Her2+ and new to this site

[Vanessa]

Hi everyone,

I was newly diagnosed in April with her2+ breast cancer with metastasis to the liver and chest wall. I had a partial masectomy with 14 lymph nodes removed on April 21, 2006 and started chemo tx on June 15, 2006. My oncologist started me on Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin. I had an anaphylactic(sp?) reaction to carboplatin in last August, so I am now currently receiving only Taxotere and Herceptin. I become a little red and itchy during my last Herceptin treatment, so I am worried that I am developing an allergy to Herceptin. I am also scheduled to have a repeat petscan on Thursday, September 7th. My CEA tumour marker has decreased from 273 to 17 on my current tx and my doctor is very pleased with that result, so she plans to continue taxotere and herceptin for now.

I am 46 years old and I have two grown daughters, the oldest is married and the youngest is still in college. I am married, but kind of unofficially separated, since there is no legal separation in Texas. We have tabled the divorce since my diagnosis in April. This is the first time I have posted on a forum, so I am learning as I go. Also, bc has me very frightened, and I know that many of you feel the same way. I am looking to give and get support.

[Christine]

Vanessa,
I pulled this from a medical website, it describes one of the side effects of Taxotere:

"Hypersensitivity reactions to the infusion, eg flushing, rash, itching, chest tightness, back pain, shortness of breath, fever, chills, or more severe reactions such as a drop in blood pressure, narrowing of the airways or widespread rash or reddening of the skin."
Discuss this with your oncologist, he way want to pretreat you with some benedryl before your next infusion.

Hugs
Christine

[Vanessa]

Thank you Christine for your quick reply. On the day I had the anaphylacti reaction, I had not actually had the taxotere yet. I had only received the benadryl and my decadron, before receiving the carboplatin. However, the continued redness could be from the taxotere. Thanks for the reminder, I will talk to my doctor about it. I hope you are having a restful Labor Day Weekend.

[RhondaH]

though I wish it was under better circumstances. This is the BEST support group you could find and we are ALL here for you. Take care and God bless.

Rhonda

[Bev]

Congrats on the tumor marker. That sounds like progress. My son has food allergies that can produce anaphylaxis. Did your BP in fact drop. Were you wheezing? Were your hives limited to one location? Of course you have to follow the doc. I had minor redness on my arm after a couple of herceptins. Since you have had such great results with H, I'd be inclined to try it if the doc thought it wasn't an allergy. They can treat anaphylaxis with epinephrine, but if you are truly allergic it's not something that you would want to continue. They can also test allergies with a blood test looking for IGF antibodies to a specific antigen.
I hope all your results come back just fine. BB

[Vanessa]

Thanks to Christine, Rhonda for your kind responses and encouragement. I actually had a spike in blood pressure initially after the anaphylaxis or it could have been in response to the epinephrine that they gave me after the massive amounts of steriods. I am also insulin resistance and take Metformin, so my blood sugar was up to 300 that night. That day was such a blur. That was the worst day of chemo that I've had. I am now the proud owner of an epi-pin. Bev, I am sorry that your son has problems with food allergies. I know it must be hard to monitor his food intake.

I have actually had some bloodwork and the prick tests for allergies and most of my allergies are environmentally related. I also am allergic to cats and dogs and being an animal lover I have 2 cats and 3 dogs. Go figure.

Best wishes to all of you with your treatment. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

[MJo]

I am 55, but I had anaphalaxis when I was 20 due to penicillan and I've never forgotten it. I was super paranoid about getting chemo drugs after I read they could cause allergic reacations. In fact, when I read that people with mouse allergies might have reactions to herceptin, I had my allergist test me for allergy to mouse protein. Negative. When I got my first Herceptin, my onc didn't even pre-medicate me. When I got my first taxol I was also scared of allergic reaction. The nurses didn't tell me when they started the taxol infusion until 25 minutes after, because they knew about my anxiety. I was fine, but a women in the chair in front of me had an anaphalaxic reaction to carboplatin, just like you. So ironic. I was terrified and I was fine. The other lady didn't expect a reaction, and she got the big one. She's just fine now.
I get a mild itchy rash after Herceptin. I've had 6 months of treatment and it hasn't gotten worse. Fingers crossed. I'm also allergic to cats -- puts me in the hospital. As much as I love cats, I can't have them. Fortunately I'm not allergic to dogs.

All the very best to you. Keep up the treatment. MJO

[Vanessa]

Hi MJO, Having an allergic reaction is very scary, I suppose I am not going to forget mine either. I sat with my epi-pen in my lap during my last chemo, even though I knew I was not going to get carboplatin again. I always feel a little itchy when I get my herceptin, also. I keep worrying that I am building up to an allergic reaction. It is nice to know that you are still receiving Herception. That is my big fear is not being able to use it anymore, even though my doctor reassured me that there are other medications. Best wishes to you and I hope you are feeling well.

[Quilter1]

Vanessa, I went through chemo and Herceptin last year when I was 47. I had no side effects with it. The side-effects my doctors told me about listed a rash as unlikely and the last side-effect on the list. Hopefully it was a one-time occurance and you will be able to conitinue with Herceptin. It holds such promise for us.

[Bev]

Hi Vanessa,

I'm still troubleshooting here. Did you have a problem with your next infusion? You can search decadron on this site. Many of us have had some reaction to it. My heart raced, then I felt woozy and my face flushed for 3 days. I'm saying that perhaps it's the premeds and not Herceptin. Keep us posted. BB

[Vanessa]

My reaction was actually to carboplatin, but I am very fearful of having a reaction to my Herceptin. Especially, since it makes me feel kind of itchy.