1st chemo treatment caused severe acne reaction. Help!

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Cali-gal-in-ID
Cali-gal-in-ID Member Posts: 3
edited February 2021 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

I am on day 12 after my 1st chemo treatment of Carboplatin, Taxotere, Herceptin & Perjeta. I have these painful itchy acne typebumps all over my chest, neck, upper back, hairline, scalp, & some on my face. The Dr. said it was a reaction called Acneiform and may have been caused by the Perjeta. He put me on an antibiotic and topical cream. They are still popping up. Has anyone else experienced this? Any helpful tips? Thank you.

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited November 2020

    Not something I've heard of but I'm wondering why you're not on something like Benedryl too? That supposedly calms the itching.

    I made it through 6 rounds w/Perjeta but the diarrhea was horrific. I lost 60 lbs that I didn't need to lose. Needless to say after surgery I continued with the Herceptin but not the Perjeta.

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  • Cali-gal-in-ID
    Cali-gal-in-ID Member Posts: 3
    edited November 2020

    I should have said I was taking Claritin and aspirin too.

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  • Redkitty815
    Redkitty815 Member Posts: 44
    edited November 2020

    I had a bumpy red rash on my cheeks with Taxol. The MO put me on clindamycin ointment which cleared it up. I think she said that if it didn’t work, she would prescribe a topical steroid.

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  • Melbo
    Melbo Member Posts: 346
    edited November 2020

    I had a similar reaction to TCHP and was told to take Claritin and Pepcid. It’s a weird combo, but it did clear up the rash. I also had an allergic reaction to something while on chemo and had to take steroids at one point, and later I got a yeast infection rash which require a prescription cream to clear up.

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  • illimae
    illimae Member Posts: 5,710
    edited November 2020

    Caligal, I had that to with Perjeta, it was only occasionally after the infusion, maybe just a handful of times per year and would resolve on its own after a few days. I also had some bumps on my hands, like a fire ant bit, that too never lasted long. Several times I had spots on my belly, another allergic reaction, once I counted 64 spots, the skin doc confirmed the same. Those became less frequent over time but it was a bummer while on vacation, so many pics of me looking like puberty blew up in my face. The good news is that it didn't stick around long and the chemo combo worked really well.

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  • Cali-gal-in-ID
    Cali-gal-in-ID Member Posts: 3
    edited November 2020

    Thank you for your replies. Illimae- were yours like little puss filled bumps? I have my next infusion on Friday, 11-20 which will be three weeks. And they are still popping up. :o

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  • illimae
    illimae Member Posts: 5,710
    edited November 2020

    caligalinID, sorry I missed this post earlier. Some looked like that, the ones that felt like bug bites, most were like this. (Warning: fat belly pic)

    image

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  • ilana_lisa
    ilana_lisa Member Posts: 5
    edited February 2021

    I had the same regimen of Carboplatin, Taxotere, Herceptin & Perjeta and had HORRIBLE acne on my face after the first round. Especially on and under my chin, around my mouth and on my cheeks, the bumpy painful kind. I was told it was most likely a reaction the steroids, and not the chemo at all. I guess I will never know. My dr prescribed a topical antibiotic which seemed to help as it did get less severe with each chemo treatment, and by my last treatment I had hardly any bumps at all. So whatever was the cause that first time seemed to be a bad reaction that my body maybe got used to over time.

    Good luck, I know how alarming it can be to deal with skin issues on top of everything else!

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  • Redcanoe
    Redcanoe Member Posts: 131
    edited February 2021

    this happened to me with my first round of TCH but thankfully not my second round

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  • Anotherlife
    Anotherlife Member Posts: 1
    edited February 2021

    I have no ideas or a fix but I am experiencing it now, 6 days past my first chemo (TCHP). Tiny little itchy pimples on my face, scalp, back and the inside of my upper thighs where I shaved last week. It's not like any pimple or ingrown hair I'm familiar with because they break open so easily. :/


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