Went for my second round of taxotere, carboplatin, and herceptin today.reaction!

mberg
mberg Member Posts: 62
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I am new on here and wondered if anyone else had my same issue. This is my second round of all three drugs together, taxotere first. After running for a few minutes got short of breath and very flushed.The nurse stopped it right away, and gave me some meds. I have to go back tomorrow after taking 20 mg of steroids tonight and tomorrow am. What happens if I get the same reaction? Doe anyone know? Thanks
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Comments

  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    Hey Mberg
    So sorry mberg, but, I never had chemo. Others here have and will post their experience.

    But, you need to make sure that your oncologist and nurses know what is going on with you. They will keep an eye on you and if you have a bad reaction, they will be right there to help you.

    Just stay calm, do what they say and I wish you good luck.

    Let us know how day 2 is.

    Hugs, Noel
  • elm3544
    elm3544 Member Posts: 748
    could be an allergic
    could be an allergic reaction. In that case they would have to give you something different. I am on Taxotere also and what you described is one of the allergic reactions they have listed. Good luck to you, I hope all goes well tomorrow.
  • mberg
    mberg Member Posts: 62
    elm3544 said:

    could be an allergic
    could be an allergic reaction. In that case they would have to give you something different. I am on Taxotere also and what you described is one of the allergic reactions they have listed. Good luck to you, I hope all goes well tomorrow.

    Thanks for your response, I wonder what other drug they can use? My first found of taxotere went fine!!!I am so nervous!Wish me luck!
  • sunnygirl
    sunnygirl Member Posts: 57 Member
    allergic reaction
    I didn't have taxotere--but I did have taxol--which is in the same family.

    I received an infusion of benedryl before each taxol drip---to prevent the allergic reaction, which can occur with this drug.

    The first infusion went very slowly--and I was closely monitored for a reaction, which didn't happen.

    The benedryl pretty much knocked me out, by the way. La-La Land!!

    Hope this helps and good luck with your treatments. Cheryl
  • scout5000
    scout5000 Member Posts: 94 Member
    I had Taxol
    which is in the same family as Taxotere. The nurse has all kinds of ways to deal with allergic reactions, which are fairly common. They can increase your Benedryl and add more steroids to your IV pretreatments. My treatments took 8 hours because they had to drip it very slowly to prevent reactions. The Benedryl will make you sleep, which is a very pleasant side effect. I always took Xanax before chemo to help me relax, onco prescribed this for me when I requested it. Your nurse will take care of you. Sending you positive vibes.
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    scout5000 said:

    I had Taxol
    which is in the same family as Taxotere. The nurse has all kinds of ways to deal with allergic reactions, which are fairly common. They can increase your Benedryl and add more steroids to your IV pretreatments. My treatments took 8 hours because they had to drip it very slowly to prevent reactions. The Benedryl will make you sleep, which is a very pleasant side effect. I always took Xanax before chemo to help me relax, onco prescribed this for me when I requested it. Your nurse will take care of you. Sending you positive vibes.

    It could be an allergic
    It could be an allergic reaction. Let the oncologist and nurse know.
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    mberg said:

    Thanks for your response, I wonder what other drug they can use? My first found of taxotere went fine!!!I am so nervous!Wish me luck!

    Sorry Mberg. Just be sure
    Sorry Mberg. Just be sure and tell the doctor and nurses and please don't be nervous. You are killing the cancer in you. And, that is good!

    Good luck!
  • LRM216
    LRM216 Member Posts: 26
    It may just be an allergic reaction...
    But there is usually a reason why. I get just the taxotere, and my chemo nurse says it must be dripped really, really slow. Perhaps they did it too fast? Good luck, God bless.

    Linda
  • Bev1969
    Bev1969 Member Posts: 48
    I am getting Cytoxan and
    I am getting Cytoxan and Taxotere. They told me that a lot of people are allergic to Taxotere and the first two times they give it at a slower drip because it allows the body to adjust to it. After the first two times most people don't have problems with it. However, Monday I had my third treatment and like you I got very flushed and started feeling really wierd. My husband ran and got the nurse and they stopped it and gave me some Benadryl and something else (I don't remember the name). Then they started the Taxotere again and I was fine. I assume next time they will give me the extra Benadryl again before they start the Taxotere. Maybe you can ask if Benadryl will help you.
  • Christmas Girl
    Christmas Girl Member Posts: 3,682 Member
    Welcome, mberg
    Glad you found us, though regretful for the reason.

    My chemo was different - so, cannot specifically address your question. Other than to echo what others have already stated. Never, ever hesitate to immediately and honestly inform your chemo nurse of anything that seems even slightly amiss. All throughout treatment, including the days in between.

    Sincerely hoping things go better for you tomorrow. Visit often - we're all here to support and encourage each other.
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member

    Welcome, mberg
    Glad you found us, though regretful for the reason.

    My chemo was different - so, cannot specifically address your question. Other than to echo what others have already stated. Never, ever hesitate to immediately and honestly inform your chemo nurse of anything that seems even slightly amiss. All throughout treatment, including the days in between.

    Sincerely hoping things go better for you tomorrow. Visit often - we're all here to support and encourage each other.

    Hi Mberg and Welcome to the
    Hi Mberg and Welcome to the site! Sorry you are here because of bc.

    It does sound like an allergic reaction. Be sure and tell them about it and anything else that happens to you during chemo.

    Post often!
  • tommaseena
    tommaseena Member Posts: 1,769
    DianeBC said:

    Hi Mberg and Welcome to the
    Hi Mberg and Welcome to the site! Sorry you are here because of bc.

    It does sound like an allergic reaction. Be sure and tell them about it and anything else that happens to you during chemo.

    Post often!

    It happens
    It happened to a few people when I was receiving my treatment. The nurse explained to me before my second treatment of Taxol that it is like a bee sting--you may not get a reaction the first time but the second time you may. I ddid not have a reaction but the ones that I saw having reactions were short of breathe and some got low back pain or abdominal pain and they stopped it and then started the drip again very slow and a nurse was always there with each of us getting our second dose.

    Margo
  • Julie777
    Julie777 Member Posts: 1
    taxotere
    Hi mberg,
    I am new here. I too am on taxotere. I had my 3rd round. I had been flushed, with lots of hot flashes. It has a lot of side of effects. What you are experiencing is normal. I am on steroids. I take two pills the day before, the day of chemo, and the day after chemo. I had a lot of swelling. On my third round, they gave me some drugs that would make me sleepy, and keep the swelling down. I did a lot better on my third treatment than I did my first two. Please inform your Doctor when you are feeling sick. They are there to help you. I have a great Doctor who listens to me. I am not afraid to say what is going on. The steroids will help you a lot. It keeps you from having a reaction. You may need to take something for your heartburn. I am taking a prescription of Famotidine. It really helps my heartburn a lot. I cannot say anything good about taxotere. It is nasty stuff, and it is hard on the body. I promise you, when you are on your steroids, the side affects shouldn't be too bad. You should feel tired. You may have heartburn from the steroids, you should feel flushed with hot flashes. You may have some itchy in hands and feet. This is normal. I take blackcoash for hot flashes. You can get that at wal-mart. It is fine to take. It won't hurt you. My Doctor says that's great. Keep a fan by you, if you are really hot. Please know, after a few days, you will start to feel better again. You are not alone in this. If you would like to write me, I would be glad to talk with you more. How many more treatments do you have? I have one more. If you are swollen, that too is normal. Your swelling will go down in a few days too. Please sleep if you need too. Try to drink a lot. The more you can go to the bathroom, the more you are getting rid of the taxotere. When you are on the steroids make sure you drink 8 ounce glass of water, juice, anything that you can get down, every hour and a half. You need your counts up for chemo. One lady didn't get to have her chemo, because she didn't have a enough fluids in her. She said, she drank 8 glasses of water, and it was not enough. Make sure too you drink 8 glasses of something during your treatment. You need to go to the bathroom to get rid of the taxotere. They told me I had to go and least during both my chemo bags. I go about 4 times when I am having chemo. It helps too. When you have your next treatment, I hope you will try some of these things. Please let me know if you do, and please let me know, if it helped you. I don't want you to be so sick. You shouldn't be sick, you should be tired. I hope you are feeling better.
    Take care.
    Julie777
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    Julie777 said:

    taxotere
    Hi mberg,
    I am new here. I too am on taxotere. I had my 3rd round. I had been flushed, with lots of hot flashes. It has a lot of side of effects. What you are experiencing is normal. I am on steroids. I take two pills the day before, the day of chemo, and the day after chemo. I had a lot of swelling. On my third round, they gave me some drugs that would make me sleepy, and keep the swelling down. I did a lot better on my third treatment than I did my first two. Please inform your Doctor when you are feeling sick. They are there to help you. I have a great Doctor who listens to me. I am not afraid to say what is going on. The steroids will help you a lot. It keeps you from having a reaction. You may need to take something for your heartburn. I am taking a prescription of Famotidine. It really helps my heartburn a lot. I cannot say anything good about taxotere. It is nasty stuff, and it is hard on the body. I promise you, when you are on your steroids, the side affects shouldn't be too bad. You should feel tired. You may have heartburn from the steroids, you should feel flushed with hot flashes. You may have some itchy in hands and feet. This is normal. I take blackcoash for hot flashes. You can get that at wal-mart. It is fine to take. It won't hurt you. My Doctor says that's great. Keep a fan by you, if you are really hot. Please know, after a few days, you will start to feel better again. You are not alone in this. If you would like to write me, I would be glad to talk with you more. How many more treatments do you have? I have one more. If you are swollen, that too is normal. Your swelling will go down in a few days too. Please sleep if you need too. Try to drink a lot. The more you can go to the bathroom, the more you are getting rid of the taxotere. When you are on the steroids make sure you drink 8 ounce glass of water, juice, anything that you can get down, every hour and a half. You need your counts up for chemo. One lady didn't get to have her chemo, because she didn't have a enough fluids in her. She said, she drank 8 glasses of water, and it was not enough. Make sure too you drink 8 glasses of something during your treatment. You need to go to the bathroom to get rid of the taxotere. They told me I had to go and least during both my chemo bags. I go about 4 times when I am having chemo. It helps too. When you have your next treatment, I hope you will try some of these things. Please let me know if you do, and please let me know, if it helped you. I don't want you to be so sick. You shouldn't be sick, you should be tired. I hope you are feeling better.
    Take care.
    Julie777

    I want to welcome you
    I want to welcome you Julie777 and to wish you good luck with your treatment!

    Hugs, Diane ♥
  • rjjj
    rjjj Member Posts: 1,822 Member
    DianeBC said:

    I want to welcome you
    I want to welcome you Julie777 and to wish you good luck with your treatment!

    Hugs, Diane ♥

    Julie777
    Glad you found us and welcome. Keep posting, and I wish you all the best.
    Hugs, Jackie
  • rjjj
    rjjj Member Posts: 1,822 Member
    Hi mberg
    I also had taxtere, carboplatin, and herceptin, and am stll on Herceptin for the rest of the year. I always had steroids, claritin,and anti-nausea meds before the chemo started. I remember getting flushed and hot flashes at times..at first..but they would stop it for a few minutes and then continue, this only happened the first couple of times. Most of the time I slept through it all. I think the claritin made me really sleepy.

    If you do have a reaction, they may switch you to another drug. I hope it went better the next time.Let us know.
    hugs, jackie
  • Akiss4me
    Akiss4me Member Posts: 2,188
    rjjj said:

    Hi mberg
    I also had taxtere, carboplatin, and herceptin, and am stll on Herceptin for the rest of the year. I always had steroids, claritin,and anti-nausea meds before the chemo started. I remember getting flushed and hot flashes at times..at first..but they would stop it for a few minutes and then continue, this only happened the first couple of times. Most of the time I slept through it all. I think the claritin made me really sleepy.

    If you do have a reaction, they may switch you to another drug. I hope it went better the next time.Let us know.
    hugs, jackie

    Mberg and Julie
    Just wanted to say welcome and glad you found us!!
    Pammy
  • tommaseena
    tommaseena Member Posts: 1,769
    rjjj said:

    Hi mberg
    I also had taxtere, carboplatin, and herceptin, and am stll on Herceptin for the rest of the year. I always had steroids, claritin,and anti-nausea meds before the chemo started. I remember getting flushed and hot flashes at times..at first..but they would stop it for a few minutes and then continue, this only happened the first couple of times. Most of the time I slept through it all. I think the claritin made me really sleepy.

    If you do have a reaction, they may switch you to another drug. I hope it went better the next time.Let us know.
    hugs, jackie

    Claritin or Benedryl
    Jackie,
    When I was going through chemo treatment they always gave me steroids, Benedryl and anti acid for nausea. Never gave me Claritin. Usually it is the Benedryl that makes people tired and not Claritin.

    Margo
  • tommaseena
    tommaseena Member Posts: 1,769
    Akiss4me said:

    Mberg and Julie
    Just wanted to say welcome and glad you found us!!
    Pammy

    Welcome aboard Mberg and Julie
    Welcome aboard even though none of us want to be here but this is a wonderful site filled with women and a few men and of course there are care givers as well. Wealth of knowledge and always here for everyone.

    Hugs to you,
    Margo
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member

    Claritin or Benedryl
    Jackie,
    When I was going through chemo treatment they always gave me steroids, Benedryl and anti acid for nausea. Never gave me Claritin. Usually it is the Benedryl that makes people tired and not Claritin.

    Margo

    Benedryl will make you
    Benedryl will make you tired, or, put you to sleep.

    Hugs, Diane ♥