The Science and Side Effects of Herceptin and Perjeta, my HER2+breast cancer journey

Thanks for watching, if you'd like the playlist of my cancer journey right from the get go it can be found here:

And that paper outlining Canada's choice not to reimburse Perjeta and the health consequences can be found here:

I hope you find some helpful information in this video, thanks for watching!

[correnebide]

Hi Sarah, this is the place and time to overshare with gusto!
I’m in Australia and the pharmaceutical subsidisation for Perjeta is the same.
I’ve just completed round 4 of TCHP - it’s brutal …
My oncologist gave me the option of electing to add in the Perjeta - as I’m a pharmacist it was a no brainer. Possibly the wisest economic decision I will ever make.
I am just blown away that with the incidence of BC and the effectiveness of this new generation of therapy for Her2+ BC that the lives of women are not worthy.
Once I get some of my mojo back I will be definitely be making some political noise.
Perhaps this can be the evolution of the Me2 into a Her2 movement.

[KnittingsAndSewings]

You are so clear in explaining this. Oh my gosh, I admire you so much. So glad to hear that things are going so well in your journey. I think it's fascinating that Herceptin is like an antibiotic. My prayers for your continued healing.

[jamiethrogmorton]

Both cancer and the treatment for cancer are brutal. I’m so sorry you’ve had to go through this. ❤Your sharing throughout has been wonderful, clear, smart, honest, and helpful to many. I’m so relieved to see how well you’re healing, and grateful you’ve had med access and a supportive, capable partner. You are a delight!! 🧡💗

PS I can say that I had the same kind of wishing for clarity in the new normal after menopause too. It makes total sense after a confusing stage, and will be easier with the high degree of observation and self-awareness you have.

[jroodenburg]

Dear Sarah, thank you so much for explaining so clearly how Herceptin and Perjeta work.I am just coming to the end of my Chemotherapy journey and starting with the immunotherapy treatment. I have found your videos very helpful and love the way you

[tripdudette]

Hey Sarah, am glad you’re doing well on ‘this’ side of 2b 💪. Thanks for the more scientific deep dive on monoclonal antibody therapies…

For Stage 2a BC ER-pos PR-pos BC (at age 44 @ diagnosis in 2005) I received 4 x A/C 2 weeks apart, then Taxol + Herceptin together weekly for 6 weeks, plus an additional year of Herceptin on its own. Herceptin had just been approved for earlier stages of BC at that time (in the US, where I lived at the time, it was only given to Stage 3&4 Her-2 pos. patients up until then). Her3 wasn’t even discovered at that time.

I have had heart muscle damage but have recovered from it since - just be sure to have regular cardiology follow ups. I wonder if the GI issues may be related to Perjeta alone (Herceptin on its own didn’t cause that for me, but who knows how different our GI tracts are?!).

It’s a relief to see other treatments being available now after MILLIONS upon millions of Euros/$$$ being put in to lengthy & expensive research.

Let’s see if 20 years from now there are faster more accurate treatments to stop all cancers in their tracks without all the nasty side effects 🤞.

Keep on knitting!! 🧶

[jenniferbrighty]

Hi Sarah, I'm so pleased that you're coming to the end of your treatment with a great outcome. 🌞🌞🌞
Take care, stay safe and warm 🤗🌝🔥
Lots of love, Blessings, Healing Vibes and Huge hugs Jen xxxx ❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏🙏🫂🫂🫂🫂🐓🐓

[Tc]

Sarah, Thank you for sharing your information about your treatment side effects. It has been very reassuring and has reduced some of the fear of the unknown. My very best regards!

[glish]

Hi Sarah! Your explanation was very well versed and easy to understand even without a medical background. Thank you for sharing. I have hormone neg, HER2+ stage 2A and I just got done with TCHP chemo and had my 1st round of perjeta and herceptin. I still have 11 more rounds to go. Thank you. Now I know why the doctor recommended both perjeta and herceptin together, because the original plan was just herceptin. Im praying for your fast healing.

[hillarylopes]

Having Crohns disease and under HER2 chemo treatment, I have had severe GI issues, so much so I was rushed to hospital suffering from Hypokalemia (dangerously low potassium) to the point of paralysis. I can't wait for this treatment to be over. Wishing you all the best on your healing.

[jenc]

Thank you for such a great video. I completed my 6 rounds of TCHP this month and will continue with the Herceptin and Perjeta. Instead of getting them through my port I get them as a 10 minute injection in my thigh. The injection is called Phesgo. A lot quicker that way. I’m in the US, and I have a friend also in the US getting IV Herceptin and Perjeta. I wonder why the injection is not used more since it’s a much shorter way of giving it, perhaps an insurance thing?
I have had some heart function issues and had my doses held twice. I will have more frequent echocardiograms and am being followed by a cardiologist and was also started on a heart med for the time being. But my heart function did return right back to normal upon holding the Herceptin for a month. Hopefully, I can finish my whole year of Herceptin.
Thanks again, and I pray for your continued recovery.

[rosygul]

Hi. Thanks for sharing your experience. I was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer which was hormone negative and HER2 positive. I had surgery followed by chemo. Then Herceptin. Before starting chemo my cardiac assessment was normal. By the 3rd dose of Herceptin inj I was very breathless. I did another echocardiography examination and found out that I have developed heart failure and valvular regurgitation. I had to stop Herceptin and now I am on medical treatment for heart failure. In my case it was not the cancer but the treatment for it especially Herceptin that gave me most problem.

[KimTrinhMD]

Thank you for your useful information. My wife was recently diagnosed and your videos are helpful, informative.

[AkshayaSen]

I have completed 10 rounds of phesgo. This video was very clear and informative. Thanks a lot dear❤

[lestalote]

Thank you, Sarah, for your “over-sharing” re the side effects. I am 74 y/o walking a similar journey with triple positive stage 4 BC and a history of Crohn’s, too! This is very helpful!

[DawnDemkowicz]

Thank you for a very thorough explanation of your journey. I too am going thru herceptin treatment after a total mastectomy Her2+ stage 1 grade 3 age 72. Chose this versus chemo plus herceptin.From US & didn't know about perjeta as oncologists & health insurance dont have this as the current approved protocol for our condition.
Best to you.

[MoreThanAPatient]

Sarah, Absolutely loved your explanations and this video. Thank you for putting it together.
I completed my 6th TCHP on 12.4.2024; Just had my 9th HP treatment. I've also been sharing my daily symptoms. I agree that sharing your real experience can only help others going through this. Education can only be a good thing. Again, thank you.
When did your hair start growing post TCHP?

[jennyrose]

Hi Sarah, thanks for the great video. I live on Vancouver island and have just completed my second cycle of chemo and Herceptin/Perjeta (same treatment plan as you). I have lymph node involvement and could not fathom getting treatment without Perjeta. Thankfully my husband has excellent health coverage through work that covers the entire cost of Perjeta (minus $3500 that the drug company will reimburse us for). I am blown away with Canada’s decision to not fund Perjeta. It is a false belief that we have free health care in Canada. I believe we have 3 tier health here: tier 1: The rich will pay for the privatized American healthcare, tier 2: private insurance pays for better treatments (as in my case), tier 3: Canada’s “free” public health, that actually costs Canadians a lot of money (I read 1/3 of all tax dollars go to healthcare).

I wish you much health in the future and thank you for sharing your story!

[rebeccarose]

Thus was very helpul and detailed, thanks for sharing.

[yellowbaby]

Omg thank you for this well explained journey with HP. I was diagnosed with triple positive however our drug path sounds similar. I agree the GI is the worse.

[cangurotto]

Thanks for being so comprehensive, Sarah! I really appreciate it and yes, viewers are looking precisely for all those little details you so generously shared, so it's definitely NOT too much information. It's reassuring as a breast cancer patient to feel heard and seen. You have a natural flair for relaying information in a very clear manner (plus a fantastic Canadian accent which I love!) and it has been very helpful listening to your experience which, so far, has been similar to mine. I'm just about to do my 5th round of full chemo (Docetaxel, Herceptin and Perjeta) and it has been more my upper GI tract that has given me the worst symptoms. Pretty ok, for the most part, in my lower GI tract. Did you experience any watery eyes during your full chemo treatment? Mine just won't stop! Looking forward to putting the full chemo behind me and just getting the surgery done. I have seen your video on your 1 year anniversary and I can't help but wonder: the fact that you're done with your HP regimen now is awesome but how are these continual questions in the comments to your videos affecting you and your mental health? I can't imagine what that would be like. Is that helpful for you to relive or does it maybe make you anxious? Just curious as to the psychological implications of this on you, post NED. Continued blessings to you on your health journey