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Anonymous's avatar
Anonymous
14 years ago

Allergic reaction

Well yesterday afternoon (Saturday) was certainly interesting. I woke up feeling fine. Walked around the house in my nightie for a little bit, then went outside to water my new tomato plants. It was a sunny day and I didnt touch any plants and hadnt eaten anything. I came in to find a terrible rash all up my legs....raised, red, hot and itchy...spreading quickly and joining together over my thighs, shins, buttocks, back. I dont think it was there when I got up, but in a matter of 30 mins it was all over me! I rang the hospital and had to go in through emergency to get seen to. When I got there, I almost feinted and they put me on a bed and took me through for treatment. They are uncertain what the allergic reaction was to.....the chemo? the herceptin? something else?...they aren't sure. The doctors said that if it was a reaction to the medication, it was certainly a delayed one! He thought if i was going to have a reaction it would've been much earlier than that.

So now I must go back to my Oncologist and explain what happened. I am scared because I dont know what they'll do now...will they stop the chemo as a precautionery measure? will they offer me an alternative chemo...something that is not as good? or will they give it another go to see if it was infact the chemo/hercpetin causing the reaction? I dont know.

Has anyone had a reaction like this, 2 days later? When having both meds I felt fine...no reactions whatsoever. It's really weird! Celeste xx

  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    Thank you Krause, very interesting to know that an allergic reaction is common! Hope you are coping ok with Taxotere...its a tough gig my fellow warrior! Celeste?

  • krause's avatar
    krause
    Member
    13 years ago

    I've now had 3 rounds of Taxotere.  The first time I had a mild reaction ( some throat irritation, slight cough, pain in kidneys) however this subsided as the treatment continued.  My second round was another matter though! I went into anaphylactic shock and treatment was ceased while I had oxygen and some IV antihistamines.  After about 45mins treatment was re-started and I was OK.  One week later, I developed acute hayfever symptoms and skin rashes to various parts of my body (namely groin, stomach, ankles but the worst being on my scalp and nape of my neck).  Basically I lived on daily antihistamines until I went back for my third treatment.

    Fortunately they did things differently the third time round and dosed me up with antihistamines before starting the Taxotere.  Things went OK.

    Unfortunately the skin allergies and hayfever have persisted....

    To all the amazing women who have problems with this drug, hang in there.

    My onclolgist told me it's quite common to have allergic reactions to taxotere and that medical practitioners have been lobbying the company to produce a non allergic product (which is apparently possible) but the company is not interested in releasing it.

    Cheers Krause

  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Hi Joy, yes maybe a delayed reaction is possible...I dont know. It wasn't an anaphylactic reaction as I didnt get the swollen face, lips and breathing diffficulties (I've had these type of reactions to other things previously), but it was certainly severe enough to be a worry. If it was just a fine red rash I wouldn't have bothered with it, but the fact that it was looking as though it was going to be an anaphylactic reaction made me panic and make my way to the hospital. Yes, perhaps it was an environmental thing too...? who knows? Oh well, I'm sure it will be sorted out before my next treatment. Take care, Celeste xx

  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Hi Chris, yes a rash is apparently common with some types of chemo, however this was quite an unusual allergic reaction that happened fairly quickly. I have booked in to see my Oncologist before my next lot of chemo is due to discuss further. The hospital gave me loratidine (like clarantyne i think) and I took that for a few days...so far no more rash. Its funny but the rash seemed to disappear as quickly as it came up...very bizarre! It wouldn't bother me to get a fine rash with any of my treatment...a small price to pay I say....but this was burning red and unsightly....like mozzie bites or welts that all joined together and raised from the surface...very hard to ignore. Anyway, I'm hoping it doesnt happen again. Perhaps they will alter the treatment or give me some antihistamine or something prior to the next treatment..? Bye for now, Celeste xx

  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Hi Tonya, yes it was all a bit weird, but definately an allergic reaction. Like you  I ended up with big welts all over my legs and thighs, spreading to my back and arms. It all happened very quickly though which is strange. I'm not sure what my Oncologist will do, but I have booked in to see her before my next chemo/herceptin is due. I'd be happy to give the exact same chemo/herceptin another go, just out of curiousity to see if it happens again....but I'm not sure what they'll decide to do. Apart from the hiccup on Saturday all is good, so lets hope it was just a one off. Take care, Celeste xx

  • Chris's avatar
    Chris
    Member
    14 years ago
    Hi Celeste, I hope your allergic reaction is starting to settle down. I also developed a rash while having taxotere and cyclophosphamide. Not sure what chemo you were taking. I didn't get the rash on the first cycle, but it developed on the second day of my second cycle. It wasn't as bad as yours, but I was covered in a fine rash all over my body, arms and legs. It wasn't itichy. I rang the chemo ward and was told to take a claratyne tablet. I did this for a few days, and the rash went. For the remaining 2 cycles of chemo, I took a claratyne just to be sure nothing got worse. I've just gone back over my notes that I took during my chemo, and I haven't mentioned it again, but have a feeling I did get a vey fine rash with these cycles, but it was less intense than the second day of the second cycle. All the product info the Dr gave me about these drugs suggest that a rash is common, however yours did sound quite severe and a call to your oncologist sounds like a good idea. I hope the next few days will treat you kindly. Love Chris xx