Well had my first taxotere last week, and have just got back to some normality after feeling really crap for about 5 days with aches and pains and sore mouth. Sore mouth still here, but coping with it.
I have a rash appeared on my chest and neck, quite red and itchy. Am scratching it so much, probably making it worse. Been putting E45 on, but not really doing much. Have rung my chemo ward, but waiting for them to call back. I don’t think it is anything serious or to worry about, but as not had taxotere before and no rash either, just a little worried.
If anyone has any ideas or anything, please let me know.
I don’t know if this is of any help to you but worth a try : ) cos as far as I know, taxol is similar to taxotere. Anyways, after the first round of taxol, I got a rash that started at the site where the taxol had been infused into the vein. On Friday, the rash was rampant so I rang the Oncology Ward as it been a Friday and they are closed at weekends as it looked like it was getting worst. The nurse who took my call said the rash wasn’t from the taxol, that taxol doesn’t cause rashes and to go to my GP about it.
So I made apt. with my GP, she wasn’t sure what to do. By this time it was friday evening and the oncology ward was closed so she sent me off to A&E. Bad idea.
The following Tuesday when I was in for my second round of chemo, a lady who had also got her first taxol at the same time as me had also got a rash a week after she had got the taxol. So obviously when we both had got the rash after getting the taxol, it was obvioulsy the taxol causing the rash and not something else as that nurse had suggested to me when i made that call. If I’d known that I would not have gone to A&E.
I think if you have a high-temputure with the rash then get in touch with your doctor. I suppose perhaps you should anyway just to check that the rash is normal with taxotere. Hopefully it will clear up soon. My doctor gave me an antihystamine to help with the itch. Maybe you should get that.
Hope that was of help in some way. Hope you’ll start to feel better soon.
All the best,
Txx
Hi there Dawn
hope the itch is less now, if not, as teacup suggests, ask the chemo people if an antihistimine will be ok. oh, and don’t scratch!
according to : cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=4004#common
this is a common side effect,
Rash which may be itchy. This happens in half the patients treated
hugs
Ruth x
Thanks for this ladies. Not heard back from chemo ward - so they obviously don’t think it is important. Gonna leave it til tomorrow now and see what it looks like before call back.
Had a look Ruth at the link and seems this is just another side effect then.
I had this rash with my first Taxotere and my onc said that it is a common side effect. Anti histamines should help it.
Piriton which you can buy over the counter may help and also calamine lotion . I also used some Anthisan on the worst bits. It went away after about a week.
Well chemo unit eventually rang back at 6pm. He said it is not a common side effect to get a rash, but can happen, although as a few of you have said it is common and was given a link which also lists as one.
Said to either get piriton or loratadine, and recommended I get the loratadine as got little ones, and piriton can make you drowsy!!! Also said should go to the docs in the morning (easier said than done) and get checked out to make sure it is just a rash and nothing more. We shall see, my docs are pretty useless and will probably look at me blankly!!!
So, having dinner in a mo, both kids in bed and will take my “new” tablet and see what happens.
Mel, will need to tie my hands up to stop me scratching, it is a nightmare, and once I scratch, I can’t stop!!! Looking really attractive now … LOL
One of the things the chemo unit told me when I had my first tax last week was it was common to get a rash - I haven’t had one but it shows you we all get different advice. I,like you, had an awful week with the Tax. Had it Wednesday and by Saturday it was bad - really bad. Just started to turn a corner Tuesday and attended the Healthy Living Day in Southport which I thoroughly enjoyed and by today just very tired and an awful mouth. It was bad on FEC but it’s so yukky. I hope it gets better before the next onslaught !!