Itchy rash-Herceptin?

[Kroesen]

I've taken Benedryl, Zyrtec, creams, aveno, and everything else that you can think of. I'd be happy to live with the pain and discomfort of the burning and itching if I knew that my throat won't swell up and make it difficult to breathe.

[LuckyLinda]

The constant itching is driving me crazy---my arms, neck, back and chest are all "rolled-in-fiberglass" itchy. My radiation oncologist identified a rash on my chest as "radiation dermatitis" and prescribed a steroid cream. I am also using a product she recommended called "Radiaderm"--a two-step system for skin care in the radiated area. However....I have a virtually identical rash on my upper back in a area that is not being radiated. The nurse said it wouldn't be related and didn't even look at it. I have little area that bleed when I rub it, although my nails are too short to scratch effectively. I am really, really tempted to use a nail file to scratch! I tried adding a Benadryl tablet---no relief. I'm wondering if this is a reaction from the Herceptin (last infusion about 11 days ago) or the radiation?

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

Hi! So here I am wayyy out from '98 Herceptin till '07. Around '03 I got major red rashy botchy on my upper arms. Looks like a bad sunburn. People always comment. (I don't go in the sun.)

I would get feelings of being on fire there. I'd run the hottest water I could handle on my arms and that would help. Kind of like what someone mentioned with cold. Gets your body's attention, away from the itching, which is an urgent sensation that needs to be quelled.

I also used Rhuli Gel which is basically camphor. Get the highest amnt of camphor you can find, sold in drug stores under their own brands. I also used Benedryl spray for itching when needed to boost my anti-itching.

I take 2 Benedryl at night. Must confess I do this every night. The itching subsided eventually, but the red rashy sunburnt appearance has never gone away.

No doc seemed interested. Onc not sure. Dermatologist says it's a vascular problem. Asked the cardiologist he doesn't know. Same with every kind of doc I've ever visited and they are many. It's a conundrum.

Never thought it was related to Herceptin, but so many weird things happened w/H that I just didn't think. Nails turned black and lifted exposing gooey yucky yellow crust. Dermatologist said not infectious. So I went for a gentle manicure and put red polish on them. (When I mentioned I wished it was easier to hide, like on my feet, it was pointed out to me that NO you don't want that. Then it would be difficult to walk. Point well taken.

Hope my info helps any and all...
Andi

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

Correction: For the record -- I was on Herceptin from '98 - '08. (Not '07.) Lost a yr there.

Been off Vitamin H for 4 yrs!

are your rashes in sun exposed areas only? ie not on areas usually covered by clothes?

Again, please be sure to post a link to this thread in the Herceptin side-effects real or imagined thread so someday if the drug companies (who I doubt are doing their post-marketing research diligently) or some researcher wants to look into this that thread becomes an all-inclusive database

Let's try to help this get figured out sooner rather than later!

[Lani]

don't know why the previous post by my listed me as unregistered although I signed in!