Allergy to Paclitaxel and Docetaxel

Not as yet ...but despite being as positive as you can possibly it can happen to anyone of us ...!

       To go back up to thousands is a concern and could happen to anyone of us who despite thinking positively have to be aware of these happenings .

    Treatment goes stage by stage and you as you know have done that ...first stage has to be correct before surgery and so on if having chemo first as I am soon .

         High grade oc stage 4 is the worst and there are far more complexities ....as you'll know .

         Its treatable but not curable and there is no quarentee with any of the stages because youve got to be realistically optimistic and look at it with hope of course but  be still aware ....and after your 18 month journey to come to this is an example of that realism and I feel for you and we all must because we are on our journeys too .

        If your CA125 went down and is now back up anyone would be greatly concerned and frightened as its almost like back to square one but ....but ...I wonder if you could say not wait and possibly ring every other day and say its due to excessive  fear I feel sure people do that it stands to reason were not robots with no feelings or emotions. 

            You start your journey with HOPE  ...we all do and people may say to me you'll be fine ...

    Yes I have hope ...yes I have looked after myself ...yes I am aware of each step has to qualify for the next .

       I am also aware after reading your post that it is a realism also ....included in the that positive frame of mind that I try to administer for myself .

            I feel aftercreading your post a compassion and a as close as can be empathy because what you are experiencing right now is something that can happen to any one of us as much as we may not want to admit that but its not all clear cut and magically tossed away and we've a guarantee of another 100 years of life .

          I see this whole journey as something that has to take place and we've to do all we can towards that success but I am also aware that we can only do that to a limit .

           Ive thought endlessly about all this and when I read your post you have mirrored my thoughts that accompany alongside all my positive thoughts and I am sat here thinking of you as ive prematurely put myself in your position right now also .

       What would I do ...??

   Firstly even if youre scared ring your clinical nurse to see if the scan has come through .

        Get real genuine friends and family to be around you as much as possible although unless cancer sufferes themselves I know how isolating it can still be around them as they've not got it ...to us its a matter of life and our fear of looming demise .....but you gotta get answers fast and keep in mind sometimes one last try whereas you might not have bothered diue to a disturbed desperate mindset (which is quite acceptably so )  !

            I write because I am not being negative towards myself or any pending treatment for myself or anyone.....but I am being realistic !

            We could all succeed but we could all have the same thing happen and not immediately but 2 years down the line even .

          This has happened to you and we cant be in denial it couldnt happen to ourselves ...we hope not of course ....as hope is sometimes all we have in things. 

           Interrupt the wait ....its not nattering them they understand.... its for you to have done something as much as you can towards finding out ...about that scan .!

                Even if they cant tell you today ....youve done something towards it today .

              Let them know youre petrified !!

         I havent started my treatment yet but although I have hope ....I resonate with you about the possibilities ...even though I sensibly focus on the positives ...I see it all as a whole .

        What youve written is exactly what ive thought can still happen .

        I wish I could take that away and ease your mind ! 

      Wishing from a stranger may be all well and good but right now you want answers as to why that CA125 has risen  !!!

          Anyone can sense that !

              HOPE ! 

Thank you. 

Hi there, I am wishing you love and support. I have stage 4b ovarian and imminently start chemo treatment tomorrow.

Would you mind me asking how it was found out that you were allergic to these chemo substances? Did you have any known existing allergy risks or did it arise only when their use started (and I assume it might have presented some immediate symptoms or reduced effectiveness looking at your comment re CA125 markers?).

I apologise for these questions at this challenging time but it piqued my interest as I have some existing allergy to nickel and have only just twigged that the chemo treatments are also 'metallic' based.

Best wishes to you, Paws.

Hi Helen 

  Stage 4b after all that ...!!

     I rang yesterday to clinic and had a thoroughly good talk. 

      Why the hold up ???

Apparently there isnt one 

    Its my immunos part of the biopsies that took 2 weeks as they have to check that to add to your treatment. ..

   They do this so that they know if the chemo is correct for you as each recipe shall we call it is tailored to suit each individual .

      I said and by this wait what id the cancer is travelling about in its blood stream taxi dropping off cells at say liver  or kidney corner .

   They told me that the chemo intravenously chases them so to speak. 

      I go Friday for my assessment and I was really getting a bit anxious and needing it speaking out to me in BLOCK CAPITALS so to speak .

     Different immunos apparently tell them how your immune system is personally as they have to add different meds to the chemo for each individual.

   They should know what your weakness and strengths are by those .

       Apparently its not the same p&C for everyone its tailored to suit you personally. 

     Mine was the wait for the immunos and to see type ie braca ...or germ cell or stroma or epithelial....as thats why that part of my biopsies took longer .

     They also have to check your hemoglobin and to check you can cope with the chemo and surely they asked any allergies before now ...I yhink you must voice this. 

  Ps you will also be immediately entitled to attendance allowance by the way and its £110 a week ...not means tested...autmomatic with our cancers !

     Wishing you comfort and support for tomorrow !

Joanna xx

Mindyou having said that ...people can just suddenly become allergic to something first time without any other allergies .to anything at all. 

Hello Paws, no need to apologise,  I'm happy to explain.  My reaction to Paclitaxel happened on my 2nd chemo session. It is very rare so you have no reason to expect it to happen to you.

I have no history of allergies so it was a complete shock. The chemo unit tried the other type of chemo two days later but I reacted to that one too unfortunately and I had to stop.

Carboplatin was fine for me and worked well. After 6 chemo sessions in all with surgery in the middle my Ca125 dropped to 17.

I was then put on Niraparib but sadly my markers immediately started rising.

So I am now waiting for scan results.

It's a frightening experience but I remain hopeful.

I wish you all the best with your treatment.

Thank you.  

Thank you so much for your reply. Let's all stay strong together x

What exactly happens if you become allergic...??

   Is it like a rash or blobs or such ...or what exactly?

     I thought that the carboplatin wasn't strong enough on its own...and needed the P  alongside it .

  Someone from an ovarian charity told me to come off forums and stop thinking about all the stories you hear its not good for you .as there's not enough positivity ...and read a few more happy stories .

      But here I am still ...!

    Mind you the other day I thought if I dont get treatment soon ill be 4z.

Ps...what i mean is 

 What is the  actual difference between actually  allergic and side effects when having chemo treatment .

        How would you know you were allergic. ..not just bad side effects ...??

Hi everyone,

My name is Dylan and I work in the Online Community team.

It’s really good to see such a supportive and informative discussion taking place here. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and knowledge.

I just wanted to add a link that might be helpful alongside what’s already been shared. It’s about Attendance Allowance, including how to apply and what to expect:

• Attendance Allowance

If you have any questions about the information there, you’re also very welcome to speak with our Support Team on 0808 808 00 00 (8am–8pm, 7 days a week).