Subcutaneous administration of trastuzumab at home: Feedback of patients treated in 2016 by Santé service

In 2013, the European Medicines Agency authorized a new pharmaceutical formulation of the trastuzumab for breast cancer treatment. The latter allows a sub-cutaneous injection that reduces significantly the injection time and permits an administration at home. This study aims to assess the experience of patients treated by trastuzumab subcutaneously at home in 2016, and the experience of the nurses who performed these injections. In 2017, a retrospective survey by phone calls could gather the impressions from 84 patients on their treatment. And 60 nurses answered to a written survey. The whole treatment session is estimated to last 30 minutes to one hour by most of the patients (60%) and the nurses (85%), with an injection duration below 5 minutes (according to 71% of patients and 77% of nurses). The main side effects described were: rash (reported by 40% of patients and 52% of nurses) and pain (32% of patients and 68% of nurses). Among patients feeling pain, it was estimated as brief and weak by two thirds of them. Eighty-six per cent of patients found the session pleasant. The general impression of the nurses was also satisfying for almost all of them (89%). Overall, the feedback about subcutaneous injections of trastuzumab at home is very positive, for patients as for nurses. This new formulation improves quality and comfort in patients’ care.