Anyone Have An Allergic Reaction to Herceptin Begin After Chemo?

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Nclark6
Nclark6 Member Posts: 11
edited July 2016 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

I had surgery and then chemo after being diagnosed with ER,PR -, HER 2 Pos Breast Chemo. All during chemo I received Herceptin to accompany it and I didn't have any allergic reactions. However after I was done with my last chemo (I had six chemos in total) I received my second infusion of Herceptin by itself on a Thursday morning (about five weeks after being done with last chemo) and by the afternoon I had an allergic reaction where my knee became completely swollen and I had hives all over my body (I had no issue with my first infusion of Herceptin only). I knew it was the Herceptin because I do meal prep and everything I ate was the same earlier in the week so in this instance I knew it wasn't something I ate. I showed my radiotherapist my swollen itchy knee and she said yeah this can happen and I would have to take Benadryl prior to every Herceptin infusion in the future since it's something I definitely need to have a full year of. I'm wondering if this has happened to anybody else and if they could share their experience dealing with this because I'm wondering if I can expect my allergic reaction will stop at some point? Prior to being diagnosed I wasn't allergic to anything that I knew of and since being done with chemo I've had an allergic reaction two other times besides the Hercepin incident I've mentioned (those two times were definitely due to seasoning in the food I ate). I guess my body has gone haywire since chemo but I'm just wondering if I can expect my body to go back to normal or if this is my new normal where I should expect to have constant allergic reactions?

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  • RebzAmy
    RebzAmy Member Posts: 322
    edited July 2016

    Yes, I had a reaction to Herceptin - but strangely the first time it happened was halfway through i.e. my 9th infusion and then I was fine after. Then on my last Herceptin I had quite a spectacular reaction whereby I became faint, heart rate went crazy, blood pressure went crazy, temperature went high and I had to be infused with various drugs to calm it down plus oxygen. I was told that if I ever needed Herceptin again then I would have to be given something beforehand to prevent a reaction. I also had a reaction to intravenous antibiotics, where I too got hives all over my body

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  • MaineRottweilers
    MaineRottweilers Member Posts: 156
    edited July 2016

    I did 17 infusions of Herceptin, with no issue, when I was treated for early stage BC but my first infusion, 18 months later, for MBC sent my immune system into overdrive. My lymph nodes swelled and my throat started to close. They had to stop the Herceptin drip for more than an hour while they administered oral and IV Benedryl. I was able to resume the infusion at a reduced rate but still have Benedryl before each infusion.

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  • Nclark6
    Nclark6 Member Posts: 11
    edited July 2016

    Thanks for the replies! So I see you both were given something/or told you would have to be given something beforehand to reduce the possibility of allergic reactions. Do ya'll see this as something that you will have to permanently deal with or do you think your immune system will adjust to over time? @ MaineRottweilers the fact that you mentioned they give you Benadryl before each injection makes me think that the doctors think your immune system won't adjust and you will continue to have allergic reactions to Herceptin without Benadryl? @RebzAmy I know you mentioned that you had an allergic reaction to intravenous antibiotics. After you were done with Herceptin did you continue to have allergic reactions to anything?

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  • Tresjoli2
    Tresjoli2 Member Posts: 868
    edited July 2016

    slow down your infusion and have them give it to you over 90 minutes. Helps a ton...

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  • MaineRottweilers
    MaineRottweilers Member Posts: 156
    edited July 2016

    I will always have Benedryl before my Herceptin. No one wants the risk of a serious reaction. Benedryl is relative benign, it makes me mildly groggy.

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  • Basia
    Basia Member Posts: 790
    edited July 2016

    I had a similar situation. Turned out that my reaction was from heparin they use to flush my port. I have a mild pork allergy and heparin is derived from pig liver enzymes. I stopped flushing with heparin and my hives and rash are almost nonexistent. I am on H&P for life so I needed to find a long term solution. Benadryl is not an option for me.



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