Red flush face and chest after chemo

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Steve444
Steve444 Member Posts: 105 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1

I've been on chemo every other week since March of this year and today (just got my pump off) my wife is concerned about what started as red under my eyes like a sunburn which then moved to my face and chest.  I read online that some people have a similar reaction to some chemo drugs or steroids.  Anyone experience this?  It's new to me so I thought I'd check before I go to sleep and see if it's gone tomorrow. :)

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  • Yolllmbs
    Yolllmbs Member Posts: 360 Member
    #2
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    Rash

    I was on Folfox.  I just finished round 10.  I would get "sunburn" like symptoms on my face.  My doctor gave me Benadryl which took it away.

     

    Yolanda

  • jen2012
    jen2012 Member Posts: 1,607 Member
    #3
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    My husband had that happen

    My husband had that happen after several rounds of folFox, but it happened during a treatment.  Docs and nurse think it was a reaction to oxaliplatin and stopped the infusion.  You should mention it to the doc.

  • dmj101
    dmj101 Member Posts: 527 Member
    #4
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    Are you taking a bio agent

    Are you taking a bio agent like Vectibix.. it causes a rash and my dr warned me of it occurring and gave me an RX for Clindomicin.. to combat it.. it worked amazingly.

  • Steve444
    Steve444 Member Posts: 105 Member
    #5
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    Thank you

    Thanks for the replies.  I took an allergy pill and my face looks better.  My stomach still feels really hot, but hopefully tomorrow all will be better.  I would have mentioned someting at the cancer center today, but I didn't realize when the nurse asked if I got some sun that I was abnormally red.  I'll add it to the list to chat with my doc about next round.  Not feeling well this week, more nausea than usual.  This too shall pass.

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    #6
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    Fingerprints

    i too got the red flush, mostly on the neck and the chest above my breasts. I noticed it first when I saw my fingerprints left white marks.  I must confess, it it one thing that I didn't ask the doctor about. Unusual, as I used to ask him about everything. 

    Good luck! 

    Sue - Trubrit

  • pilarica
    pilarica Member Posts: 44 Member
    #7
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    Trubrit said:

    Fingerprints

    i too got the red flush, mostly on the neck and the chest above my breasts. I noticed it first when I saw my fingerprints left white marks.  I must confess, it it one thing that I didn't ask the doctor about. Unusual, as I used to ask him about everything. 

    Good luck! 

    Sue - Trubrit

    Hi Steve:

    During my 10 Folfox treatment the palms of my hands got red and itchy, they stopped the treatment...... the Dr. said is rare but still a side effect they treat it with anti allergy medicine........ Now they have me start prepping the night before the treatment with Decadron, not fun that medicine wires me and my brain goes 100 miles......but I don't get the allergy anymore.  Always something!!!!! As a matter of fact I am at UPENN getting my treatment today.

    Enjoy the weekend!!!

    Pilar

     

    PS I did buy the Biomat, it feels really nice.

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    #8
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    pilarica said:

    Hi Steve:

    During my 10 Folfox treatment the palms of my hands got red and itchy, they stopped the treatment...... the Dr. said is rare but still a side effect they treat it with anti allergy medicine........ Now they have me start prepping the night before the treatment with Decadron, not fun that medicine wires me and my brain goes 100 miles......but I don't get the allergy anymore.  Always something!!!!! As a matter of fact I am at UPENN getting my treatment today.

    Enjoy the weekend!!!

    Pilar

     

    PS I did buy the Biomat, it feels really nice.

    More info

    i would be interested in hearing more about your experience with the Biomat when you have used it for a while. I would be interested in where you got it and how much it cost. 

    Sue - Trubrit

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    #9
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    Trubrit said:

    More info

    i would be interested in hearing more about your experience with the Biomat when you have used it for a while. I would be interested in where you got it and how much it cost. 

    Sue - Trubrit

    I get the red chest and last

    I get the red chest and last time I had half my mouth, cheek and tongue go a bit numb and they gave me Atavan there and Benadryl to take with me in case I needed it. They said it was the Oxyplatin (sp?).

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    #10
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    Trubrit said:

    More info

    i would be interested in hearing more about your experience with the Biomat when you have used it for a while. I would be interested in where you got it and how much it cost. 

    Sue - Trubrit

    Double posted, sorry.

    Double posted, sorry.

  • Steve444
    Steve444 Member Posts: 105 Member
    #11
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    Better today

    The redness is mostly gone today, whew.  I am still very nauseous and did also have a sore mouth this round which I'm not used to since I quit the Ox.  My chest and shoulders are broken out in painful acne worse than I ever had as a teenager.  I think I have enough poison in me for my liking.  I'm planning to take a 3 month break from chemo to see how I feel and see if the symptoms subside.  Pretty tired of only having a couple good days every two weeks.  This way I might be able to enjoy the holidays at least.

  • marbleotis
    marbleotis Member Posts: 720 Member
    #12
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    I had that

    Back when I was on #3 about 3 years ago I had that reaction.  I was the color of a lobster.  They tested me for every infection possible - all clear.

    I was in the hospital overnight and it was determined that I was alergic to the alteplase (ALT) they flushed the port with.  That was the first time the saline flush did not work so they used ALT.

    It was a scary thing to go through.

  • hippiechicks
    hippiechicks Member Posts: 509 Member
    #13
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    lobster red!

    I have had both FOLFOX and FOLFIRI, I turned bright red after each infusion.  The next morning to be exact and like clock work it would be gone the following.  That means for me anyhow, it was either reaction from 5FU or the steroid used in pretreatment meds.  I am leaning towards that seeings how I was still attached to the 5FU the second day. The dexamethasone includes this in its list of side effects. 

    Hope this helps and you are able to get through more comfortably. 

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