A part of one of my tumors was HER2+, and the rest were triple negative. Because I had some HER2+, Herceptin is part of my regimen. I had Herceptin infusions every 3 weeks during my neoadjuvant (pre-surgery) chemo, and continue to have them every three weeks for a year.
A lot of people are nervous when they find out they have to have Herceptin infusions for a YEAR. I was too! But I'm here to report that, at least for me and most other people, it has no side effects. When I received it with other chemo, I wasn't sure. But now that I'm just getting Herceptin by itself, I can assure you it's easy!
Here's what happens: I go in to the infusion suite every three weeks. The first time I went after surgery, my infusion was over a longer period, about 90 minutes. This is to check for an allergic reaction. After that infusion, the rest have been over a period of 30 minutes. The nurse takes my blood pressure and temperature, flushes my port, hooks me up to fluids, and then the Herceptin. I'm usually in and out in an hour or less. Unlike AC/Taxol chemo, I don't have to get steroids or benadryl, so I can drive myself.
Thought that might be reassuring to those of you finding out you need Herceptin over a longer period of time.