Herceptin® at Home service
The Herceptin® at Home service offers breast cancer patients, who are assessed as suitable, the choice of receiving their treatment in the comfort of their own homes.
All treatment is carried out under the direction of your own consultant. The first two cycles of treatment will be carried out in hospital. If you are identified as suitable, you will then be offered the choice of receiving further treatment cycles in your own home.
Hospitals taking part in this service are Queen Elizabeth Hospital, City Hospital, Heartlands Hospital and Good Hope Hospital in Birmingham, Sandwell Hospital and Solihull Hospital.
How do I know if I am suitable for treatment at home?
You consultant will carry out a medical assessment to see if you are suitable for home treatment. If you are and you wish to, you can then have your treatment at home from the third cycle onwards.
How does the Herceptin® at Home service work?
A member of the Herceptin® at Home team will contact you to arrange to visit at a time that is convenient to you, to discuss your treatment and how it will be provided.
You will plan the dates for treatments over the coming weeks and months. It is important that these dates remain unchanged wherever possible. It is also important to tell the team of any hospital plans or hospital appointments in advance.
Each time your treatment is due, your nurse will telephone you before the date to confirm the time they will be arriving. Just like in hospital, the treatment will be given according to your doctor’s instructions. Your doctor will be kept up to date with how you are getting on, and that your treatment is being completed as planned.
Please remember that you can choose, at any time, to go back to hospital for your treatment.
Why should I choose to have my treatment at home?
Providing treatment in the home ensures that patients get high quality care, in a less stressful environment, at a time that is convenient for them and allows them to lead a normal a life as possible.
If I feel unwell…
The nurse will explain to you how you can expect to feel whilst on treatment. If you feel unwell in any way, even if it is not related to your treatment, you should seek medical advice right away.
Whom do I contact?
Your Herceptin® at Home team nurse will explain to you whom you should contact first. The team works five days a week from 8am to 6pm. There is also a Care Bureau that provides a 24 hour on call service every day of the year to give any advice that you may need and can be contacted on 0800 030 43 00.
On the first visit from your nurse, a printed copy of the instructions and contact details for the team will be left in the file in your home.
