Thank you so much! Such a thorough and positive answer!!I was a teacher too, lol

Congratulations on finishing chemo!! Mine was on a three week cycle, and Herceptin was to continue on that same schedule- I was totally exhausted after the last chemo- partly because the end of the school year is always hectic, and I had low red blood/platelet counts again- but since it was the last one, and the counts were borderline- we finished (and then I slept for a few days!).

Moving to the Herceptin only was so much easier. First off, there are no new side effects because usually your targeted drug is part of your chemo cocktail already. The other drugs in the cocktail are meant to zap any traveling cancer cells- but it also zaps any other fast replicating cells- which is why our white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets, hair, nails- etc. all take such a hit. The target drugs- like Herceptin- have a different job- they are meant to block the signals that say time to make more of those wonky cells. So, after you move past the usual chemo side effects, you will find the targeted drug so much easier- at least I did. I started getting my energy back, I felt better, and my hair started coming back- that took a few months but it was tangible proof that my body was moving past the chemo meds. AND to top it off- treatment is a breeze, in and out in no time. I did mine as an infusion- and I was still out in less than an hour.

I finished my active treatment for HER2+ Stage 2, Grade 3, 4+ years ago, and so far, so good. It does feel a bit weird at first not to have those infusions on your schedule, but do something fun with the time you have gotten back- just to remind yourself- to celebrate turning this corner!! Hugs!