Chemo Sunburn like Rash!!!!!!!

Amy550

I am on day 12 after my #3 chemo treatment, TCH, and I've had just about every side effect you can have.  My dr. told me that most people only had 2 to 3 side effects but that I suffer from 8 to 9.  I am the exception ladies.  So many travel this journey with few side effects.  I don't want to discourage anyone but I need some input from other ladies that may have dealt with the issues that I'm having.  My current issue is a sunburn like rash on my face (cheeks) neck and upper chest.  It's only broken out where my sun line from my shirts is at.  It's so strange.  It burns just like sunburn and it feels heated also. I had it for 4 days now and it doesn't seem to be getting any better.  I hate to call my MO over everything.   PLEASE, if anyone can help!!!!!!! 

SmartassSmurf

Amy,

I am not sure what regimen you are on, but Taxol does the same to me. I start the evening of chemo day...and it lasts for 3 to 4 days. Red, stingy, hot, a little swollen. They told me to take Benadryl & Zantac for it. That has been helping, although it has been less helpful these past two treatments (I think because of the cumulative nature of Taxol over 12 weeks). I also get an itchy raised part of the rash on the left side of my chest a couple of inches from the port. Not sure way that is...that started 2 weeks ago. I think it is worth asking the Onc, as it is likely some sort of allergy thing, or at least that is what they told me when I called in to my Onc several weeks ago.

SpecialK

It is not uncommon to have a rash, sometimes it is from the steroids given as pre-meds, sometimes from the chemo drugs themselves. I got the face/neck/chest rash and flushing from the Decadron. It usually lasted 24-48 hours. After several tx of TCH I did develop a photosensitive rash on my face and arms - exacerbated by sunlight and heat. All of this went away quickly after I was done with the TC portion and on Herceptin only. Fwiw, I know very few people who had 2-3 side effects, many more who had as many as you. My MO did not prescribe anything specific for the rash, I just used Benadryl cream and stayed out of the sun.