About three years ago, DD17 was eating raw peanuts from a tin we 'd received as a Christmas gift. She commented how it was funny that lately peanuts made her ears itch. A red flag went up for this Mom, who immediately went on Health Patrol and snatched the tin away from her. After waiting and watching for any other reaction, I breathed a sign of relief once all seemed well. We had an upcoming oncology visit, so we decided that all nuts would be off limits until we could get into the hospital and talk to the doctor. The oncologist had become our primary doctor, and I was finding it difficult to trust anyone else during this time, so I did not call the pediatrician.
During our appointment, the oncology nurse ran a RAST test, which measures allergy antibodies in the blood. Later that day the oncologist called us at home and told us that DD17 had indeed developed an allergy to peanuts, and advised further testing with an allergist. Since DD17 had never shown a reaction to any kind of food, the oncologist thought it was a possibility that chemotherapy had effected some change in her immune system, causing a nut allergy to develop.
Later, we had thorough testing with an allergist and DD17 was diagnosed with both peanut and tree nut allergies. Since most cases of nut allergies develop early in life, the allergist agreed with the oncologist that the chemotherapy was suspect. We received our prescription for an epi-pen and went home to check our cupboards and make yet more changes in our lives.
Most children never outgrow peanut/tree nut allergies, but since DD17 was a unique case, the allergist suggested yearly testing in case something changes. Tomorrow is our yearly visit, and while we've already completed our bloodwork at a local lab and know DD17 is still allergic, I'm looking forward to the visit in hopes the doctor can offer some promise for the future (I know there are studies and trials underway to end nut allergies). We'll see what he tells us.
I can't really find any literature linking the development of nut allergies with chemotherapy, but I guess anything is possible. That's the most frustrating thing about childhood cancer: side effects are not always well-documented, because the survival rate was so dismal for so long. As more and more kids survive cancer, I suspect the list of side effects will have some surprises.
I guess we're lucky, in a way. DD17 is old enough to check her own labels, and has even ventured into the school's kitchen to check product labels (the cafeteria staff likes her). I can imagine how difficult a food allergy would be for a younger child and the stress for the parents.
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That's a fascinating phenomenon. If I knew anyone going into Immunology and looking for a dissertation topic...surely there are people out there who would find that a fascinating research topic. I can even kind of imagine how it might be done (longitudinal studies with questionnaires and regular tests..)
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