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Herceptin Side effects

Singstrum12
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Over the past few months, following 5 years of herceptin infusions (83 so far) I have become very itchy, which has often led  to some involuntary scratching and breaking my skin. ( I’m on blood thinners) Has anyone experienced similar? Perhaps this is the cumulative effect of this immunotherapy ( which I’m so pleased to have and want to continue having) and an ageing body…I’m 76…

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    Hi Singstrum12,

    83 Herceptin infusions, that is certainly a lot! Skin problems like itching are mentioned on our information page on Trastuzumab (Herceptin) and I can imagine it is not very pleasant to have to live with this itchiness. We have more information on our website about side effects and tips on how to cope with them and you will find there a section on skin, nails and cancer drugs. It is mentioned there that "dry, cracked skin and itching are common side effects of targeted drugs, immunotherapy or chemotherapy" but you shouldn't suffer in silence so make sure you talk to your medical team about this as they may have some suggestions to alleviate these issues. 

    I am glad that the immunotherapy is working well for you though and I hope that you will hear from other members of our community who have suffered similar side effects with Herceptin. It helps sometimes to talk to others about how a particular treatment has affected you even if we can all react very differently to the same drug. 

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator 

  • Offline in reply to Moderator Lucie

    Thank you so much for your very comprehensive response Lucie, and all the information that came with it.It’s nice to know I’m not the only one! I had been pinning the blame on other medications I take, but it makes great sense that such drugs as herceptin may well display a cumulative effect eventually, as in my case.
    I co-incidentally, today received some information about this, from a friend of a friend, also having the itches from herceptin.

    She has been( successfully) using a Boots Product “Allevia Hives tablets and cream” so I will try that until my telephone appointment next Wednesday, ahead of my next treatment day on June 2nd. An antihistamine tablet did help but it did have a ‘drowsiness’ side- effect.

    Thank you again.  John

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