Herceptin Alone and Itch

Hi ladies,

I just had my first herceptin with no other drugs. Man does my body itch. I get herceptin every 3 weeks for 40 weeks. I wonder if it is from the herceptin? Don't seem to have any other side effects.

I will tell that after I finished my Taxol/Herceptin on 11/26, I got the worst pains in my feet and hands, never started till the last taxol/herceptin, weriod, but true.

What has anyone else experienced.

Thanks,
Randi

[RhondaH]

I had a rash under my affected breast, but it finally went away. I have ALWAYS been on Herceptin alone every 3 weeks as the "early" trials came out AFTER I was done w/ chemo. I will be done 8/06. Good luck.

Rhonda Hoffman

I will be done on 8/6 too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Randi

[aquinis2000]

I just had my second herceptin and itch like crazy. have light rash on trunk and arms. I don't know if its the herceptin or the taxol (just had second taxol too!)any body else have the itchy scratchies with either of these? Toni

[BonnieT]

Hey
What does your Dr. think??
Could you take an antihistamine like benedryl ??
BonnieT

[Becky]

The hand and foot pain is most likely from Taxol. This is a well known Taxol side effect. The rash could be from either drug. The emulsifier used in the Taxol formulation is very allergic (to almost the whole population) and I did chemo then did Herceptin so I am not doing it together. I got hives (head to toe for a couple of days) from Taxol but I did not get a rash from Herceptin.


However, Herceptin can cause allergic reactions too but it is not one of the most common side effects as it clearly is with Taxol. I hope this helps. This is just how I experienced these drugs (and I still have 6 months of Herceptin to go).

Warm regards,

Becky

[jessica]

I got that rash too on the q3week dose of Herceptin-the weekly dose didn't do the same thing. I had little bumps all over my torso, back of shoulders, back of arms. It eventually went away, along w/the major all-over-body arthritis pain...just in time for the next q3week dose. Benadryl didn't seem to help, but I guess it's worth a try...Good luck!

[Gina]

is a sign of liver/bile problems...hope that is NOT what you are experiencing, but I suffered from that back in 2000...the itching was nearly unbearable...

I have never had ANY itching from herceptin. Also, look closely at any pain meds or patches you might be using ANYTHING with codone, codeine, hydromophone or morphine can make some people itch horribly. I am terribly allergic to codeine...itching is the lesser side effect..it is the swelling and closing of the throat that really gets you..but as I talk so much..most of my friends found it to be a WELCOME relief hee hee hee..only kidding..but no joke, I talk EVEN more and faster than I type..smile...

Hang in there but be sure to get your bile levels checked..just in case...so you can head off a potentially more serious problem than a mere allergy.

Take care,
Gina
Just a different take, Gina