Has anyone developed allergies after chemo?

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burley
burley Member Posts: 631
edited June 2014 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
Has anyone developed allergies after chemo?
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  • burley
    burley Member Posts: 631
    edited March 2013

    I've been done with chemo since July 2011, but within the last 10 months I've developed many hayfever allergies, and some food allergies.

    Dogs (I've had dogs my whole life and I currently have 5), grasses, weeds, trees, dust mites.  Then there's the foods: wheat, apples, bananas, coffee (!!), cinnamon, vanilla...

    This is all new.  I never had any problems prior to chemo.  I've seen some postings around the web, but wondered if there's anyone here who is experiencing anything like this.

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited March 2013

    Burley, I didn't develop allergies after chemo, but I did develop them during perimenopause (late 40s for me). It could be a hormonal thing for you. It's not unusual for allergies to develop or subside around the time of adolescence or menopause because of the hormonal upheaval.

    All the best.

    Leah

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  • NatsFan
    NatsFan Member Posts: 3,745
    edited March 2013

    Burley - I had the opposite - chemo cured my allergies.  I used to have horrible autumn allergies, to the point where I'd have to even take days off of work.  When I finished chemo in July, I was already so fatigued, and was worried about how badly the allergies would hit.  Voila - fall came and went, with no allergies.  That was in 2008 and I've been fine every since.  My onc said it's not usual, but she has heard of it happening.

    But maybe as Leah says it was due to menopause, and since chemo put me into instant menopause, it would have coincided with chemo.  Who knows?  I feel for you though having suffered for so many years with allergies- hopefully your system will settle down soon.  Have you seen an allergist?  Maybe your onc knows of one who is familiar with patients who've been through chemo. 

    When my friends complain about their allergies, I always tell them I know of a great cure.  But for some reason none of them ever want to follow that cure! Tongue Out  

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2013

    I developed very strong allergies after chemo - I have a tearing eye and runny nose almost every day, despite daily antihistamines, spray, etc.  I also have developed chronic hives that break out in the summer when it is really humid and cover my whole body in stages, from scalp moving down to trunk, legs, etc.  Doctors have been unable to pin point what is causing or or how to make it stop.  I pretty much have to deal with it as best I can.  I was extremely allergic to the chemo and the Neulasta shots and had to stop chemo after 2 rounds because I was having such allergic reactions.  Doesn't surprise me that my lasting gift of severe allergies is still with me.

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  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited March 2013

    I had terrible allergies during chemo never had them before - you name it, I was allergic.

    I'm 10 months out from chemo and most of them have subsided.  I write a BC Blog.  I get many

    notes from women who develop allergies after chemo - some several years later.

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  • burley
    burley Member Posts: 631
    edited May 2013

    I've seen an allergist and have a long list of things I'm allergic to, which I never was before.  The hayfever stuff I can deal with for the most part-take some Zyrtec or Claritin, move on.  It's the mouth issue I struggle with all day long.  Almost every time I eat something new, I have a reaction.  I made a gigantic delicious salad filled with all kinds of yummy things one night and had a terrible reaction.  Mouth was on fire, gums and tongue were swollen, gums were bleeding when I brushed my teeth.  So the next night I ate ice cream for dinner and was fine.  When I eat most crap food, I'm fine-which is terrible.  I hate to eat like that.

    Thanks for listening guys :)

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  • SelenaWolf
    SelenaWolf Member Posts: 1,724
    edited May 2013

    After chemotherapy, many of my food allergies disappeared.  Can't figure out why, but am enjoying eating chocolate for the first time ...

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  • moni731
    moni731 Member Posts: 293
    edited May 2013

    Yes Burley, I am right there with you. Since chemo (coming up on 2 years), also was not able to finish chemo or herceptin because of allergies, things have gone crazy. I have always had some environmental allergies and mild asthma dx'd in adulthood, but lately it has escalated. My asthma is now 'severe', many food allergies, environmental allergies worse (triggering asthma reactions), medications (many new), and last month was stung by a bee and had an anaplylactic reaction that landed me in ICU for 2 days! My allergist/immunologist is at a loss. I am on a dozen meds now and my IGE level continues to rise (329 for a <114 norm). He is sending my records for opinions to the leading allergists in the country. I am considering Xolair use, but it is a monoclonol antibody made by the same company as Herceptin and he is unsure of any cross reactivity. I'm on the fence about trying it though, just tired of all the reactions. Because I tested so high for hymenoptera venom, he won't give me allergy shots yet. Really frustrated. So far, no one relates the chemo as a catalyst. I do, however, as I had very harsh reactions to it, i.e. febrile neutropenia, low rbc's and platelets (bottomed out to almost zero's), protracted nausea and vomiting, gallbladder disease and repeated bouts of septic shock. Having made it through all that, it's hard to accept all this stuff now.

    chelev- Have they pinpointed it to the chemo? I also only had 2 rounds of AC, 1+ rounds of TCH, and then a few more of H alone before they said I could not do any more.

    Glad to see this topic open again, I feel that I am not such a minority!

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  • indenial
    indenial Member Posts: 504
    edited May 2013

    Oops posted on the wrong topic.

    Though I am curious how some discovered their food allergies disappeared. Did you try the foods again on purpose? I think I would be scared to but it would be awesome to eat those foods again!

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  • burley
    burley Member Posts: 631
    edited May 2013

    My food allergies developed after chemo, and weirdly, after my ovaries were taken out.  Of course, it could all be coincendental.

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  • Kayrem
    Kayrem Member Posts: 164
    edited May 2013

    Hi burley - I am same as Natsfan. Bad allergies before - hay fever, asthma (did whole chemo treatment on ventolin and Alvesco), horrible sinus headaches, finished treatment and use Ventolin less than times a week only. No sinus headaches nothing. However I will say that since diagnosis I got one of those adjustable beds and always sleep with my head adjusted up 6 to 7 inches. I notice when I sleep flat after a few days I wake up with congestion and a headache (which is how it was when I had allergies).

    Oh also I just had my ovaries and hysterectomy last week so we will have to see what happens going forward. Maybe I spoke too soon and i will now have issues like you now that they are gone. Take care
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  • Kelly39
    Kelly39 Member Posts: 3
    edited May 2013

    I have had the worst allergy season of my life this spring as I ask going through chemo. There has to be a connection.

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  • keturah
    keturah Member Posts: 3
    edited September 2013

    I have been developing allergies...been a little over 5 years since my chemo.  It keeps  getting worse with time.  I am going through allergies testing now.  Allergic to almost everything they test for.   My mouth, tongue feels like a scolded it.  It has lasted everyday since May.   I walked into a salon and the aroma display set it off.  It is getting worse...nause, headache included. 

    I had AC and taxol for chemo...also neulasta shots.  I cannot digest food very well....my stomach bloats 2 hours later. 

    Very hard to work around peoples perfumes...it burns my mouth, my teeth and gums even hurt at times...gives headachs and makes me nausea.  Hopefully the doctor i am going to now will be able to help.

    p.s  I found out that i am allergice to cats....I have had cats all my life and never was allergic, never been allergic to anything until chemo. 

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