Medical Oncologist
Living with Herceptin
Work, Travel and Daily Life — on Trastuzumab
You have just been prescribed trastuzumab and you want to know what the next months will actually look like. For most people, daily life continues — with a three-weekly appointment built in.
Medically reviewed by Dr. T. Raghavender Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS · DM (Medical Oncology) · MD (Radiation Oncology) · Last reviewed August 2026
- Most people keep working — Trastuzumab alone does not cause the same fatigue as chemotherapy, and hair loss is not a typical side effect.
- Travel is possible — The three-week gap between infusions gives you a real window to travel, with some planning.
- Driving is not restricted — Trastuzumab does not affect alertness — most people drive throughout treatment.
- Social life is largely unchanged — Unlike chemotherapy, trastuzumab alone does not significantly lower your white cell count.
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Most people on trastuzumab continue working, travelling, and managing daily life with few restrictions. The main thing to plan around is your infusion schedule — typically every three weeks — and regular heart monitoring. Trastuzumab alone does not suppress your immune system the way chemotherapy does.
Can you keep working during trastuzumab treatment?
Most people continue working throughout trastuzumab. The drug targets the HER2 protein on cancer cells, which means it does not cause the broad cell damage that makes chemotherapy so tiring — hair loss is also not a common side effect of trastuzumab on its own.
You will need time for each infusion appointment. Once the first doses are established, the infusions are shorter, and many people schedule them in the morning and return to work the same afternoon.
If you are receiving trastuzumab alongside chemotherapy, the chemotherapy side effects — not the trastuzumab — are more likely to affect your energy and attendance. Ask your team to be specific about which part of your regimen is likely to affect you most.
Can you travel while having trastuzumab?
Travel between infusions is possible for most people. The three-week interval gives you a genuine window, and the infusion itself does not typically leave you unwell for days afterwards.
The main constraint is timing. If a travel date clashes with an infusion, ask your oncologist in advance — doses can sometimes be moved by a few days, but this needs to be planned rather than assumed.
Inform your travel insurer that you are on active cancer treatment before you buy the policy, not after a problem arises. Carry a signed letter from your oncologist with your diagnosis, the name of your treatment, and your centre's contact details.
How to plan travel around your infusion schedule
Check your infusion dates first
Find out the dates of your next three or four infusions before you book anything. Your treatment centre can print this for you.
Ask whether a dose can shift
If a travel date clashes, ask your oncologist early — the further in advance you ask, the more options they have for rescheduling. Never delay a dose without asking first.
Check your heart-monitoring schedule
Trastuzumab requires regular echocardiograms. If one falls while you are away, ask whether it can be done at another accredited centre near where you will be staying.
Get a treatment letter
Ask your oncologist for a signed letter with your diagnosis, treatment name, and centre contact details. Keep it in your hand luggage, not your checked bag.
Tell your insurer before you leave
Declare your treatment to your travel insurer before purchasing the policy or travelling. Disclosing after an incident occurs is too late for cover to apply.
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Can you drive and socialise normally on trastuzumab?
Trastuzumab does not affect alertness or coordination, and driving is not restricted. Most people drive throughout their treatment without any change to their usual routine.
On your first few infusion days, it is sensible to arrange a lift home until you know how your body responds. Infusion reactions, when they happen, tend to occur during or shortly after the drip rather than hours later — but caution at the start is reasonable.
Social activities are not restricted in the same way as during chemotherapy. Trastuzumab alone does not significantly lower your white cell count, so crowded places are not the same concern. If your regimen includes chemotherapy alongside trastuzumab, ask your team what the right precautions are for your specific treatment.
What to have ready on infusion days
- Your hospital card and a photo identity document
- A written list of all medicines, supplements and herbal preparations you are taking
- A snack and a water bottle
- Something to read, listen to, or watch — infusions take time once set up
- Loose or easy-access clothing for the arm or port site
- The unit's contact number in case you are running late or feel unwell on the way
Did you know?
Because trastuzumab targets the HER2 protein specifically, it does not damage bone marrow the way chemotherapy does.
NCCN guidance notes that the infection-prevention precautions required during myelosuppressive chemotherapy do not apply to trastuzumab alone — which is why most people can continue social activities, eating out, and travel without the same restrictions.
Source: NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology — Breast Cancer
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Can I drink alcohol during trastuzumab treatment?
There is no direct prohibition on alcohol from NCCN or ASCO guidance for trastuzumab alone. The more relevant question is whether you are receiving other drugs alongside it — some chemotherapy agents and supportive medicines interact with alcohol — and whether your liver or heart function is being monitored as part of your treatment. Tell your oncologist what you drink so they can advise based on your full regimen, rather than applying a general rule that may not fit your situation.
Do I need to tell my employer I am on trastuzumab?
You are not required to disclose your diagnosis or treatment name to your employer. Most people on trastuzumab continue working without sharing those details. If you need flexibility for infusion days, it is often enough to say you have a medical appointment every three weeks, without naming the drug or the condition. Whether to say more is a personal decision based on your workplace and what support you may need.
What if I miss an infusion because of travel or illness?
Contact your treatment centre as soon as you know there is a problem — do not skip a dose and resume the following cycle without telling anyone. The sooner you flag a scheduling conflict, the more options your team has for rescheduling. Your oncologist will advise on timing based on where you are in your treatment plan and how much flexibility exists. Missing doses without discussion is what creates the real problem.
Can I exercise during trastuzumab treatment?
Exercise is generally encouraged. ASCO and ESMO guidelines support staying physically active during cancer treatment where possible, because it helps with fatigue, mood and cardiovascular fitness. The specific guidance for you depends on whether your heart monitoring has shown any changes — trastuzumab requires regular echocardiograms precisely because cardiac function is monitored — and whether your regimen includes other treatments that affect your stamina. Ask your oncologist before starting a new or intensive programme.
What symptoms between infusions should I call about?
Mild fatigue, an occasional headache, or a loose stool that settles within a day can wait until your next appointment if they are not worsening. Symptoms that need a same-day call include chest pain, unusual breathlessness, significant leg swelling, a fever, or anything that is getting worse rather than stable. Your treatment centre should give you a contact for between-infusion concerns — if you are unsure whether a symptom warrants a call, the safe answer is to call.