allergic reaction to carbo

nancy591
nancy591 Member Posts: 1,027 Member
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Bummer for me. I went for my infusion of Gem/Carbo and developed a red rash on my face, back, stomach, chest and arms. It started about 3/4 through the infusion of the carbo. Looks like all platinum based meds are out for me now. Onc and gyn onc will decide if just do Gemzar alone or move on to something. I really don't want Gemzar as a single agent. What have others used in place of carbo? We have not tested yet to see if the gem/carb combo worked. I only had one cycle due to low platelet count. This was my second cycle.

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  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #2
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • eward
    eward Member Posts: 210
    #3
    Can they try to infuse the
    Can they try to infuse the meds much slower than normal to avoid an allergic reaction? I have heard of that being done. The Block Cancer Center in Evanston, IL does something called chronomodulated chemotherapy and they also infuse at whatever rate they think the patient needs. My mom doesn't go there at this point, but I have heard that is a wonderful center with many services.

    I wish you better success with the next plan they come up with for you. How terribly frustrating.

    My mom is at a frustrating point, too. She had a recurrence just 3 months after her original chemo ended and is on Doxil now. (dx stage 4 primary peritoneal in April of 2009) The docs don't think doxil is working because her CA125 is only inching down at this point. She goes Weds to U of Chicago to a new dr - her oncologist wants her to see a specialist since he is concerned the doxil isn't working.

    Sending love and concern your way,
    Eileen
  • sanam
    sanam Member Posts: 106
    #4
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Dear Nancy
    As I shared
    Dear Nancy
    As I shared before my mom is on gemzar/campto.She also had 1 full round and she did 1 half dose yesterday.( Every 2 weeks is half a dose).
    She didn't have CA125 test but she does quiet well .I will let you know if they conduct the test.
    Thanks
  • nancy591
    nancy591 Member Posts: 1,027 Member
    #5
    eward said:

    Can they try to infuse the
    Can they try to infuse the meds much slower than normal to avoid an allergic reaction? I have heard of that being done. The Block Cancer Center in Evanston, IL does something called chronomodulated chemotherapy and they also infuse at whatever rate they think the patient needs. My mom doesn't go there at this point, but I have heard that is a wonderful center with many services.

    I wish you better success with the next plan they come up with for you. How terribly frustrating.

    My mom is at a frustrating point, too. She had a recurrence just 3 months after her original chemo ended and is on Doxil now. (dx stage 4 primary peritoneal in April of 2009) The docs don't think doxil is working because her CA125 is only inching down at this point. She goes Weds to U of Chicago to a new dr - her oncologist wants her to see a specialist since he is concerned the doxil isn't working.

    Sending love and concern your way,
    Eileen

    How responsive is her ca125? The only way to tell if the Doxil worked for me was a PET/CT. My ca125 has become unreliable since my recurrence. When I had my PET/CT I was at a 12. A few weeks later I had a biopsy done and my ca125 had dropped to a 10.

    After 3 infusions of Doxil (3wks apart)they did another PET/CT. It showed a little worsening but decided to stick with it due to Doxil having a slow response. My ca125 had now risen to 32. After two more infusions I had another PET/CT. The CT portion showed improvment but the PET portion showed increased hypermetabolic activity and an enlarged abdominal lymph node. My ca125 dropped to 28. So, it was decided to move on. Doxil, for me, was well tolerated. The foot rash was a PITA but I would have happily stayed on it. Eileen, I was dx'd stage 4 ovarian, Sept. '08. See if they will do a PET/CT before switching as I was told the Doxil can make your ca125 jump around. Has she had a pet/ct before?

    XOXOXO
  • nancy591
    nancy591 Member Posts: 1,027 Member
    #6
    de-sensitizing
    Yes, Memorial Sloan Kettering does a strict de-sensitizing protocol for anyone who has had over 8 doses in the past. They infusion a certain amount the first hour, a certain amount the second hour and give the rest in the third hour. Their pre-med protocol is fabulous too.

    Prior to recv'ng chemo yesterday my skin had been very, very itchy for the last 3 days or so. I've taken Benadryl and used hydrocortisone ointment with little success. I'm wondering if my body was in an 'overactive' response state to begin with and the chemo just pushed it over the edge. Maybe the remnants of last cycles chemo was causing my skin to itch. Either way, I can't have it again.

    Thanks, Samnan. I will look into the compto.

    I am leaving for my cruise to Bermuda this Sunday. Scheduled to have chemo when I return. If I hear somthing in the meanwhile I will post.

    Thanks to all.

    XOXOXO
  • kayandok
    kayandok Member Posts: 1,202 Member
    #7
    carbo
    Hi Nancy, sorry to hear about your reaction. I know several gals that had this after using it previously. They would then get a slow drip over a longer period of time and it was fine. You might want to ask about this. There is a name for it, that is not coming at the moment.
    Take care,
    kathleen
  • eward
    eward Member Posts: 210
    #8
    nancy591 said:

    How responsive is her ca125? The only way to tell if the Doxil worked for me was a PET/CT. My ca125 has become unreliable since my recurrence. When I had my PET/CT I was at a 12. A few weeks later I had a biopsy done and my ca125 had dropped to a 10.

    After 3 infusions of Doxil (3wks apart)they did another PET/CT. It showed a little worsening but decided to stick with it due to Doxil having a slow response. My ca125 had now risen to 32. After two more infusions I had another PET/CT. The CT portion showed improvment but the PET portion showed increased hypermetabolic activity and an enlarged abdominal lymph node. My ca125 dropped to 28. So, it was decided to move on. Doxil, for me, was well tolerated. The foot rash was a PITA but I would have happily stayed on it. Eileen, I was dx'd stage 4 ovarian, Sept. '08. See if they will do a PET/CT before switching as I was told the Doxil can make your ca125 jump around. Has she had a pet/ct before?

    XOXOXO

    My mom's CA is very
    My mom's CA is very responsive. At dx in spring 2009, it was 1800 and came down to 35 after taxotere/carbo. At her 3 month visit she was up to 3800, then after 2 doxils it was 3200, and after 3 doxils it was 2500. She has CAT scans, which I think are the same as CT scans. I'll have to ask her. The only thing they are worried about with the cat scan is that several lymph nodes are enlarged. They might have gotten a little worse so far during the doxil. So based on the numbers moving so slowly and the lymph involvement, the regular onc wants her to consult with the gyne onc.

    Have a fantastic time on your cruise!

    xoxoxo
    Eileen
  • LPack
    LPack Member Posts: 645
    #9
    Nancy,

    I had stated earlier in the year (Feb) I had an allergic reaction to Gem/Cis - chest pain, red rash on face, arms, hands, chest and swelling. Had my gem but had just gotten into cis about 1/4 of infusion.

    Next time I had carbo and gem with no reaction and did that March and April.

    I am still on a break .... see Dr. Copeland for the second time this Monday. My onc/gyn for over 2 years has suggested I get my CA125 and other blood work before I see him. Plus she is curious as to how I have been doing without chemo the last 2 months!!

    Living for Eternity,
    Libby
  • nancy591
    nancy591 Member Posts: 1,027 Member
    #10
    LPack said:

    Nancy,

    I had stated earlier in the year (Feb) I had an allergic reaction to Gem/Cis - chest pain, red rash on face, arms, hands, chest and swelling. Had my gem but had just gotten into cis about 1/4 of infusion.

    Next time I had carbo and gem with no reaction and did that March and April.

    I am still on a break .... see Dr. Copeland for the second time this Monday. My onc/gyn for over 2 years has suggested I get my CA125 and other blood work before I see him. Plus she is curious as to how I have been doing without chemo the last 2 months!!

    Living for Eternity,
    Libby

    hmmmm
    They are telling me tenatively all platinum meds are out for me. I'd love to get more cisplat if they'd do it. My ca125 dropped 8 points after one cycle. Went from 28 to 20. I know my ca125 is not very responsive anymore but this is the biggest drop I had since I restarted chemo this January.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #11
    nancy591 said:

    de-sensitizing
    Yes, Memorial Sloan Kettering does a strict de-sensitizing protocol for anyone who has had over 8 doses in the past. They infusion a certain amount the first hour, a certain amount the second hour and give the rest in the third hour. Their pre-med protocol is fabulous too.

    Prior to recv'ng chemo yesterday my skin had been very, very itchy for the last 3 days or so. I've taken Benadryl and used hydrocortisone ointment with little success. I'm wondering if my body was in an 'overactive' response state to begin with and the chemo just pushed it over the edge. Maybe the remnants of last cycles chemo was causing my skin to itch. Either way, I can't have it again.

    Thanks, Samnan. I will look into the compto.

    I am leaving for my cruise to Bermuda this Sunday. Scheduled to have chemo when I return. If I hear somthing in the meanwhile I will post.

    Thanks to all.

    XOXOXO

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • msfanciful
    msfanciful Member Posts: 559
    #12
    Hello Nancy,
    I hate to hear
    Hello Nancy,

    I hate to hear of your reaction to the carbo. When I reacted, they ceased the carbo for a few minutes and then administered it to me at a slower rate.

    After much apprehension, everything worked out fine from then on out.

    I hope you have a wonderful time on your cruise :-)

    Sharon

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