Allergic reaction or rash on face with Afinitor/Everolimus

[Jonesburger]

Hi everyone,

I started on Afinitor (10mg) in mid- April and after 5 days, developed a small rash on my forehead. Rash would come and go for a few weeks, never really bothering me. However, I'm now on second month of Afinitor and rash has come back and hasn't gone away. Rash is on my cheeks, forehead and on top of my eyelid. The worst part is the itchiness all over my face (even parts where there is no rash) and the extreme tightness i feel on my face.

Sent pics to my Once and she thinks the rash is an allergic reaction and not so much side affects. She told me to stop taking Afinitor until we meet on June 2. Assuming my rash is cleared by then, she'll start me on a lower dosge of Afinitor. In the meantime, Onc wants me to take antihistamine (Benedryl or Allegro) for the itchiness on my face,

Has anyone had a similar situation with Afinitor causing itchiness and flat red rash on face? If so, what did you use ?

Has anyone had to go off of Afinitor completely because of allergic reaction? My genomic testing showed Afinitor as my recommended treatment so I'm trying to stay on it as long as I can. I have scans end of June to see if Afinitor is working for me.

I've tried a prescription cream on my rash and Aquaphor ointment all over my face but relief has only been temporary,

Thanks

[Jerseygirl45]

I did have that rash on my chest and arms with Afinitor. I was on it for 2months. Then I came down with pneumonia and all treatment was stopped for 6 mo.

Afinitor is also my genomic pick. But don't want to try in case it caused the pneumonia.

My doctor gave me a cream DICOFENAC SODIUM TOPICAL GEL 1%. I am using it now with same rash on arms caused by my currant. Chemotherapy and it does help the itch.

I am on abraxane and I took my tumor markers down over 2200. In first month so we don't want to stop.

[Jonesburger in reply to Jerseygirl45]

Thanks Jerseygirl. I'll ask my Onc if she'd recommend your cream for the itchiness on my face (which is the only area that has the rash). Btw, I live in NJ too in case you also live in NJ. Glad to hear abraxane is working for you.

[Shelby4now]

Hi jonesburger

I too had an allergic reaction to Afinitor. My lips started swelling. I stopped immediately contacted my onocolgist and started on Benadryl for 4 days . My next drug was Ibrance, within two weeks my lips started swelling

again. Went to an allergist and I was allergic to Ibrance . Where he inserted the pins the area started swelling. Next was xeloda was great no reactions at all. Stopped working in 5 months. Now back on IV chemo. Starting next week. I believe any reaction should be taken seriously and addressed. Take care . Shelby

[Julie2233]

It gave me rosacea. The skin on areas of the face goes red, dry, inflamed, itchy with a rash and you can get tiny whiteheads. The treatment is an antibiotic cream. It’s also known as adult acne.

[Jonesburger in reply to Julie2233]

Hi Julie, are you still on Afinitor? How did you cope? I had to get off of it for 6 weeks bc my face became so enflamed, onc was worried it was an allergic reaction. My face cleared enough that I’m back on it but at a lower dose (7.5). But after just 2 days, the rash on my face started up again. I can’t bear it and its only day 2 of this lower dose. I want to ask my onc to switch me to another drug but I know if I do, then I lessen the tools available. I don’t know what to do.

[Julie2233 in reply to Jonesburger]

No, it didn’t work for me, though I lost loads of weight while I was on. I caught a cold 6 weeks after starting to take it and I felt dreadful so it was stopped for a couple of weeks and when I had my scan at 3 months it showed progression.