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Old 04-28-2013, 10:45 AM   #1
SusanN
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Herceptin/Benadryl

I had my 4th infusion of Herceptin this past Thurday.


The past infusions, as always, I'm given Benadryl capsules before Herceptin...which as more of a slower release...I would get dizzy nearly have way into my infusion, my nurse would tell me to relax and just assume I was having a "panic attack!"

This last infusion, after talking with my oncologist, he wanted to rule out Herceptin side effects/panic attacks...decided to have me wear a heart moniter. I was given Benadryl through my IV BEFORE the Herceptin this last time...
Within MINUTES, I became dizzy as before, my heart started to palpitate, I felt as if I couldn't catch my breath, my BP soared, my body was twitching...
THANK GOD I was on a heart moniter!!!
This went on nearly 25 minutes...a doctor came right away!!

I was gived Ativan, after awhile, I was able to calm down and receive the rest of my Herceptin, Docetaxol/Carbo.

My oncologist said, "No more Benadryl for her!!"

Thus, we are likely to believe I am allergic to BENADRYL!!

I did go home with a heart halter, for 48 hours...did have some heart palpitations, didn't experience many.

I will have an echo this Tues...will be very interested in the findings!

Thank you for any input anyone has had...
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10/18/12 Found pea size lump right breast
11/7/12 Biopsy
12/14/12 Lumpectomy
1/4/13 Rexcision, NO CLEAR MARGINS!! :(
2/11/13 Mastectomy with Expander Placed
2/15/13 INFECTION at Mastectomy site...emergency Surgery!!! Expander removed :(
DX: DCIS, IDC, Stage 2a, 2.7cm, 1/5 nodes positive
ER/PR-, HER2+++
3/28/13 Port placed
4/1/13 Begin 6 Cycles TCH Therapy
4/1/14 Finished Herceptin!!
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Old 04-28-2013, 03:15 PM   #2
tricia keegan
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Re: Herceptin/Benadryl

Susan that must have been so unpleasant for you, Benadryl only ever put me to sleep and I'm sorry you have this issue but glad they discovered it now and hope your next infusion is easier.
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Dx July '05 IDC 1.9cm Triple positive 3/9 nodes positive
A/C X 4 ..Taxol/Herceptin x 12 wks then herceptin 1 yr
Rads x 36 ..oophorectomy August '06
Currently taking Arimidex..
June 2011 osteopenia/ zometa x1 yearly- stopped Zometa 2015 as Dexa show normal bone density.
Stopped Arimidex July 2014- Restarted Arimidex 2015 for a further two years on the advice of my Onc.
2014 Normal Dexa scan
2018 Mammo all clear, still NED!
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Old 04-28-2013, 03:30 PM   #3
ElaineM
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Wink Re: Herceptin/Benadryl

I am sorry you had such a scary experience. I hope you feel better soon.
I hate benadryl, because I have gotten so sleepy every time I had it.
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Old 04-28-2013, 04:00 PM   #4
NanaJoni
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Re: Herceptin/Benadryl

My first benadryl before a treatment sent me into overdrive - I jumped up out of the chair after about 2 minutes following the dose. Then I paced back and forth as far as the IV tubes would let me walk for almost 2 hours til it started to wear off. After that they gave me the benadryl verrrry slowly and it didn't happen again. Hope this is only a one-time thing for you, too.
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Joni -64 yrs old -
3/01/10: found lump in rt.breast
3/12/10: mammogram/ultrasnd/biopsy-invasive bc & DCIS; 2 tumors (2cm er-/pr-/HER2-& 1.8 cm er-/pr-/HER2+); grade 3;poorly differentiated
3/24/10:sent.node biopsy clear
3/31/10:bi-lateral mx.;atypical ductal hyperplasia-lft side
4/21/10:wound revision-infection/scarring 4/28/10:seromas both sides
5/21/10:port installed,TCH chemo (6 x 3 wks); Herc,-1yr; 33 rad tx after chemo
07/2010: port not working-2nd port didnt'work;3rd port opposite side.
07/2010: 2 weeks after 3rd port surgery, threw 3 pulm. emboli-IVC filter installed; warfarin
08/2010: hospitalizations w/3 of chemos; decision to stop after 4th-on to radiation in Oct 2010;Herc cont.
12/03/2010 - finished 33 rads Hooray!! cont. Herc. every 3 wks
4/2011 - pneumonia ??? Nope-radiation pneumonitis. No more Herc.
5/2011 - NED!!! port out.
8/2011 - clean PET & CT scans.Still NED
7/2012 - Still NED/very blessed.
2/2013 - 6 mos checkup-all clear. CA2729 down frm 13 to 11.
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Old 04-28-2013, 04:39 PM   #5
Bunty
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Re: Herceptin/Benadryl

Oh that would have been very scary Susan. In Australia, prior to Herceptin treatment we are given two paracetamol tablets, which is probably less likely to cause reaction. Maybe you could try that...
Cheers Marie
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dx Dec 2000 dcis 2.5cm clear sentinel node, ER/PR- Her-2+
lumpectomy, 6 cycles AC, 6 weeks rads
October 2007 three x 2.5cm lung mets. 8 months Taxol, started Herceptin and continue. Significant reduction in lung mets.
June 2011 3cm x 4cm liver tumour. Started Abraxane and continue with Herceptin.
November 2011. Finished with Abraxane, continue with just Herceptin. Liver tumour now reduced to 15mm x 12mm. Lung tumour now 10mm x 0.5mm
February 2012. Scans show everything stable, and brain scan clear.
July 2012. PET/CT scans show I'm in remission - no active cancer!
]Dec CT brain cllear, lungs stable, liver tumour has increased to 20mm. PET scans showed active liver met and active lung thinglet, and possible bone met.
Jan 2013 recommence Abraxane, continue with Herceptin.
June 2013 finish Cycle 6 Abraxane, continue with Herceptin. 30% reduction in liver tumour, everything stable.
December 2013. CA15-3 on rise.
February 2014. PET and CT scans show single liver tumour has increased to 35mm. No other activity.
March 2014. Planned for SBRT for liver met, but couldn't have treatment as tumour too close to bowel. Continue Herceptin.
April 2014. Surgeon advises that I am a good candidate for liver resection, so will have operation early May (after camping holiday). Tumour now 44mm x 29mm.
May 7, 2014. Two liver tumours surgically removed. Third of liver removed, and gall bladder. Am I NED?May 2014. Pathology of tumour shows it's now ER+ (95% staining).
June 2014. CA15-3 has decreased to 18 from a pre-surgery reading of 59!
June 2014. Started Femara, continue with Herceptin.
July 2014. Stop Femara due to severe Osteoporosis. Commence Tamoxifen, continue Herceptin. Waiting to hear if I can have Aclasta infusion.
August 2014. CA15-3 has decreased further to 12 - YAY!
October 2014. Aclasta infusion for Osteoporosis. November 2014, CA15-3 decreased to 11. Scans of liver all clear, something new showing up on lung, but just watching at the moment.
November 2015. Started SBRT on solitary lung met.
November 2015. Bone density scan showed very good improvement so back on Femara - yay!
December 2016. 6 treatments of SBRT radiation on lung. Seems to have had some effect.
June 2016. CA15-3 still stable and low at 9.
June 2016. Started subcutaneous Herceptin replacing infusion.
Jan 2017. LVEF dropped to 46%. Stopped Herceptin.
Feb 2017. Started ACE Inhibitor and BETA Blocker. Still off Herceptin.
Aug 2017. Two new mets - Portacaval lymph node and mediastinal lymph node.
Aug 2017. Blood tests show extremely elevated liver enzyme levels. Many tests to investigate.
Sept 2017. Portacaval lymph node blocking liver bile duct causing liver enzyme and Bilirubin problems.
Oct 2017. 8cm stent inserted into liver bile duct. Procedure caused pancreatitis, and hospitalised for 3 days. Liver enzymes improving rapidly.
Nov 2017. Commenced 4 weeks of radiation on Portacaval lymph node. 5 week break before chemo.
Jan 2018. CT scan. 11 new small liver mets, and new superclavical lymph node med.
Jan 2018. Start Kadcyla. CA15-3 426.
Apr 2018. First scans since starting Kadcyla. All tumours reducing. CA15-3 dropped to 30 from 426.
Dec 2019. Still on Kadcyla, but two small brain mets have been treated in the past month with SRS. CA15-3 stable for 12 months at 11.
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Old 04-28-2013, 06:26 PM   #6
'lizbeth
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Re: Herceptin/Benadryl

I have a terrible reaction to Benadryl. Tachycardia, High BP, literally looney toones reaction.

I also take Lecithin or DMAE to counteract any anticholinergic reactions from similar medications. I have two half brothers who are unrelated and both are allergic to Benadryl.

I have been able to tolerate Claritin for allergic reactions.

I have family from Garrison NE, are we related?
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Diagnosed 2007
Stage IIb Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Pagets, 3 of 15 positive nodes

Traditional Treatment: Mastectomy and Axillary Node Dissection followed by Taxotere, 6 treatments and 1 year of Herceptin, no radiation
Former Chemo Ninja "Takizi Zukuchiri"

Additional treatments:
GP2 vaccine, San Antonio Med Ctr
Prescriptive Exercise for Cancer Patients
ENERGY Study, UCSD La Jolla

Reconstruction: TRAM flap, partial loss, Revision

The content of my posts are meant for informational purposes only. The medical information is intended for general information only and should not be used in any way to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease

Last edited by 'lizbeth; 04-28-2013 at 06:26 PM.. Reason: typo
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Old 04-29-2013, 08:04 AM   #7
jaykay
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Re: Herceptin/Benadryl

I only accepted the benedryl with the full TCH infusion since I would have time to sleep it off.

I've had 2 solo Herceptin infusions and have refused the benedryl with no ill effects at all. I have also read (on the Herceptin site I think) that you can substitute Vistaril (another antihistamine) for benedryl. I've been taking Vistaril for years for itching with no problems. Maybe you can ask your oncologist if that would be any different for you than the benedryl?
Janis
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March, 2000: 48, Post menopausal (5 yrs HRT) Left breast, IDC 3mm/DCIS 1.6cm, ER+/PR-/Her2+++, mod differentiated, MIB low, lumpectomy, node neg via SNB, rads=33 Stage 1a
June, 2000: Tamox 4.5 years,Femara for 5 years (end in Jan. 2010)
Sept, 2012: 61, Via mamm, ultrasound, biopsy, right breast, 2.3cm tumor, ER+/PR-/Her2+++, poorly diff, KI67 60-70%
BRCA 1 and 2 negative
October, 2012: Bi Mast with tissue expanders, port placement
Final Path: IDC 2.8cm, DCIS, 1/4 sentinal nodes positive (@#$%). Stage IIB
Nov 29, 2012: Begin TCH/6x/every 3 wks, H for 1 year/every 3 weeks.
March 14, 2013: Finished chemo
April 9, 2013: Begin radiation 28x
May 22, 2013: Finished rads
June 1st, 2013: Started Aromasin for 5 yrs.
July 15, 2013: Switched to Letrozole (Femara). Probably for the rest of my life
October 16, 2013: Exchange surgery
October 31, 2013: Finished Herceptin
December 5, 2013: Port removed
Glad this year is over!
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Old 04-29-2013, 10:36 AM   #8
SusanN
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Re: Herceptin/Benadryl

Thank you wonderful women for your support...knowing I'm NOT alone!!

Joni, I have to say, what a a "visual" you gave me!!! WOW!!

Lizbeth, so, Tachycardia & high BP...I DO NOT like that...and it happened...so VERY thankful I had a compassionate nurse by my side, who didn't think I was having a "panic attack!!"
Will be having an echo tomorrow...JUST to make sure all is "beating" well!!

Janis, I was getting solo Herceptin...now we've decided to drive an hour away, which is MUCH better care...however, my treatment changes to the "full TCH"...I guess I'll have to see how my body reacts...4 more treatments to go...

I'll make it...I WILL DO THIS!!!! I AM DOING IT!!!!
__________________
10/18/12 Found pea size lump right breast
11/7/12 Biopsy
12/14/12 Lumpectomy
1/4/13 Rexcision, NO CLEAR MARGINS!! :(
2/11/13 Mastectomy with Expander Placed
2/15/13 INFECTION at Mastectomy site...emergency Surgery!!! Expander removed :(
DX: DCIS, IDC, Stage 2a, 2.7cm, 1/5 nodes positive
ER/PR-, HER2+++
3/28/13 Port placed
4/1/13 Begin 6 Cycles TCH Therapy
4/1/14 Finished Herceptin!!
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