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Herceptin Breast Cancer Metastatic Treatment

Getting Herceptin therapy

Herceptin (trastuzumab) is usually given at your doctor's office or clinic. You take Herceptin through an intravenous (IV) infusion, which means that the drug comes through a needle that your nurse inserts into a vein. Herceptin can also be given through a central line or a port, which are two different devices placed under the skin to make it easier to receive medications that are given through an infusion. Talk to your doctor about which option is best for you.

The first infusion usually takes about 90 minutes for patients recieving Herceptin for metastatic breast cancer, but it may be slowed or stopped if you experience discomfort from side effects. As long as the prior infusion was well tolerated, later infusions should last about 30 minutes.

Herceptin can be given with other cancer treatments.

Remember, Herceptin is not chemotherapy or hormonal therapy. The potential benefits of Herceptin are in addition to the potential benefits you may receive from surgery, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or radiation therapy. Herceptin is not a substitute for any of these therapies. Talk to your doctor about what therapies are right for you.



Herceptin® (trastuzumab)Herceptin® (trastuzumab)

Adjuvant Care Is defined as additional treatment given after the main treatment plan to decrease the chance of recurrence. Adjuvant therapy for breast cancer can include chemotherapy, hormone therapy, radiation therapy, or biological therapy

Metastatic Breast Cancer Breast cancer that has spread to other sites in the body; also referred to as invasive or infiltrating

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