got whacked this time

Didn't go to work today cos was still feeling whacked from the herceptin. It's funny. Every time I have a different reaction. Feeling much better now but did take some panados earlier.
But glad I am at home cos spent most of the morning feeling ... well, as if someone had whacked me over the head. Not a headache. Just exhausted. Thought of my colleague who spent three months away from work on sickleave. Don't think he was on his sick bed. Just wasn't at work. Do know he was in hospital for some of that time but really. Decided there was no need to push myself again and again and again....
Here's another great post from Julie Goodale, the cancer exercise fundi from New York whose blog I follow - it really speaks to me! This time it's about a study - well a collation of other studies - about the benefits of exercising post breast cancer.

the latest re herceptin side effects

went for herceptin today, the latest, the 8th out of 17 treatments, and the head nurse who was on leave last time I went, said it's impossible to have those side-effects I had from herceptin last time. She said their patients who do have side effects feel exhausted and have headaches, sometimes terrible headaches. She thinks it must have been something else to make me feel like that. Mmm..

wonder how one stops worrying

People keep saying I look well - I suppose I look better than when I was on chemo but how do I know I am ok? When I got diagnosed, I felt better in all senses - physically and mentally - than I had for years yet I had breast cancer.
Now I don't feel as perfect as I felt then, thanks to side-effects from the medication I am on. The herceptin and tamoxifen combine to make me a little tired, well, pretty tired, especially stamina-wise, the herceptin makes me feel spacey at times and the tamoxifen gives me horrible hot flushes.
Would hate to have the cancer return. That's why I am taking herceptin and tamoxifen but they are not 100% foolproof.
My friend Tania's mom died of cancer on Friday but guess her circumstances were very different.
Would love to know how others feel on herceptin. I was told there were no side-effects until I started having them, The Lymph Lady told me about how most of her patients feel on it, and the oncology centre finally acknowledged that what I was feeling was legit and expected (except for the mouth ulcers which they claim is not from herceptin).

the herceptin mystery unveiled

Finally had herceptin today. When I walked into the reception area, the nurses laughed, about how I have had an appointment almost every day. "You had one yesterday!" said one. "We stopped pencilling it in," said another. All said with smiles on their faces.
Being in that chemo room, this time not having chemo, made me realise how friendly everyone is and how cheerful so many of those chemo patients are. Quite remarkable.
And the staff are exceptional.
I also realised that I need never feel bad about how many times I have phoned them, asking them this and that. It is as much part of their job as administering treatments; they answer queries from patients all day.
So what was herceptin like?
Well, I had forgotten how awful it is to have drip inserted in your hand. And how much it hurts as the liquid goes in. Today it also battled to get into me, and about three times they had to adjust it to ensure it was still dripping. By the end of what was 2 1/2 hours, a double dose to kickstart, I was cold, just like I had been with chemo, and they covered me with a fleece blanket. Orange.
Erica the head nurse told me I might feel shivering - literally, so that my teeth clatter - about eight hours later and that if so, must just get into bed, cover myself with lots of blankets, take panados and go to sleep. And would then feel tired tomorrow.
But she said it might not happen. It's now just over 12 hours since I finished the treatment and that has not happened but must admit, felt pretty awful this afternoon.
And was surprised. Did not expect that. It reminded me of the chemo feeling. Not just a headachy feeling, a yuch feeling. Funny taste in mouth and all that. Ok, ok, not as bad as chemo but after I came home and slept for a while (on a couch in the sun, but indoors), and felt well enough to go to the shops (had to buy nail polish remover and get more hormone pills),rememebered how yuck I used to feel.
So much for the 'flu-like symptoms' i have read about. But do feel ok now (well lying down in front of the heater and not doing much), so guess it's ok. Curious to know how others have felt on herceptin.
Oh, seeing a dietician tomorrow re weight gain on the hormone pill tamoxifen.