Hives?

Kind of... It's not exactly hives but I am getting a painful cystic acne-like rash all over my face and part of my chest right now. I just started chemo on the 10th (Taxotere & Carboplatin plus Herceptin & Perjeta). I wondered if it was a very delayed reaction to the steroids I took before/during/after chemo. All other side effects have been minimal but this one is morale crushing. I look like a monster.

I also have a call into my doctor...

Where are your hives located?

Hope you feel better and it goes away soon--I will update when my doc calls back.

I broke out in a rash from the Taxol.  It went up and down my forearms, and my hands became really red and felt blistered.  I did have to take a couple weeks off chemo.  I reached the point where my entire body itched and I was scratching myself raw.  I was given a steroid pack, told to take Benadryl, and also given steroid cream.  I wanted to finish (at this point I had 5 treatments left), and by the time I completed those last 5 treatments I was broken out again.  I am now stage IV and on Xeloda.  The oncologist said we would keep taxol in our back pocket when other chemos stop working.  I will do the Taxol again, but do plan to ask if I can just take daily steroids with it.  Also, taxol made me extremely fatigued, anemic, and white count got fairly low.  After the first four or five treatments, I thought it was as bad as AC, but everyone reacts different.

alabama_survivor said:

I broke out in a rash from

I broke out in a rash from the Taxol.  It went up and down my forearms, and my hands became really red and felt blistered.  I did have to take a couple weeks off chemo.  I reached the point where my entire body itched and I was scratching myself raw.  I was given a steroid pack, told to take Benadryl, and also given steroid cream.  I wanted to finish (at this point I had 5 treatments left), and by the time I completed those last 5 treatments I was broken out again.  I am now stage IV and on Xeloda.  The oncologist said we would keep taxol in our back pocket when other chemos stop working.  I will do the Taxol again, but do plan to ask if I can just take daily steroids with it.  Also, taxol made me extremely fatigued, anemic, and white count got fairly low.  After the first four or five treatments, I thought it was as bad as AC, but everyone reacts different.

Yes, just a 'fun' and itching side effort from taxol, and sister taxotere.  Please see if your Oncologist has suggestions = lotions with aloe or vitiame helped me - brand, gold bond or Aquaphor.  Please check with your doctor before using ...

Hoping things clear up soon.

Vicki Sam

LouisaP said:

HI, I also had a horrible

HI, I also had a horrible rash on arms & hands from Taxol. It eventually peeled like sunburn & 6 weeks from end of chemo thats what it looks like. I was on a couple different ointments. I was on Claritin, Atarax, a couple dose packs & steroids. I had to ice it constantly because of the itching & burning. My arms were hot to the touch. Now i still have redness & some brownish areas tht I hope will go away. I have been using Eucerin Eczema Relief. It's really thick & helps with the itching & dry skin. I use the RX ointment once a day.

 

itching?  Thinking about you, as well as hoping you are getting help.

Please let us know what your Oncologist has done for you ..

Strength, Courage and HOPE for a Cure.

Vicki Sam