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Topic: 1st chemo treatment caused severe acne reaction. Help!

Forum: Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment —

This is a place to discuss concerns, tips and strategies for all types of side effects from all types of medications and treatments, (chemo/rads/hormonal/targeted/pain meds/etc.

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Posted on: Nov 11, 2020 08:10AM

Cali-gal-in-ID wrote:

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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Nov 11, 2020 08:27AM MinusTwo wrote:

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.

2/15/11 BMX-DCIS 2SNB clear-TEs; 9/15/11-410gummies; 3/20/13 recurrance-5.5cm,mets to lymphs, Stage IIIB IDC ER/PRneg,HER2+; TCH/Perjeta/Neulasta x6; ALND 9/24/13 1/18 nodes 4.5cm; AC chemo 10/30/13 x3; herceptin again; Rads Feb2014
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Nov 11, 2020 10:26AM Cali-gal-in-ID wrote:

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

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Nov 11, 2020 11:50AM Redkitty815 wrote:

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.

Dx 11/26/2019, IDC, Left, 3cm, Stage IIB, Grade 3, 1/12 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2+ (FISH) Chemotherapy 12/19/2019 AC + T (Taxol) Targeted Therapy 7/12/2020 Herceptin (trastuzumab) Chemotherapy 7/12/2020 Navelbine (vinorelbine) Surgery Lymph node removal; Mastectomy; Reconstruction (left); Reconstruction (right)
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Nov 11, 2020 12:58PM Melbo wrote:

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.

Diagnosed right before my 42nd birthday. One husband, two dogs, one cat and no kids. Dx 7/16/2020, IDC, Left, 2cm, Stage IIA, Grade 3, 1/7 nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2+ Targeted Therapy 8/6/2020 Herceptin (trastuzumab) Targeted Therapy 8/6/2020 Perjeta (pertuzumab) Chemotherapy 8/6/2020 Carboplatin (Paraplatin), Taxotere (docetaxel) Surgery 12/20/2020 Lumpectomy: Left; Lymph node removal: Sentinel; Reconstruction (left); Reconstruction (right) Radiation Therapy 1/31/2021 Whole-breast: Breast, Lymph nodes
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Nov 11, 2020 01:13PM - edited Nov 11, 2020 01:13PM by illimae

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.

Diagnosed at 41 Stage IV De Novo Dx 11/16/2016, IDC, Left, 5cm, Stage IV, metastasized to bone, Grade 3, 3/13 nodes, ER+/PR-, HER2+ (IHC) Chemotherapy 1/1/2017 Abraxane (albumin-bound or nab-paclitaxel) Targeted Therapy 1/1/2017 Herceptin (trastuzumab) Targeted Therapy 1/1/2017 Perjeta (pertuzumab) Surgery 6/26/2017 Lumpectomy: Left; Lymph node removal: Underarm/Axillary Radiation Therapy 8/10/2017 Breast, Lymph nodes Dx 10/5/2017, IDC, Left, 5cm, Stage IV, metastasized to brain, Grade 3, 3/13 nodes, ER+, HER2+ (IHC) Radiation Therapy 10/19/2017 External: Brain Radiation Therapy 4/18/2018 External: Brain Radiation Therapy 5/22/2019 External: Brain Surgery 1/21/2020 Radiation Therapy 2/16/2020 External: Brain Radiation Therapy 7/20/2020 External: Bone Radiation Therapy 12/4/2020 External: Brain Targeted Therapy Tukysa (tucatinib) Chemotherapy Xeloda (capecitabine) Hormonal Therapy Tamoxifen pills (Nolvadex, Apo-Tamox, Tamofen, Tamone)
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Nov 13, 2020 08:01PM Cali-gal-in-ID wrote:

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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Nov 29, 2020 11:32AM illimae wrote:

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)


Diagnosed at 41 Stage IV De Novo Dx 11/16/2016, IDC, Left, 5cm, Stage IV, metastasized to bone, Grade 3, 3/13 nodes, ER+/PR-, HER2+ (IHC) Chemotherapy 1/1/2017 Abraxane (albumin-bound or nab-paclitaxel) Targeted Therapy 1/1/2017 Herceptin (trastuzumab) Targeted Therapy 1/1/2017 Perjeta (pertuzumab) Surgery 6/26/2017 Lumpectomy: Left; Lymph node removal: Underarm/Axillary Radiation Therapy 8/10/2017 Breast, Lymph nodes Dx 10/5/2017, IDC, Left, 5cm, Stage IV, metastasized to brain, Grade 3, 3/13 nodes, ER+, HER2+ (IHC) Radiation Therapy 10/19/2017 External: Brain Radiation Therapy 4/18/2018 External: Brain Radiation Therapy 5/22/2019 External: Brain Surgery 1/21/2020 Radiation Therapy 2/16/2020 External: Brain Radiation Therapy 7/20/2020 External: Bone Radiation Therapy 12/4/2020 External: Brain Targeted Therapy Tukysa (tucatinib) Chemotherapy Xeloda (capecitabine) Hormonal Therapy Tamoxifen pills (Nolvadex, Apo-Tamox, Tamofen, Tamone)
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Feb 16, 2021 02:20PM ilana_lisa wrote:

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!

Dx 7/10/2020, IDC: Cribriform, Left, Stage IIB, Grade 2, ER+/PR-, HER2+ Chemotherapy 8/4/2020 Carboplatin (Paraplatin), Taxotere (docetaxel) Targeted Therapy 8/4/2020 Perjeta (pertuzumab) Targeted Therapy 8/4/2020 Herceptin (trastuzumab) Surgery 12/21/2020 Lymph node removal: Left; Mastectomy: Left, Right; Reconstruction (left): Tissue expander placement; Reconstruction (right): Tissue expander placement Radiation Therapy
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Feb 16, 2021 03:05PM Redcanoe wrote:

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

Toni - age 34, mom to 4 kids ages 11, 8, 5 and 3 Dx 11/19/2020, DCIS/IDC, Right, 2cm, Stage IIB, Grade 3, 2/5 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2+ (IHC) Surgery 12/15/2020 Lumpectomy: Right Chemotherapy 1/12/2021 Carboplatin (Paraplatin), Taxotere (docetaxel) Targeted Therapy 1/12/2021 Herceptin (trastuzumab)
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Feb 16, 2021 03:56PM Anotherlife wrote:

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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