Allergic Reactions to Chemotherapy Drugs

Certain chemotherapy drugs are capable of causing an allergic reaction. Reactions usually occur during administration of the drugs or shortly thereafter. Reactions may present themselves with any of the following symptoms:

• Skin rash

• Blisters on skin

• Shortness of breath

• Low blood pressure

• Rapid heart beat

The frequency of developing these reactions varies from drug to drug and from patient to patient. In certain situations, we use medication to prevent an allergic reaction (Taxol.) In other instances, we test patients to determine if there is a preexisting allergy to a drug (Bleomycin.) There are other instances where we simply monitor the patients, and if they develop any reactions, we treat them (VP-16.)

Adriamycin can cause an allergic reaction at the site of injection if it is administered in the arm veins. The skin over the vein, may become red and irritated. This is a very mild reaction and does not require treatment.