Herceptin allergy

[MJo]

I am asthmatic and allergic to everything. I'm also one of the people who scares herself silly reading everything about treatment. I read that mouse protein is involved in the manufacture of herceptin and that people with mouse allergies can get allergic reactions. So I had my allergist test do a test on me for allergy to mouse proteins. Not allergic, and I had no trouble with Herceptin. So although I didn't have the allergy, I sure was aware of the possiblity. I am sure there are lots of things you can do about your mild reaction. I read of several people who added an allergist to their treatment team to continue taking Herceptin. But it's very possible that you'll never progress beyond the itchy red stage. Extra Benadryl is a good start. One of my reactions to Herceptin was a cough. I'd start coughing about 30 minutes into the infusion. Never progressed to anything worse. I called it the Herceptin cough and darned if it didn't go away a few weeks after treatment ended.