others who share your HER2+ experience can provide valuable insights about managing treatment. The anxiety you're feeling is completely understandable - these treatment decisions can feel overwhelming, especially when weighing different options. This community is a wonderful place to hear from others who have navigated these same treatments and can share their real experiences with side effects and coping strategies.