I find that 1% hydrocortisone plus 12 moisturizing agents and aloe, an inexpensive, over the counter cream, applied once a day to the areas that get the rash, works quite well to control the rash. It's a generic equivalent of Cortizone 10 + 12 moisturizers and aloe, and it's about half the price of the brand name stuff. (Actually, it's the same price, but you get twice as much in the tube.) I'm having a huge problem with the diarrhea even though I take Imodium AD. Imodium AD either doesn't work at all, or it works so well that I get constipated and have abdominal cramps. I also get aches and pains which don't respond well to Tylenol, and I'm weak, tired, and sleepy all the time. I'm open to suggestion here.
Henry
On 9/7/2005 Lynns Mom wrote:
My 84 yr. old Mom also has stage IIIB NSCLC-this is her 3rd year of chemo. She was started on Tarceva recently for her lung and liver met. I am interested to hear that your Mom has had good results from the med. My Mom had to cut back to 100 mg every other day because of bad diarrhea and rash on face, neck and scalp which was painful. The rash has improved with a steroid cream. The diarrhea is not pleasant. She's having bad abdominal cramps right now. She's taking lomotil which helps. Does anyone have info on how long the diarrhea lasts and any food suggestions to diminish it? Thanks. This is the best web site I have found so far. I am an RN and care for pts. where side effects of meds differ. All the drug sites in the world give you some info but it's only statistics and not real stories. Every person reacts to medication differently. I look forward to learning from all of you.