Tarceva - Can anyone any recommend any creams which may help with the dreadful rash & dry skin associated with taking Tarceva?

[VeeJayBee]

[Hidden]

Hi,

try Aveeno for the dry skin. It was recomended to me by my friend who is a tissue vialibilty nurse. You can't get it on prescription but it is available from Boots, you can get a variety of products: lotion, cream, emolients. Not sure about what to use for the rash but I can ask for you.

Lyn x

[VeeJayBee in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your reply.He is currently using Aveeno which he has on prescription & has tried E45 but his skin is still very dry. I think things could be made worse because he takes a daily low dosage steroid tablet which thins the skin.He also takes an antibiotic called doxycycline for the rash but it doesn't seem to help much. Thanks again for taking the time to reply.

Val.

[Hidden in reply to VeeJayBee]

Ooh, I didn't know you could get Aveeno on precription! I've been buying it, thanks for telling me that. x

[stefano]

Try Eucerin, there are a few different types. If it continues to be bad use a prescription called Ciclopirox.

Stefano

[VeeJayBee in reply to stefano]

Thanks for your reply. he hasn't had Eucerin so I think it is worth a try. You get to a point where you will try anything.

Val.

[AlliTB]

Hi Val, how is he is general? My mum has been on Tarceva for 3 weeks now, she has non-small cell adeno carcenoma. 1st type of chemo was unsuccessful so we're pinning all our hopes on Tarceva. Good luck with the cream!

[VeeJayBee in reply to AlliTB]

Hi, he has good days & bad days. he was diagnosed with nsclc in June 2009 & has had chemo & radiotherapy, things were ok until last July when the tumour started growing again & had spread to his spleen. He started Tarceva in July 2011 again things were ok until November when both tumours started growing again but very slowly thanks to the Tarceva. The worst side effect for Keith has been the acne like rash & the extremely dry skin which hurts when he moves. I spoke to the chemo nurses at the hospital yesterday & she has told us to try creams called Diprobase or Doublebase which are available on prescription.

I wish your Mum well with her journey on Tarceva & hope that she doesn't have too many side effects.

Val. x

[joyfulsoul in reply to AlliTB]

hi, my mum has been on Tarceva for a few months but suffered a terrible reaction to it initially. She resembled a burns victim, her face was an awful mess, her dosage was lowered. Has anyone else suffered side effects ? I know its a trial drug so I just wonder.

thankyou x

[AliBB in reply to joyfulsoul]

Hi...Hope your Mum is doing OK. I have just started Tarceva and the same has happened to me. Don't want to go out. Does it settle or do I need medication or dose lowered?

[AlliTB]

Thanks Val! Mum has had very few side effects so far, but has only been on it for 3 weeks. My Mum also has deposits in her chest, a lump under her arm, on her side and deposits in her pelvic bone. She has had radiotherapy on the lump on her side on her pelvic bone and is due some under her arm. She only told me today that she found a lump on her leg which was growing fast, but seems to be shrinking now, this has given her a boost. She also had a blood transfusion today and is having fluid drained from her lung on Tuesday, which will hopefully make her feel much better. I'll keep a note of the creams in case she needs something in the future. I hope Keith gets some comform from the cream, I did read a blog from a guy in America who said he had a terrible Tarceva rash and they dropped his dose and slowly increased it again until his system adjusted. I don't know whether this is worth talking to the Nurse about.

How old is Keith? My Mum is 68.

Nice talking to you!

xx