Chemo Infusion Reaction: What It Is, How to Spot It, and What to Do

When you get chemo infusion reaction, an unexpected immune or physical response to chemotherapy drugs given through an IV. Also known as infusion-related reaction, it’s not rare — about 1 in 5 people on certain chemo drugs experience it, especially during the first few treatments. This isn’t an allergy in the classic sense, but your body reacts to the drug as if it’s a threat. Symptoms can hit fast — sometimes within minutes — and range from mild to life-threatening.

Common signs include fever, chills, flushing, rash, itching, or swelling around the IV site. More serious reactions might mean trouble breathing, chest tightness, low blood pressure, or a fast heartbeat. These reactions most often happen with drugs like paclitaxel, a chemo used for breast, ovarian, and lung cancers, carboplatin, a platinum-based drug often used in ovarian and lung cancer, or rituximab, a targeted therapy for blood cancers. The risk drops after the first few infusions, but it never fully disappears. That’s why nurses monitor you closely during treatment — and why you should never ignore even small symptoms.

Knowing what to watch for gives you control. If you feel unusual heat, tingling, or tightness in your chest, speak up. Don’t wait. Your care team can slow or stop the drip, give you antihistamines or steroids, and adjust future doses. Many people who’ve had a reaction before can still safely get chemo again — with pre-medication and slower infusion rates. This isn’t about avoiding treatment. It’s about making it safer.

You’ll find real stories and practical advice here: how to recognize early signs, what meds help most, which drugs carry the highest risk, and how to talk to your oncologist about past reactions. No fluff. Just what you need to protect yourself during treatment.

Chemotherapy Hypersensitivity Reactions: Signs, Timing, and What to Do

Chemotherapy hypersensitivity reactions can range from mild rashes to life-threatening anaphylaxis. Learn the signs, timing, and emergency protocols every patient and caregiver should know.