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• Chris

  

  • 18 posts
  November 11, 2013 11:13:04 PM WATime

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  I'm on my third week of chemo (NAB paclitaxel ) last week within an hour of having chemo I came up n a pin prick rash across my hands ( which I still have) it's not itchy ; though it is occasionally. I mentioned it to the doc today and she said to keep an eye on it, however just within the last hour ve noticed spots on my chin , about 5. Anyone else out there have the same problem,and any ideas on what I can do about it?

  Grade 3 ductal, HER2 neg, nodes are clear!
• Ness

  

  • 81 posts
  November 12, 2013 8:25:03 AM WATime

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  Hi Chris - not sure if this is a usual reaction but if you are concerned best to see your GP so they can take a look at it and make suggestions as to what may treat it whilst on your chemo. Hard to say what this may be without knowing more and always better to be safe than sorry! xxxx
  Let us know how you go!
  Ness
  x

  The Click Project Coordinator
  

  Daughter-in-law and niece of breast cancer "thrivers"!

• Glenys

  

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  • 162 posts
  November 13, 2013 2:12:20 PM WATime

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  Hi Chris .. sounds like you may have 'petechiae', which are tiny red or purple dots on the skin resulting from a small bleed from broken capillaries just beneath the skin surface.

  I have borrowed a segment from a site about this:

  ... "When your platelet count is low, you may notice that you bruise more easily than usual. You also may develop small red dots (called "petechiae") under your skin that may look like a rash. Petechiae are a possible side effect of chemotherapy and you should tell your doctor or nurse if they occur."

  This and more info under heading 'Bleeding' from the following site http://www.upmccancercenter.com/cainformation/chemotherapy.cfm

   

  As long as you've informed the chemo team Chris .. they watch your blood levels as you know, but may need to check your platelet counts if this worsens.

   

  Loads of hugs, Glenys (Click Breast Care Nurse) xx

  This post was edited by Glenys at November 13, 2013 2:12:20 PM WATime"

  The Click Breast Care Nurse 

• Chris

  

  • 18 posts
  November 13, 2013 4:23:40 PM WATime

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  Thanks Glenys, that was a really good article to read. I did tell the doc on Monday when I went for chemo, and I'd called the nurses the week before. The nurses just told me to take anti histamine the doc just said to keep an eye on it. The doc did say my nuetrophyls were down but the rest of my bloods were ok. I went over to chemist yesterday and spoke to the chemist there he gave me hydrocortisone to put on it but said to be sparing and only use for couple of days. I put some on yesterday and noticed an improvement, but u haven't put any more on because I'm a bit wary .

  Grade 3 ductal, HER2 neg, nodes are clear!
• Glenys

  

  • Moderator
  • 162 posts
  November 15, 2013 5:38:02 PM WATime

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  Hi Chris, am wondering how the rash is going? Has it gone, stayed same or worsened? Have you discovered the cause?
  
  I've been reading more about skin rashes with NAB Paclitaxel - in particular a research article looking at the incidence of skin rash in Chinese vs Western people given NAB Paclitaxel and Cisplatin. The interesting comment here was speculation the albumin content of NAB Paclitaxel may be the cause of a mild allergic reaction causing skin rash in some individuals. Anti-histamines were given with good effect. Interestingly, no-one developed the skin rash at subsequent treatments. (Another interesting finding was the rash had higher incidence in Chinese people than Westerners!).
  
  Other articles comment on skin rash as an uncommon drug reaction to NAB Paclitaxel (as can occur with any drug), and this usually settled, or resolved after completion of treatment.
  
  Certainly using steroid creams long-term is not advised for anyone as can weaken the skin, and ironically can even cause a severe rash reaction!! (as my daughter recently discovered after long-term steroid cream use for dermatitis!). However if this is effective, short-term use is usually safe. Discussing this with your treatment team may help there.
  
  Hoping everything else is settling down now too Chris ..
  
  Big hugs, G xx

  The Click Breast Care Nurse 

• Chris

  

  • 18 posts
  November 15, 2013 6:03:37 PM WATime

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  Thanks for that Glenys, the bit about the lumen certainly gives me food for thought. The rash improved a wee bit after the steroid cream, but I haven't put anymore on, I'm feeling wary. It's like tiny bumps on the skin, a few were a bit like like very small blisters and a couple of the blustery ones burst. They aren't itchy now and they aren't red or sore now either. I may try the anti histamine though to see if that gets rid of them.

  Grade 3 ductal, HER2 neg, nodes are clear!