Herceptin FAQ
What is Herceptin?
It's a medication used alone or with others to treat specific kinds of breast cancer, gastroesophageal junction cancer, and stomach cancer which are HER2 positive.
What is Herceptin (MOA) Mechanism of Action?
By weakening the signal transduction downstream, Herceptin might promote apoptosis and stop cell proliferation. In addition, it flags the tumor cell for destruction through your body's immunity.
Herceptin Dosage
The initial dose is 8 mg as a 90-minute intravenous infusion; then subsequent doses of 6 mg are given over 30 to 90 minutes every 3 weeks.
Cost / Price of Herceptin
A full year course costs around $70,000, or about $4,500 monthly. But many health insurance plans may cover most of the cost.
Herceptin Generic
Its generic trade name is Trastuzumab.
Herceptin Side Effects
The common side effects include the following:
- exhaustion
- joint pain
- diarrhea
- injection site reaction
- upper respiratory tract infection
- rash
- muscle pain
- nausea
- headache
- swelling
- flushing
- cough
- pain in extremity
Herceptin Survival Rate
After 10 years after treatment, women saw a better overall survival rate. 84% of the women who got chemotherapy and Herceptin were still alive.
