Taxoere negative reaction

DianneS · 11-07-2008, 08:17 PM

Hi all,

Thanks for the good wishes for the first treatment. Part of it went well; my body accepted the Herceptin just fine. I got an hour between the Herceptin and the Taxotere.

However, when they began to infuse the Taxotere, within 5-10 minutes I had a reaction, squeezing tightness in the chest and flushed face, along with some minor pain down along my back. They immediately stopped the infusion and gave me 50mg Benadryl IV which stopped all the symptoms. The onc nurse said that if the reaction had happened later on they would have continued but not with such an immediate negative reaction.

I still have swelling, tho slight, in my face and systemically even though the Taxotere was given about 2 PM YESTERDAY. I just called the nurse hotline and they told me to take more Benadryl which the doctor didn't even suggest.....

So, now I have to be admitted to hospital next week and let the honcho doctor, who didn't do the infusion but is advising the doctor/nurses closer to where I live (the ones who gave me my first treatment yesterday) about administering the drugs (TCH). I live a full day away from Vancouver where the honcho doc is so that is why I didn't have the first treatment there. However, due to this complication the honcho doctor wants to try the TCH again.....at a major hospital where she can monitor the reactions. I am not sure about this....I guess she can pump me up with cortisteroids or whatever to lessen the effects of the TCH or switch to something else. Is that possible?

This is a real bummer. Now I am another week behind on treatments, except for the Herceptin. Has anyone else had a reaction to Taxotere and found a way to still continue it? I took all of my Dexamethazones as prescribed, and didn't feel hyper...maybe it didn't work?

Also I have no reaction from the Herceptin at all, unless being tired and having heartburn counts. No flu like feelings or aches/pains. Is that unusual?

Diannes.....

Sheila · 11-08-2008, 04:33 AM

Dianne
i am so sorry you had a reaction to the Taxotere...just wondering why you are not getting the Taxotere first before the herceptin...and are they giving you steroids before the treatment...I am on Taxol with Herceptin, and I get Steroids and Benedryl through my port before they start the Taxol EVERY TIME to prevent an allergic reaction. And if you are getting the Carboplatin also, you can react to that....they just want you in a safe environment before the next treatment, but make sure you are getting steroids before!

freyja · 11-08-2008, 01:25 PM

I agree. I'm on TCH and they always start with Benedryl (Amoxi) IV through my port, then a whole bag of dexamethasone (steroids) even though I take dex pills the night before and morning of. Then they do taxotere, then carboplatin, then herceptin. A little saline comes at the beginning and end of the whole thing. Sounds like you could use more premeds.

DianneS · 11-08-2008, 06:01 PM

I was told to take the dexamethazone the day before and two tabs the day of treatment, which is what I did. I have no idea why they didn't give me benedryl until AFTER the reaction, and no, I didn't get additional dexa during the Taxotere. I wasn't told to take benedryl tabs until last night when I called the nurse hotline to ask why my face was still a bit swollen. The 25mg I took last night took care of anymore swelling.

I do have a question, though. I am having a bit of a problem with diarrhea (just took one Immodium today after speaking to the cancer center) but is diarrhea something that happens after the first Herceptin? Is this something I'll have throughout treatment?

I do feel a bit chilly and tired today but don't know if that's from the few minutes of Taxotere or Herceptin. What do you guys think? Also, do most of you feel ok after the initial Herceptin? My heart feels like it's working a bit harder, but maybe that's my imagination.

I appreciate your feedback. I'm glad that the chief onc will be doing the next treatment.

duga35 · 11-08-2008, 06:16 PM

I had the same reaction on my second round of Taxotere. The also stopped the infusion and gave me more Benadryl and saline. About 30 mins later they started it again but only at a slower pace, and I was fine after that. On the next treatments they slowed the infusion down and I never had another reaction. I know that is a real scary feeling when it happens and I'm sorry that you had to go through it. The bright side is that you might not have a reaction the next time!

I hope this helps and good luck to you!

freyja · 11-08-2008, 07:07 PM

chills and tightness in your chest I've heard can be reactions to herceptin and benedryl should help. I'm glad you're going somewhere else for the next treatment, too. I think you need premeds (benedryl and dex) and more monitoring during treatment. Don't be afraid to tell the nurses and doctors anything and everything you're feeling or thinking. They don't always know everything.
Stay calm, get your rest. This can all be overwhelming mentally and emotionally as much as physically. Stay confident, and you'll do fine. There are many solutions to every problem, sometimes it just takes a while to find the right one.
Celeste

jhandley · 11-10-2008, 02:55 AM

This reaction happened to me with taxotere. It was scary..but the next time they did more premeds and it went OK. Hang in there!
Jackie (down under)

DanaRT · 11-10-2008, 08:26 AM

DianneS,
I am wondering too why the taxotere wasn't given before the Herceptin. I took steroids (Decadron) in pill form the day before treatment, the day of and the day after. At the chemo session I was given Aloxi for nausea, more decadron and then Taxotere, Carboplatin and last Herceptin. The first session was very long as they gave each drug very slowly. After that they could speed it up. My face would be flushed after treatment. I called it my Taxotere Tan.

Good Luck and best wishes.

rebecca0623 · 11-11-2008, 02:06 PM

Dianne - I get Benadryl, dexamethasone, aloxi and atavan before every treatment in pre-med infusions. I also take dexamethasone the day before and the day after and emend the day of and for 2 days after treatment. Also, my onc slowed the speed of the infusion of carboplatin and taxotere when my neuropathy became problematic. I have no reaction to herceptin only treatments, only fatique. Hang in there.

Rebecca

kernkn · 11-12-2008, 07:05 PM

Hi there! Like Duga35, initially I had a negative reaction to the Taxotere exactly like the one you described. They stopped the infusion and initated the saline and benadryl and then started the taxotere again at a slower pace. My subsequent treatments were administered at a slower pace and I never had another negative reaction - however, as a result of slowing down the taxotere, my treatment took a lot longer!

Good luck with your treatment! Kathryn

DianneS · 11-12-2008, 07:33 PM

Hi ladies,
Thanks for your input.
My onc called today who will be doing the next infusion at the Vancouver Cancer Centre. She said that when infusing Doxetaxel (spelling?) you do not get pre meds. I think there is some infusion confusion about taxanes; there are several different types of taxanes apparently, doxetaxal is one. She is going to try another drug from the taxane family on me Tues. when I will be admitted overnight after the infusion for observation. She said I may just be allergic to taxanes but wants to try another type again before we think about switching to AC.

I also read an article written by her, Dr. Gelmon, on how long to wait for treatment after dx. Looks like 12 weeks is about the limit and that will be the end of Nov. for me, so I am stressing about getting something going!

I'm glad they did the Herceptin first or I wouldn't have gotten even that. I don't have any side effects from that, apparently, and hope I get another dose Tues.

PLease, need your prayers that the taxanes will work for me this time around. There is so much power in prayers.

Wishing you all well,
Diannes