Carboplatin hypersensitivity : Yesterday I had... - My Ovacome

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Carboplatin hypersensitivity

kadabra12 profile image
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Yesterday I had my chemotherapy for my reoccourance which followed my original diagnosis in Jan 2012 and I post op chemotherapy ended in July 2020 . My reoccourance was diagnosed april 2022. They decided to give me the same regime of carboplatin and paclitaxel. So no probs for my prev 6 cycles in 2020 or my 1st cycle of this one 3 weeks ago. I am having my op after my 3rd cyle as long as the tumour in my abdomin and bowel shrink . So yesterday I had my pre meds then my 3 hour of paclitaxil but when they started the carboplatin within 15 mins I felt my hands go itchy on my palms and they were bright red and my srms were pinking and then my tongue went all itchy. Within moments my chest went tight and I felt I couldn't breathe..cut a long story short after regiving me the premeds and stopping the carboplatin they then got my ssts back normal and sent me home 2 hpurs later I apparently had an anaphylactic shock due to the reaction to the platinum based chemotherapy. Anyone else had this and what did they offer instead. Really worried at the moment and won't have no answers till my routine oncologist call on the 21sr prior to my 3rd cycle . Thanks

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kadabra12
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Redditch profile image
Redditch

Try not to get yourself into q state. 1. They are guessing at what set you off, it could have been any of the things that touched you, never mind the platinum in the carboplatin. 2. An ANA test will tell them whether your immune system is kicking off and they are used to that. Chemo is horrible poison your body had a natural response.

They will find you something to suppress your immune response.

kadabra12 profile image
kadabra12 in reply to Redditch

They havnt mentioned no test and my oncologist call is on the thurs and my chemo is on the Monday. Might ring my cns then to see if we can look into it further ready for my next cycle. Thank you for your reply x

Katmal-UK profile image
Katmal-UK

Hi, On my first recurrence I had a stage 3 anaphylactic shock on carbo on my third cycle within a minute of the drip going up. Unfortunately mine was more severe and I actually passed out, they had to clear the chemo ward and it took the medical team about an hour to stabilise me. I had 14 shots of adrenaline and had to spend the night in hospital. For me this means that I can no longer have carbo. The following week I returned and was put on cisplatin which is harsher than carbo but totally doable. For my second recurrence I had cisplatin again and after 3 doses it put me back into remission. Please don’t worry, they have alternatives if you can’t have carbo tho I have heard of ladies who have carbo administered more slowly and with more antihistamine to stop such an occurrence. Good luck, Kathy.

kadabra12 profile image
kadabra12 in reply to Katmal-UK

Hank you for your reply. I'm not 100% sure what happened and how,severe it was as I just kept drifting in and out of conciousness after I'd raised the alarm and not sure what drugs,were administered just know it took me ages get my sats up and oxygen levels back. They let me home after 2 hours so obv not as bad as yourself but so scary. No one really told me too much and it's all a blur tbh. They did say they have reported it all on my notes and will also email my oncologist and he will decided what to do next whether to stay and administer slower or swap it over. Hopefully what I had already will have done something towards shrinking the tumours. Such a worry not knowing what the next step is x

Katmal-UK profile image
Katmal-UK in reply to kadabra12

It is scary and a worry but your team will have an answer which they haven’t told you about yet x

Lizzieanne profile image
Lizzieanne

I had adverse reaction to carboplatin on my recurrence so the day before I was to have treatment I would start tablets to desensitise me to it. This did work for me. Hope something similar can be given to you. It is very frightening when you have the bad reaction. X

kadabra12 profile image
kadabra12 in reply to Lizzieanne

Thank you for your reply. That also makes me feel better as if i can i would like stay on carboplatin as it worked for me 2 years ago. All the advise I can speak to my cns about or my oncologist before my next cycle

Erinna72 profile image
Erinna72

Hi there,Don't worry - I had the same and they changed me to cisplatin. I was given 3 days of cortisone beforehand combined with mild sedative to prevent any further shock and i completed my treatment with no further problems. Of course, it has more side effects being the first generation platin but it did the job! I coped well.

All the best

kadabra12 profile image
kadabra12 in reply to Erinna72

Thank you for your reply. I have contacted my cns with all the info I've been given and advise so hopefully they will look into it so we know what's happening before the next one and if I'm going need meds prior ...and as long as it does the job at the end I will cope with what side effects I need to..just make sure this time I have my nurse button at hand instead of having to search for it on the wall behind my chair when I'm having to go through it x

Erinna72 profile image
Erinna72 in reply to kadabra12

If they decide on continuing with any platin, they’ll watch you like a hawk! So don’t worry. A nurse stayed with me for over 30 minutes but all was well. My oncologist doesn’t consider giving me carbo platin again as he believes it’s too dangerous. - at least for me. My reaction was very bad. Unfortunately I am now platin resistant, so….am doing weekly taxol.

kadabra12 profile image
kadabra12 in reply to Erinna72

How,are you going on with the weekly taxol? Now thinking about it the other option they mentioned Monday was the possibility of just going with taxol but that was the chemotherapy nurse who said it so again it's just another option I might be given by my oncologist I don't know yet. Hope all goes well for you x

Erinna72 profile image
Erinna72 in reply to kadabra12

Thank you. I’m coping well, it’s very doable, apart from losing my hair again and getting more neuropathy. I try to walk as much as possible which helps. As long as it’s working……Keep us informed as to how you’re getting on.

xx

kadabra12 profile image
kadabra12 in reply to Erinna72

I'm currently losing my hair by the handful every day. The other day my lose hair matted in with my strong hair and I had 2 big fur balls on my head so had to have it cut short Today I sported a scarf tie on my head to cover thr bald patches whilst I went out to lunch with work colleagues. Think I'm going shave it in the next few days as I'm moulting everywhere in thr car, in the house. ..and yes I will comment on this once I ok ow as it helps others searching for answers too. Take care x

Numi profile image
Numi

I developed sensitivity to carboplatin last year on cycle 4 of 6 after having had it for 6 cycles in 2016, 6 more in 2017 and 3 in 2021 with no issues at all. I had exactly the same reaction as you, but I was told it wasn’t as severe as anaphylaxis. I was treated with steroids and antihistamines until the reaction faded. Next time I was given medications to take beforehand, but the same thing happened. Once the reaction calmed down, I managed the rest of the treatment but at a very slow infusion rate. For my final cycle, I had yet more meds to take in the days beforehand and a slow infusion from the outset, but it happened again, though I did manage to complete the treatment eventually, and it was successful in bringing my CA125 down to normal levels. I don’t know what will happen next time I need treatment, especially as that could be sooner rather than later as my CA125 had shot up alarmingly at my last checkup, and I’m awaiting the results of an urgent CT scan.

kadabra12 profile image
kadabra12 in reply to Numi

Thank you for your reply. I hope all goes well for you as it sounds like you've been quite through it these last 6 years. I'm surprised they didn't swap it with you reacting the 2nd time to it but I soppose,we have to persevere with whatever the effects are and trust they know best what to do for us. Hopefully they manage to sort it so im either swapped or slower infussion rate and im ok next time ....Good luck with ur results x

Caleda4 profile image
Caleda4

That is interesting,as on my third chemo cycle this time,after I had come home,my hands went bright red and itched,no other symptoms. I failed to alert anyone as I forgot all about it. The same thing happened this time but again no other symptoms,but i now intend sending my CNS a message, but am assuming it is the carbo,as they are giving me caelyx first, followed by carbo.I hope you get this sorted. Take care.x

kadabra12 profile image
kadabra12 in reply to Caleda4

Sounds like ur having a very mild reaction to the carbo then if that's your only reaction. It hit my tongue within seconds of my hands and my feet and arms were also very pinkish too I noticed as I came back around. My heart was going ten to the dozen and I was struggling to breathe and my oxygen levels were low so i had to go on oxygen for 2 hours afterwards.. Yea it's best to let them know if you've had any effects once home and keeping antihistamines close by too but make sure you tell them so they give u the right advice and also may add it to your prescription as they did with mine prev when I had hives rash x

Erinna72 profile image
Erinna72 in reply to Caleda4

It could be the Caelyx - I had that last year and my palms were bright red. Apparently, it can affect the soles of the feet too. They told me it was the Caelyx. Of course, they never warn you beforehand!!!!

I am currently on the desensitisation protocol for carboplatin for the second time. My initial allergic reaction (it was mild - itchy palms, tingling lips) happened on my 8th carboplatin infusion - I was switched to cisplatin for the remainder of that course. Since then I have had carbo under the desensitisation protocol twice. I start my pre-meds 24 hours beforehand and the carbo is given in 4 bags, 90 minutes each, starting on a low dose and increasing as the bags go through. I've had no problems at all.

kadabra12 profile image
kadabra12 in reply to

Thank you for your reply. Its great to get feedback off everyone cause otherwise just sitting here not knowing my options but it seems like I'm pretty much getting the same feedback whixh is good to hear. Thanks again everyone's reply is really helping me x

I had a severe reaction to Carbo yesterday after just 1 minute or so of the infusion. Thanks Kadabra, Lennie, Erinna, Kathy, Numi, Lizzieanne & Redditch for this thread. It has helped.

I’m still in hospital and waiting to see what they decide to do today.

It was a very frightening experience.

Anne.

Ova3 profile image
Ova3

Yes, kadabra, this happened to me on my 1st recurrence after about 4 infusions. I was switched to Cisplatin for 2 cycles, but the tumor actually grew on the last cycle. I had 34 treatments of radiation. That shrunk the little cyst but another cyst grew. I was put on Doxil which had no effect on the tumor. I am now on Cytoxan orally and Avastin every 2 weeks. It is common for us to become resistant to platinum.

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