hives

Marcia527 said:

I've been having trouble
I've been having trouble with a rash for a year and a half but I wouldn't call it hives. I've been out of treatment for 5 years almost. It wasn't the medication I was on either. Doctor couldn't find anything that was causing it. I guess I need to see a dermatologist.

When I was going through radiation, my skin was VERY itchy by about the 3rd week, but I can't say it was hives. What did help with the relief was getting some over the counter hydrocortizone cream and putting it in the freezer before I applied it. The coldness and the cream itself did help. My radiation oncologist also had me take an over the counter alergy pill to also help. Some people have used stronger prescription creams but my doc didn't recommend those so as not to damage the skin any more. Hope relief finds you soon.

tasha_111 said:

Hives
I broke out in a spectacular display of hives about a week after my first chemo (FEC), The onco said he'd not heard of that being a side effect but I'm fairly sure it was, started on my chestickles and moved up to face and hair after 2-3 days, then it was gone. I used calamine lotion straight from the fridge, it helped a bit.

Take care Jxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

One thing you might have
One thing you might have your doctor check for is shingles. Depending on where the rash is located, some times this is a side effect of radiation. The immune system is compromised during chemo and radiation, and this is one of the more common problems that develop. I thought I had been bitten by a spider, as I broke out at my waist on my back. Because I couldn't see is very well by myself, I was relying on my husband to keep an eye on it. After about three days, I developed little blisters, and these turned into the shingles. A quick look by your doctor can tell what it may be, and if you catch it within 72 hours of breaking out, you can receive an innoculation that causes them to be much less harsh. Hopefully this is not what you are experiencing, but it never hurts to check it out. Good luck. Take care.

Judy

maybe
I have heard of some folk getting shingles after chemo. Shingles is very itchy and can occur anywhere, though it is most common around the waist and under arms, I think. I did not have a reaction like that from chemo, but I did develop a slightly red, VERY ITCHY skin infection after surgery. I took benedril, put neosporin on it, and a round of antibiotics took care of it. You might ask the Dr. about that.

Hope it can get cleared up soon. seof

EveningStar2 said:

ideopathic uticaria
That's what the diagnosis, for anyone that doesn't speak medicalese, it means "you have hives and we don't know why." Duh! *I* had that much. Anyway they gave me a prescription for a histamine 1 and a histamine 2 blocker. I'm a happy woman even if I'm a bit sleepy.

For those suggesting herpes/shingles, it is usually fluid filled and followed a nerve so it tends to be in straight lines. Mine came and went both in time & place. Talk about driving you nuts!

Thanks for the help!

Maureen

ideopathic uticaria
Love those fancy names. I broke out in hives Thursday and they took all weekend to go away. My Dr. also didn't know what caused it. I am two weeks after chemo not in rad yet (that starts in a month). All these little strange things that happen to us that they don't warn us about, sigh.

Jan