What Happens If You’re Allergic to Your Chemo Drugs?

Before Oct. 31, 2012, I would have probably guessed that desensitization was a process invented by mental health professionals to make really sensitive people less sensitive. I might have inquired about the cost to put my four-year-old son through “desensitization” so that he wouldn’t throw such a fit when he lost a game of knee hockey in our basement.

Now I know that desensitization is a life-saving process necessary to treat cancer patients like me.

On August 8, 2012, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  I was 32, had no family history of cancer, no other health issues, and no warning except for the lump I felt in my left breast the week prior. I was shocked, crushed, and scared to the point that I could barely eat (and I like to eat).  One month later, I underwent a successful double mastectomy with reconstruction, and by October, I was ready – even eager – to begin chemotherapy.

Tara Shuman My first infusion was great. I had three weeks before my next round of chemo and although those three weeks included some of the typical (and totally un-fun) side effects of chemo, it actually wasn’t as bad as I thought it could be.

On October 31, I took my mounting confidence with me to my second round of chemo. Since it was Halloween, I was even festive in my orange striped shirt, black tights, and wacky beaded Halloween necklace that my son made me.

My Herceptin infusion went just fine. However, a few drops into my Taxotere infusion, Boom … or maybe more like…Crash. It wasn’t pretty.

When I first felt the intense heat in my chest, I knew something was very wrong. Granted, I’m generally one of those my-headache-must-be-a-brain-tumor types, but this, well, I knew this was serious. It turns out that I was right, and that anaphylactic shock is not a fun way to celebrate Halloween. Groundhog Day, maybe, but not Halloween.

As soon as I fell into shock, a team of angels descended from above, or from some other place at Dana-Farber. They stabilized me but once I realized I was going to survive, one intense fear was replaced by another one: how would my medical team get those life-saving drugs into my system?

That night, I went trick-or-treating with my son and one-year-old daughter, watching them skip up to our neighbors’ houses in their pirate costumes. And I breathed fresh, clean air, never so appreciative of my ability to do so.

For the next two weeks, I did one of the toughest things to do in a battle with cancer – I waited. I waited for the allergist to decide if it was safe for me to receive my chemotherapy regimen through the desensitization (or “desens”) process. It was.

Desens patients typically receive a protocol of drugs to prepare their bodies for the drug that was otherwise unfriendly to their system. Once the body is made stronger, the pesky drug is infused at such a slow pace that the body is essentially tricked into accepting it. For me, an infusion that should have taken one hour took upwards of seven hours. Added to the other drugs I received, the entire infusion took a full day. At the end of that day, I felt great victory and great appreciation for the Desensitization clinic at Dana-Farber and the medical team that I will always credit for saving my life.

I had never been allergic to anything before. I won’t lie, at first I was so terrified that I was deathly allergic to a drug that was supposed to save my life. But I was equally as relieved to learn that Dana-Farber had a way to solve this problem. In fact, they had an entire department devoted to it.

I successfully completed the remainder of my chemotherapy through the desens process and now, just over two months after my last chemo treatment, I feel absolutely great. I continue to visit Dana-Farber every three weeks for my Herceptin infusions. Those infusions last only 30 minutes. Which brings me to one enormous benefit of desens (besides the whole life-saving part). Once I endured up to ten hours of chemo infusions, 30 minutes seems like a drive-by.  It’s kind of like swinging one bat right after swinging twenty.

Tara Shuman is a 33-year-old lawyer, wife, mother of two, and a breast cancer patient. She blogs about her experience at www.tarabeatscancer.com.

7 thoughts on “What Happens If You’re Allergic to Your Chemo Drugs?”

  1. The same thing happended to my mom, with her first round of chemo, and my mom and her family were very thankful for the Desensitization clinic at Dana-Farber. I wish you well.

  2. Another endorsement here (my reaction, to Taxol, was 2 years ago) glad that you are taking this all in stride, if one can say such a thing about breast cancer/chemo/having an allergic reaction. The care at DFCI is tremendous.

  3. Congrats to you! And for me…Thank you Dana Farber and all of the terrific infusion nurses…and Dr’s of course. You all are saving my life every three weeks as well. Keep the great attitude GF. We will be just fine.

  4. Hello Tara,
    I am a Head & Neck cancer survivor. I had three surgeries & seven weeks of Chemo & Radiation. I will be 4 years clean as of Aug. this year.
    I do feel lucky compared to what you have gone through.
    You will be added to my list of people that are in my thoughts & pray for…by the way i am 66 yrs old. I have an awful lot to live & at 33 yrs you have more.
    Keep a positive attitude & you will be a survivor.
    God Bless
    Sincerely,
    Rick Ezersky

  5. So glad I found your blog. Loved all you shared with us… every word helps to make us all stronger… and not feel alone.
    At times… even without a disease like cancer… I feel very alone..and fearful that one day I might be told I have cancer. You helped put an important reminder in my mind none of us are alone… by sharing… and to share by writing. Even though the writing is only for the writers eyes. Sending you hugs from my heart to your heart… and tons of prayers for you and your husband too. I really was quite taken by his words. So real… I felt it was me too. Thank you again. I hope I can keep following your writings… because I’m a fan now, and need your every word. Hugs and Prayers… lots of smiles too

  6. Dear Tara,
    Thanks for sharing your experience! I, too, am an attorney and am the mother of 2 vivacious boys, ages 11 and 9. I’m 42 and was recently diagnosed triple positive following a bilateral mastectomy on Sept. 23rd. I’m slated to start chemo soon, and my spirits are buoyed by your positive attitude and sense of humor. I look forward to watching your webcast on Oct. 10th. Be well. 🙂

Comments are closed.