Hi everyone, i started my first AC chemo this week post lumpectomy for grade 3 hormonal positive BC (Unfortunately I had anaphylactic reaction to the doxorubicin (red devil ! ) and needed HDU. My team is now transferring my care to a city hospital with allergy specialists and ICU support to consider a chemotherapy desensitisation. Has anyone had a similar experience?and how did you go about. Don’t meant to scary anyone else , as everyone has a different experience.Thanks
It is good that they are being so careful with you Nm80 xx. Better to have the experts around in case there is a serious attack xx
My husband had an allergic response to his first chemo - but not a full anaphylactic response (we had epipens everywhere!) and they backed off the chemo for an hour or so & monitored him before starting it again. He was fine after that first one.
BUT, having said that ... I have 2 friends who have lost a close family member (brother and husband) to a bad immunotherapy 'reaction/allergy' after just 1 or 2 doses .... and that is NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
So if it was ever offered to ME - I would demand a 25% solution first up, then maybe a 50% for the 2nd one before gradually going up to the 100% solution - exactly so I could 'test it' first for possible allergic reactions/sd effects. They just don't know WHO is going to have a BAD reaction to any of these treatments, sadly - or why.
They really DO need to do 'something' to address this issue, as, altho the number of deaths may be 'small' (after 1 or 2 doses) ... they are still someone's Dad, husband and/or brother and the loss is real. :(
Take care & all the best for your continuing treatment xx
I've just remembered that I should have also mentioned that he was on a LESSER dose himself, as it was considered 'palliative chemo' due to his age and cancer stage. Sadly, it got him in the end :(
WowNm80 I’ve heard of desensitising to other allergies so it’s obviously possible. How far do you have to travel to get to this city hospital.
by the way welcome to the club of Breast Cancers fighters. Try the search Bar at the top something from the past might crop up. I’m afraid my only reaction to all the various treatments has been an itch that wont scratch. Antihistamine fixes that. And mouth and nose sores which comes and goes I’m way down the track of treatment.
If you’re rural or have to travel a distance there are government subsidies- depends on the State you live in to level of help.
I’ve been a bit out of touch on here lately just starting to catch up. Hopefully someone can jump on with some more direct help. Hopefully you have been appointed a breast care Nurse of some sort. They are usually the best source of information and
NEVER EVER dr google, go to the reputable sites like cancer council and here. Check out the various podcast on here as well.
Thankscranky_granny for your feedback, my travel is not too bad to city for now . Im linked with great medical team and breast nurses, was just seeing if others in This group did do challenge and how it went. Resources here has been helpful. Hope you well .
