allergic reaction to chemo

crazylady
crazylady Member Posts: 543 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi Everyone,
I hope you're doing well.
Today I had my second session of chemo since having surgery. I had an allergic reaction to Oxilaplatin(sp?). I got itchy and the palms of my hands got all red and blotchy. This was really strange considering this was the 14th time that I had this drug. I also have high blood pressure possibly due to Avastin. When I go for the next session in 2 weeks all this will be discussed and changes will be made. This makes me nervous because even though I hate the side effects from Oxy I'm familiar with them and know how to deal with them. I'm dreading starting over with new drugs and new side effects.
Please excuse any strange spelling. Chemo brain is here and I suddenly can no longer spell even simple words. Yuck! This is really frustrating!
Has anyone had any late allergic reactions to chemo drugs?
Thanks,
Jamie

Comments

  • vinny3
    vinny3 Member Posts: 928 Member
    #2
    Are they premedicating you for this? I get Decadron (a steroid) and Benedryl to help prevent problems. With the Avastin your blood pressure needs to be watched (which is interesting since my onc never checks my blood pressure and the chemo nurse sometimes do). I get it checked myself most of the time. It may be that you have had so many treatments of the Oxaliplatin that your body is not tolerating it as well anymore. I am just receiving my 9th cycle of Folfox/Avastin.
    ****
  • JADot
    JADot Member Posts: 709 Member
    #3
    Hi Jamie:

    I am sorry oxa is giving you trouble. It is really harsh stuff.

    I had a violent late allergic reaction to Oxaliplatin. It was on my 8th round. The first 7 gave me neuropathy, chemo brain and the usually symptoms. The 8th one sent me into anaplactic shock. 1 hour into the infusion, I started to blowing out stuff from both ends - sorry to be so graphic. I also had the worst stomach pain I've ever had in my life. I became short of breath and turned green. So I ended up in the emergency room, spent the next 5 hours re-hydrating and wait for the normal flesh tone to return.

    I was told that this was due to the cumulative effects of Oxa. When your body had enough, it lets you know. My onc took me off oxa from that point on. I then did 8 weekly 5FU only infusion to make up for the missing 4 standard FOLFOX 4 rounds. My onc insisted that having 6 months of aggressive treatment would be the most beneficial my me.

    I know for folks with minor reaction they sometime give them benadryl before hand. Sounds like the cumulative effects are getting to you too, with time.

    Definitely chew it over with your docs and see if your case means you should take antihistamine or be taken off oxa.

    Good luck to you!
    Ying
  • jerseysue
    jerseysue Member Posts: 624 Member
    #4
    It's pretty normal to have a reaction to oxiplantin late in the game. Mine was on my 9th treatment same reaction as you. We just went on with all the other chemo drugs and left that off. Because of reoccurance I have all the same drugs but the oxiplantin and I'm using CPT11 instead of that one drug.
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #5
    Cumulative....great word, huh? There is a point where your body says "OK, THAT'S ALL!!!!!" happened to me with my breast cancer chemo....I stopped the adriamycin...went on with the rest.
    From my C3 newsletter....
    "5FU regimens can be used in patients for whom oxaliplatin is not a good choice. The oral drug Xeloda (capecitabine) appears to be equally effective as intravenous 5FU, but with a slightly different set of side effects."
    It also mentions adding leucovorin for control of some of the sides...."Acombination treatment of oxaliplatin and 5FU with leucovorin is now considered standard therapy".

    Yup, I even have chemo HEARING!!!!

    Hugs, Kathi
  • scouty
    scouty Member Posts: 1,965 Member
    #6
    I never developed an allergic reaction to any of the chemo drugs but I have developed one for the CT scan contrast. After 10 of them, the 11th gave me seriouos hives. Now I am also allergic to hard shell fish but am okay with soft shell so far.

    Lisa P.
  • crazylady
    crazylady Member Posts: 543 Member
    #7
    vinny3 said:

    Are they premedicating you for this? I get Decadron (a steroid) and Benedryl to help prevent problems. With the Avastin your blood pressure needs to be watched (which is interesting since my onc never checks my blood pressure and the chemo nurse sometimes do). I get it checked myself most of the time. It may be that you have had so many treatments of the Oxaliplatin that your body is not tolerating it as well anymore. I am just receiving my 9th cycle of Folfox/Avastin.
    ****

    I know they're premedicating me, but at this point I don't remember with what. I'll have to check it out.
    Jamie
  • Wendy67
    Wendy67 Member Posts: 8
    #8
    Jamie-

    Your story is very similar to mine. On my 10th treatment, I suddenly had a very severe reaction to Oxilaplatin (I also have no clue on how to spell it). My oncologist decided to just continue on with the rest of my chemo regime minus the Oxil. I'm curious to know if you are struggling with nuerapothy? That is the one lasting side effect I'm still learning to live with.

    ~ Wendy
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #9
    I'm so sorry to hear this. But my understanding is that what you experienced is not so unusual. Many people have allergic reaction to oxaliplatin, and it usually shows up later rather than earlier. I think the thing to discuss with your docs is whether you can take antihistamines/steroids or something to reduce the reaction/risk, or whether you need to stop the oxi. In my case, I had "skin" reactions (swollen lips - Angelina Jolie lips - and flushed face) but no respiratory symptoms so they let me continue but with better coverage. Best wishes.
  • crazylady
    crazylady Member Posts: 543 Member
    #10
    Wendy67 said:

    Jamie-

    Your story is very similar to mine. On my 10th treatment, I suddenly had a very severe reaction to Oxilaplatin (I also have no clue on how to spell it). My oncologist decided to just continue on with the rest of my chemo regime minus the Oxil. I'm curious to know if you are struggling with nuerapothy? That is the one lasting side effect I'm still learning to live with.

    ~ Wendy

    Wendy,
    I do have trouble with neuropathy. I was on oxy for 6 months, off for 3 1/2 and am now back on. I still have neuropathy from the first 6 months though it did improve during the time I was off chemo. Now, of course, it is getting worse.
    Jamie

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