Hives

KleeKai

Has anyone experienced hives during the course of their chemotherapy?  I just had cycle 2 on 6/17 with taxotere and Cytoxan.  On 6/23, I developed a severe case of hives.  My head, face, neck and chest were covered in the itchy red wheals.  I finally saw my PCP who has now put me on prednisone for 5 days - my eyelids are still swollen less than 24 hrs after being on the prednisone.  This did not happen after cycle 1 - cycle one was a breeze compared to cycle 2.

I had also wondered if the INH I am taking for latent TB (which I only started on 6/11) could be a cause (I visit the TB Clinic today - I am not infected but I have tested positive since I was 17 meaning I was exposed to someone with active TB in my childhood).  The clinic put me on INH to eradicate the bacteria from my system, fearing that chemotherapy's reduction in my immunity may set off active TB (they actually have a patient right now that this has happened to).  While the clinic didn't mention this, I did learn that when taking INH (with B6 to avoid neuropathy), I should be on a low tyramine and low histamine diet to avoid side effects.

My PCP cannot determine what caused the hives - too many variables.  It could be food, food+drugs, or the drugs.  She did say if it happens again, she will send me for allergy testing. 

Just wondering if anyone here has experienced this. 

KleeKai

Just a follow up note - it appears I am allergic to taxol or an ingredient contained in the formulation of taxol.  I go for allergy testing July 1 to determine whether its the taxol or INH but taxol is considered to be suspect because of the facial swelling.