Body odor?

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pebjns
pebjns Member Posts: 14
edited May 2011 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Has anyone ever experienced body odor while on chemo and did anything help? My mom is 7 treatments in for her recurrance and is noticing an ordor (she describes it as being able to smell the chemo drugs) that did not occur the first time she was in chemo over a year ago.

Comments

  • ketziah35
    ketziah35 CSN Member Posts: 1,145
    #2
    B
    I would check with onc,
    B
    I would check with onc, but odor to me may indicate infection. Let me know what you find out.
  • pebjns
    pebjns Member Posts: 14
    #3
    ketziah35 said:

    B
    I would check with onc,
    B
    I would check with onc, but odor to me may indicate infection. Let me know what you find out.

    we see her onc next week and
    we see her onc next week and will be sure to mention it. Thanks
  • abrub
    abrub CSN Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    #4
    My senses became hyper-acute from chemo
    My senses of smell, hearing and taste are more acute since chemo. That could also be a factor.

    I remain extremely sensitive to sound, to the point that I am greatly bothered by sounds that most people don't notice (i.e. the fishtank filter.)
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 CSN Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #5
    Yes
    I've heard of this before, but never experienced it myself. But yes, the smell can come through the skin. Is she on the same chemo as before or something different. Remember that the chemo doesn't go through the stomach and get absorbed, but is inserted in the vein, therefore going through the whole body. Maybe a nice lotion would help counteract the smell.

    Kim
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 CSN Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #6
    Yeah
    I didn't have chemo, but several years ago I took care of a little care who had leukemia. When she was on chemo, I could walk in their house and smell a very strong metallic odor. It was quite odd.

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • Nana b
    Nana b CSN Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    #7
    tootsie1 said:

    Yeah
    I didn't have chemo, but several years ago I took care of a little care who had leukemia. When she was on chemo, I could walk in their house and smell a very strong metallic odor. It was quite odd.

    *hugs*
    Gail

    Yes, I have heard it before.
    Yes, I have heard it before. Someone on this site, said that he daughter could smell it. No one ever told me that they could smell it.
  • John23
    John23 CSN Member Posts: 2,121 Member
    #8
    Pebjns –

    Re:
    ”Has anyone ever experienced body odor while on chemo and did anything help?”

    I did not do “chemo”, but after my extensive surgery, I asked what the terrible odor was,
    and was told that –i- was the only one smelling it (confirmed by the other half).

    So it’s not the “chemo”, I’m told, it’s the after-effects of the anesthesia……

    Maybe; maybe not…. but the senses do become acute after anything radical
    changes. I guess that means via chemical introduction…?

    If only she is smelling it, I would explain to her, that only she is smelling it,
    and provide her with the comfort that no-one else smells it.

    (It worked for me)

    Stay well….

    John
  • ellamenno
    ellamenno Member Posts: 142 Member
    #9
    John23 said:

    Pebjns –

    Re:
    ”Has anyone ever experienced body odor while on chemo and did anything help?”

    I did not do “chemo”, but after my extensive surgery, I asked what the terrible odor was,
    and was told that –i- was the only one smelling it (confirmed by the other half).

    So it’s not the “chemo”, I’m told, it’s the after-effects of the anesthesia……

    Maybe; maybe not…. but the senses do become acute after anything radical
    changes. I guess that means via chemical introduction…?

    If only she is smelling it, I would explain to her, that only she is smelling it,
    and provide her with the comfort that no-one else smells it.

    (It worked for me)

    Stay well….

    John

    Chemo odor
    My ex-husband (now ex) told me he could not only smell my chemo drugs but also taste them when we kissed. Sorry, I hope not TMI. Gosh, maybe that's why we are now divorced!! I was being treated for Hodgkin's with MOPP/ABV.

    Peace, Laurie
  • John23
    John23 CSN Member Posts: 2,121 Member
    #10
    ellamenno said:

    Chemo odor
    My ex-husband (now ex) told me he could not only smell my chemo drugs but also taste them when we kissed. Sorry, I hope not TMI. Gosh, maybe that's why we are now divorced!! I was being treated for Hodgkin's with MOPP/ABV.

    Peace, Laurie

    Hey Laurie ?

    Re:
    ".....My ex-husband (now ex) told me he could not only smell
    my chemo drugs but also taste them when we kissed.
    ....Gosh, maybe that's why we are now divorced!! "

    Of course it was! Divorce is a well documented side-effect of
    chemotherapy !!

    Seriously, there is no end to the problems of western medicine!

    Please note: I did TCM and I'm still married!

    That proves it!

    Stay well and sane. Oh, and don't drink what I drink.
    (or at least, not as much)

    My best,

    John
  • abrub
    abrub CSN Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    #11
    John23 said:

    Hey Laurie ?

    Re:
    ".....My ex-husband (now ex) told me he could not only smell
    my chemo drugs but also taste them when we kissed.
    ....Gosh, maybe that's why we are now divorced!! "

    Of course it was! Divorce is a well documented side-effect of
    chemotherapy !!

    Seriously, there is no end to the problems of western medicine!

    Please note: I did TCM and I'm still married!

    That proves it!

    Stay well and sane. Oh, and don't drink what I drink.
    (or at least, not as much)

    My best,

    John

    Hmmm - I did standard chemo
    and I'm still married.

    We'll need more statistics!
  • ellamenno
    ellamenno Member Posts: 142 Member
    #12
    John23 said:

    Hey Laurie ?

    Re:
    ".....My ex-husband (now ex) told me he could not only smell
    my chemo drugs but also taste them when we kissed.
    ....Gosh, maybe that's why we are now divorced!! "

    Of course it was! Divorce is a well documented side-effect of
    chemotherapy !!

    Seriously, there is no end to the problems of western medicine!

    Please note: I did TCM and I'm still married!

    That proves it!

    Stay well and sane. Oh, and don't drink what I drink.
    (or at least, not as much)

    My best,

    John

    Hey Laurie
    Hey John,

    "Stay well and sane. Oh, and don't drink what I drink.
    (or at least, not as much)"

    Well I do drink what you drink but luckily no one around to tell me I smell!! :)

    Seriously though, the divorce rate is considerably higher when cancer joins the family. I know Sonia has been there and done that and it appears that Buzz is about to as well. Too sad. I so admire the folks here whose relationships grow and even get stronger. I'll drink to that! I can see what they have that my EX and I apparently didn't.

    Peace and Love,
    Laurie

    P.S. I do read all of your posts and appreciate all of that PASSION!!
  • taraHK
    taraHK CSN Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #13
    Me
    I definitely notice this. After I have chemo, I can smell it on my own body. Through the skin? That's how it seems to me. And I can taste it. Luckily, it subsides after about 48 hours.....

    Tara
  • Livingbyfaith
    Livingbyfaith Member Posts: 55
    #14
    body odor
    We were told it was the chemo. Not sure anything can be done.
  • Kathryn_in_MN
    Kathryn_in_MN CSN Member Posts: 1,252 Member
    #15
    Absolutely
    I definitely have body odor that I did NOT have before chemo, when I am on chemo. The first 4 days are by far the worst. It is not normal body odor, and the smell of myself makes me ill. I have to change my sheets after the first couple of days in a tx cycle because of it.

    My urine also smells of chemo for about 5 days.

    The odor is slightly different with FOLFIRI than FOLFOX. Is your mother on different chemo than last time? I did not have the 5-FU this cycle, just Irinotecan and Avastin. And the sweats and body odor were not as bad this time, but I still am bothered by it.

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