Any one have an allergic reaction and continue chemo?

In Oct. 2004 I began a regime of AC/T dose dense. I was originally expected to do 4 cycles of AC, then 4 of taxol. I knew something was dreadfully wrong even after my 1st AC. While reading on these boards about chemo being "doable", and sharing with a friend who went through treatment at the same time as I did(who I met through these boards) and comparing notes, it made no sense that I was ill for ea day of the 14 day cycle. Boy was I ill...my usual day was spent throwing up 10-15 times a day regardless of what anti emitics they would put me on. By cycle 2 I began throwing up during the infusions which even the nurses thought was odd. My oncologist I think thought I was exxagerating how bad it was. After cycle 3 I began to develop numerous large blisters on my feet. When I pointed these out to the oncologist and resident I was told they couldnt have anything to do with chemo...and was asked what I'd been doing...hmmm.."well nothing but throwing up"....after cycle 4 the fun really began.....thats when I swelled out and my hands and feet developed the lobster complex...I now had claws that were bright red and I could not move either hand. Dh had to feed me what little I could take in. Suffice to say , when this started we called the Dr. who agreed to see me a couple of days later. I knew it was serious when after I was examined, I was photographed for their educational program ...lol.

I was told this was a 1 in 10,000 reaction...lucky me !

Tha was the end of my chemo..I apparently had a grade(I think 3) toxicity reaction, spent 2 months on prednisone delaying my rads, and never did the Taxol...but knock on wood Im still here and it'll be 5 years in another month from diagnosis .

I just went for my 2nd Taxol this morning and they decided not to give it to me as I developed neuropathy in all my fingertips (am a legal asst) and in my feet immediately after having my first Taxol two weeks ago.  Feet are much better, but fingers have not changed a whit.  They were very concerned about this and in fear of turning this into a worse and totally disability for me, they are waiting until next week, hoping this will clear up, and will give me Taxotere instead.  Of course, neuropathy may continue, but they said neuropathy is worse on Taxol than on Taxotere.  We will see.  All I know is this puts me another week later in finishing this crap.

Linda

Pat  ~  I'm wondering if you need to get a second opinion.  If you are fearful of another serious reaction, it might be helpful to have another onc at an entirely different facility weigh in on what happened to you and if anything different should be done for future infusions.  As many of us have learned, not all oncs think alike or agree on tx, and if I was in your situation, I would definitely feel the need to double-check your current onc's recommendation to continue the CMF.  

Good luck, whatever you decide to do, and please keep us posted ~  Deanna

Hi Pat,

i had an  anaphylactic reaction to taxotere. no expert but that was cycle two- they upped my steroid pre-med and gave me benadryl pre-med and no problem this time.  Different drug though. good luck!

Me in NJ 

Thanks, Pat - I'm hanging in there - so far anyway.  Today is Sunday, am living on 1/2 oxycontin every 6 hours, but doing ok.  (Thank God for the meds).  Just hope my neuropathy doesn't worsen, as the onc will stop the last two treatments if it does.  Keep you posted.  Thanks again.

Linda

I agree Weesa, we just have to do what we have to do.  The neuropathy in fingertips and toes was what they took me off the Taxol for, and just had the taxotere instead.  So far, it has worsened, and onc says if it does, she's stopping the last two treatments.  I've done the 4 DD AC's every two weeks for four rounds, and one taxol and one Taxotere so far, so I'd like to complete it all as I'm triple neg and it's all I've got - and then the rads.  As much as I don't want numb fingers forever, I figure neuropathy won't kill me, but the cancer sure can.  Glad to hear everything sounds good for you. 

Linda