Impressive Survival Gains With New First
According to recent findings, the combination of targeted agents Herceptin and Perjeta significantly improves survival for patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer when added to chemotherapy. This data was presented at the 2014 European Society for Medical Oncology Congress in Madrid, Spain, September 2630.
To evaluate the combination of Herceptin and Perjeta plus chemotherapy with Taxotere® as first-line therapy for patients with HER2-postive metastatic breast cancer, researchers have conducted a Phase III clinical study called the CLEOPATRA trial. This trial included 808 patients, who were assigned to receive Herceptin and Perjeta plus chemotherapy or Herceptin-only plus chemotherapy.
In early follow-up, the combination of Herceptin and Perjeta plus chemotherapy appeared promising: patients in this group experienced improved progression-free and overall survival, and overall survival continued to improved at the next follow-up.
Now that final overall survival results are available, the combination of Herceptin and Perjeta plus chemotherapy still appears more effective than Herceptin-only plus chemotherapy. At last follow-up, median overall survival was over 15 months longer in the Perjeta group: over 56 months versus just over 40 months for the Herceptin-only group. In addition, the researchers found no previously unknown safety concerns for this treatment combination.
References:
Increased Risk Of Getting An Infection
Increased risk of getting an infection is due to a drop in white blood cells. Symptoms include a change in temperature, aching muscles, headaches, feeling cold and shivery and generally unwell. You might have other symptoms depending on where the infection is.
Infections can sometimes be life threatening. You should contact your advice line urgently if you think you have an infection.
Warning Disclaimer Use For Publication
WARNING: Please DO NOT STOP MEDICATIONS without first consulting a physician since doing so could be hazardous to your health.
DISCLAIMER: All material available on eHealthMe.com is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment provided by a qualified healthcare provider. All information is observation-only. Our phase IV clinical studies alone cannot establish cause-effect relationship. Different individuals may respond to medication in different ways. Every effort has been made to ensure that all information is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. The use of the eHealthMe site and its content is at your own risk.
If you use this eHealthMe study on publication, please acknowledge it with a citation: study title, URL, accessed date.
Also Check: How To Treat Hair Thinning Male
Herceptin And Hair Loss/ Slow Growth
Hiya Is anyone on herceptin and noticed hair loss or slow hair growth?I started to get my hair back after chemo but never recovered my eyebrow’s although lashes did come back?It’s all very strange why some hair would come back but not another?I have noticed my hair falling out YET again and I am nearly finished herceptin,my trial nurse has also noticed my hair is falling out again.S E List Herceptin doesn’t USUALLY cause hair loss usually!Thats no good to me is it? when it’s falling out again!I saw someone who was 6 months behind me well I couldn’t believe her hair! it was 4 times thicker than mine and twice as long it’s not fair.Has anyone else experienced anything similar?xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxCaronxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
What Kind Of Drug Is Perjeta
In some cases, health care professionals may use the trade name Perjeta when referring to the generic drug name Pertuzumab. Drug Type: Pertuzumab is an anti-cancer chemotherapy drug. This medication is classified as an antineoplastic agent and a monoclonal antibody.
Also Check: How To Deal With Postpartum Hair Loss
What Are The Most Common Side Effects
The most common side effects of PERJETA when given with Herceptin and chemotherapy as part of an early breast cancer regimen before surgery are:
- Constipation
- Damage to the nerves
- Diarrhea
- Low levels of red blood cells
- Low levels of white blood cells with or without fever
- Low platelet count
- Weakness
Side effects may vary based on chemotherapy regimen.
The most common side effects of PERJETA when given with Herceptin and chemotherapy as part of an early breast cancer regimen after surgery are:
- Diarrhea
- Damage to the nerves
- Vomiting
The most common side effects of PERJETA when given with Herceptin and docetaxel for treatment of breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body are:
- Diarrhea
- Low levels of white blood cells with or without fever
- Nausea
How Does Herceptin Work
Herceptin is the brand name of the targeted cancer drug trastuzumab.
Its a biologic drug used to treat cancers that have large amounts of the protein HER2 . These HER2-positive cancers include:
- early breast cancer
- metastatic breast cancer
- metastatic gastric cancer
The HER2 protein in some breast and gastric cancers makes the cancer cells grow and divide. Herceptin attaches to the HER2 receptors on the surface of the cancer cells, which blocks the cells from receiving growth signals. As a result, growth is slowed or stopped.
Herceptin is administered intravenously . It takes around 90 minutes to administer the first dose of Herceptin and around 30 to 90 minutes for all other doses.
Also Check: What Chemical In Shampoo Causes Hair Loss
Side Effects Requiring Immediate Medical Attention
Along with its needed effects, pertuzumab may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking pertuzumab:
More common
Applies to pertuzumab: intravenous solution
Re: Herceptin And Hair Loss/ Slow Growth
My wife was diagnosed with HER2 in November 2020. The tumor was removed 12/4/20 and we started chemo the second week of January 2021. The doctor’s told us she would start losing hair on day 14 and that is exactly what happened. I know it’s scary, but you WILL get through this. We are on the other side of it now, her hair is grown back slowly and know it looks like a pixie cut. She looks super cute in her short hair too!
Recommended Reading: How To Cure Hair Loss Naturally
Before Receiving Pertuzumab Injection
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to pertuzumab injection, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in pertuzumab injection. Ask your doctor for a list of the ingredients.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
- tell your doctor if you have ever been treated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
- tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
- if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are receiving pertuzumab injection.
What You Need To Know About Hair Loss
If your condition is not due to a hormonal imbalance, your doctor may recommend treatment that includes topical corticosteroids. Topical corticosteroids may lead to red or puffy face and can reduce your immune systems ability to fight infection. In some cases, fungal infections, such as tinea capitis, can lead to hair loss. Fortunately, you can take antifungal medications to treat it and get a full head of hair again.
Hair loss is a normal part of aging, and there is no need to worry. In fact, it is perfectly normal for most people to lose a bit of hair every day, and it will grow back eventually. Some men and women experience hair loss as they age, while others simply have a genetic predisposition to the problem. If youre experiencing a lack of hair, you may have a weakened immune system, which can lead to hair loss.
For more severe cases of hair loss, a dermatologist may recommend a hair transplant. This procedure involves a surgeon removing plugs of hair from your scalp. It may take several hours and multiple sessions to complete the process. Its an invasive treatment, and may not be the best option for everyone. Your doctor will need to examine your scalp to determine the cause of your condition. In addition to a healthy diet, your doctor may recommend taking supplements of various vitamins and minerals.
Don’t Miss: What Is The Best Shampoo For Women’s Hair Loss
Pregnancy And Breastfeeding While Receiving Herceptin
Heres some information about pregnancy, breastfeeding, and Herceptin.
Pregnancy
Herceptin should not be used while pregnant and for at least 7 months after the last dose of the drug. Be sure to use birth control during this time. Herceptin may harm a fetus, and this could include pregnancy loss. In fact, Herceptin has a boxed warning about this risk. This is a serious warning from the FDA.
If you can become pregnant, your doctor will have you take a pregnancy test before you start receiving Herceptin. This is to make sure youre not pregnant when you start treatment.
The manufacturer of Herceptin, Genentech, has a pregnancy monitoring program to gather information on the use of the drug during pregnancy. If you become pregnant during your Herceptin treatment or within 7 months of your last dose, consider calling Genentech at 888-835-2555.
If youre pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk with your doctor. They can suggest treatments other than Herceptin.
Breastfeeding
Its not known whether its safe to breastfeed while youre being treated with Herceptin. Its also not known whether the drug is present in human breast milk.
If youre breastfeeding or thinking about it, talk with your doctor. They can review the risks and benefits of Herceptin treatment and advise you on healthy feeding options for your child.
As An Injection Under The Skin
You might have trastuzumab as an injection under the skin, on the upper, outer part of your leg. The injection takes about 2 to 5 minutes.
It is important that your nurse changes which leg you have your injection in each time, to stop the area getting sore. They will check you for side effects for a few hours after the injection.
Also Check: What To Do With Hair Thinning
Skin And Nail Problems
Skin and nail problems include a skin rash, dry, itching and darker skin. Your nails may also become brittle, dry, change colour or develop ridges. This usually goes back to normal when you finish treatment.
Rarely, you might develop a raised, red, itchy rash which looks like a nettle rash. This is known as hives. Let your healthcare team know if this happens as you might be able to have medicine to help.
The Initial Causes Does Pertuzumab Cause Hair Loss
The main cause of hair loss is stress. While most of us shed about 50 to 100 strands of hair daily, we also continue to grow new ones at the same rate. This shedding is normal, and its perfectly natural to replace lost hair with new ones. However, if youre losing hair that is excessively slow or isnt growing back, youre experiencing hair fall. There are many possible causes for this condition, but theres no one single solution.
Tinea capitis, also known as scalp ringworm, is a fungal infection that affects the scalp. Symptoms include bald spots and patches of hair loss. Infection may be caused by fungus, and scaly, red patches may develop. In severe cases, sores may develop on the scalp and oozing pus may be present. Treatment with a prescription may be necessary, but the long-term results of taking these medications are not always permanent.
In some cases, temporary hair loss may be the result of a hormonal imbalance. While some women experience hair loss due to hormonal fluctuations, others may experience permanent loss of hair. These changes can be caused by hormones in the body, such as those produced by the thyroid or by the adrenal glands. In severe cases, the loss of hair is caused by medical conditions. Inflammatory diseases can cause an excess of androgen, a male hormone. High levels of vitamin A in the blood and in the body can also result in hair thinning.
Recommended Reading: Can Your Thyroid Cause Hair Loss
Perjeta Approved For The Treatment Of Advanced Her2 Breast Cancer
The FDA has approved Perjeta® for the treatment of HER2-positive, metastatic breast cancer. The drug is approved for use in combination with Herceptin® and docetaxel chemotherapy in patients who have not received prior anti-HER2 therapy or chemotherapy for metastatic disease.
Perjeta is given intravenously and targets a different part of the HER2 protein than Herceptin. Since the two drugs target different regions of HER2, they are believed to work in a way that is complementary to each other.
The approval was based on data from the “CLEOPATRA” clinical trial an international, phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study that involved 808 patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. Patients were randomly assigned to receive treatment with Perteja/Herceptin/docetaxel or Herceptin/docetaxel/placebo. The results indicated that patients who received the addition of Perjeta to Herceptin/docetaxel lived longer without their cancer getting worse. The initial report demonstrated a median progression-free survival in the Perjeta group of 18.5 months compared to 12.4 months in the placebo group.
Wait On The Wig Especially Since Its Summer
I have a wig that I wore exactly one day. I hated it. I kept thinking it was creeping down my forehead. I didnât like the itchiness. I didnât think it looked like me. And I canât even imagine how hot it would be â my one day was in the middle of winter. I went instead to scarves and hats â headcovers.com has a lot of really cute, fairly inexpensive hats designed to come lower on the head than conventional hats, so they really cover where the hair should be. Dangling earrings are great with both hats and scarves. And with bald, too.
Donât spend money on a wig, unless you know you want one and want to get an expensive one. If you really want one, the American Cancer Society and other organizations will give you an inexpensive model. ACS even has a catalog. You can order the style and color you want. My hospital has an ACS social worker who handled everything.
Good luck!
Donât Miss: Can Candida Cause Hair Loss
Don’t Miss: Does Blocking Dht Stop Hair Loss
Herceptin Use With Other Drugs
Herceptin is often used with other medications, including chemotherapy or other targeted therapies, to treat breast cancer or gastric cancer.
Herceptin may be used at the same time as the following drugs, or after youve completed treatment with them:
- capecitabine
Herceptin can interact with several other medications. Different interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some interactions can interfere with how well a drug works. Other interactions can increase side effects or make them more severe.
Herceptin For Gastric Cancer
Herceptin is FDA-approved for the treatment of gastric cancer. Its also FDA-approved to treat gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. This is a form of cancer that develops where your stomach meets your esophagus . Because its similar to cancer that forms in your stomach, its often treated in the same ways as gastric cancer.
Effectiveness for gastric cancer
A study of people with metastatic stomach cancer or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma compared standard chemotherapy treatment to standard chemotherapy treatment plus Herceptin. Survival rates were better when Herceptin was included in the treatment.
Don’t Miss: How To Stop Seasonal Hair Loss