Tarceva Rash

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My wife is stage 3 lung cancer around her heart, we have been on tarceva for almost 4 months now, she started having a rash almost immeadiatly when taking the meds, heres how we coped with it, we started with the least invasive, which is over the counter benadril 25 mg tabs, and it worked no more rash she takes them about 30 min prior to taking her tarceva and doesn't get any rash, a simple benidril how cool, hope this helps others with Tarceva.

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Kimflorida

Have you checked with your doctor about taking over the counter meds with Tarceva? My doctor was very clear that I am not to take anything without prior approval because it may decrease the efficacy of the Tarceva. For example, I can only take Tylenol - no Advil, aspirin, etc. Also, I had to change birth control pills to another brand.... Please double-check with your doctor just to be on the safe side....

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Tonyr

Yes we did talk to our dr first, he explains he wante to try the least invasive remedy for the side effects...in this case it was benydril you made a good point...hobbymerchant_orangefiction lease always clear any meds over the counter or not first with your dr. thanks for the clarification.

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Jelly_Bean

You don't know how much your input will help me. I started Traceva two weeks ago and a couple of days later the rash started to appear. Now it is in full bloom. My nose and cheeks are covered with 'zits'. I have tried Clearasil which made it worse. Tried a few other things, to no avail. I wanted to keep it 'soft' so I tried Neosporin which did the trick, but didn't clear anything up. Today I'm on the way to the doctors and will ask if Benadril would be the way to go. I cannot go through the rest of my life looking this way.

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Kimflorida

YIKES! Clearacil for the rash?!?! Your skin will become so dried out while taking Tarceva - I would not advise anything that will dry it out even more, like Clearacil. I actually like having the rash because it is an outward sign that the Tarceva is working - my last CAT scan showed that my lung tumor shrank 10%! I know the zits can be overwhelming at times - trust me, when you get zits on top of zits and they get into your hairline, it's not fun... but, after 2 months on Tarceva the zits on my face have calmed down and it just looks like I have roseasia (red face). The dry skin is what I am constantly battling - it is so bad that my nasal passages have developed bloody scabs. I now moisturize my nasal passages with Ocean, my face with Oil of Olay for Sensative Skin and my body with Lubriderm for Sensitive Skin or Eucerna or anything else I can get my hands on! :) Hang in there and know that the Tarceva "rash" is a good sign that it is doing its thing...

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Jelly_Bean

Thank you for your input. Too bad I didn't find this site before I used Clearasil. I found out using Clearasil was NOT the brightest thing to do. Yes, my nose dried up like a prune and now I am contending with dried scabs. Really not a pretty thing. I did go to the doctor yesterday and she was very pleased with my appearance. She said it showed the Tarceva was working. She also advised me NOT to take any Bendadril like TonyR Message #1 wife does. My doctor said that would conceal the rash. And you don't want to do that. You want it to show, to tell the doctors that it was working, so they won't need to do any more testing other then is necessary. I"m also looking forward to getting a little relief - hopefully my rash will lessen soon. Thank you for all the information you have supplied me. Jeanne

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Tonyr

Yes, u do not want to conceal the rash until u talk to ur doctor, our doctor said since it shows the rash is a sign of tarceva working, and it was itchy and painful for my wife, our doctor decided to treat with benydril, make no bones about it before trying anything check with ur dioctor first. you folks have great points made hear and all comments are apreciated they give us a veriety of opinions and options keep them coming. thanks and god bless.

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Sparky

I'm new here, but I am also looking for some help with the Tarceva "rash". My Dr. prescribed clindamycin phosphate gel 1%. I used it the first month. Next visit he saw my face and felt sorry for me. All the nasty places on my nose and checks. I also had them in my hairline, but I was so happy to have a hairline those didn't bother me as much :). (carbo/taxol) He put me on an antibotic. I am starting it this week, so I will see how it works. Thanks for all the info.

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Jelly_Bean

Hi...I'm also new here. I started on Tarceva approx. 3 weeks ago. I immediately got that 'infamous rash'. It was awful those first few days. My nose was three times the size it normally is. I called the doctor 5 days after I started and she immediately put me on Antibotics. They have helped a lot. Now I'm worried that Tarceva might not be helping because the rash is clearing up. I'm wondering if as soon as I stop the Antibotics - the rash will be back? Jeanne

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Sparky

I just want to add to the Tarceva fun. Some of us have been experiencing problems with toes. It starts out as a pimple looking spot and continues to grow and look like and ingrown toenail. VERY painful. I finally started useing the gel my oncologist gave me for my face. It seems to be helping and I might be able to wear regular shoes when the weather starts getting cooler! The name of the gel he prescribed was clindamycin phosphate 1%. So far, so good, Hope it helps. L

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