CancerCompass message board discussion started by crazeepainter on 12/2/2007 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,18566,0.htm Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ I am currently helping a 72 yr. old man with inoperable lung cancer.  He has been on Tarceva for 6 weeks and I don't hear anyone talk about the RASH as anything but innocent sounding.  His is in his mouth, ears, all over his scalp, all over his body.  His skin has turned to hide (leather!) which is peeling off all over, the itch drives him crazy.  His scalp looks like that of a flea bitten animal and keeps him awake.  This is on his feet and underarms, knees, elbows and butt!  He constantly talks about the pain of the skin feeling too tight.  His fingers and knuckles are cracking open. We have finally found a pretty good solution that people having a tough time may want to try....Have the doctor prescribe 2.5% hydrocortisone cream for the worst spots.  (He rubbed it onto his scalp an hour or two before showering) and take doxycycline twice a day.  THis really seems to help with the problems that the rash cause.  He is also using Aveeno bar soap, liquid body wash and Aveeno dry skin cream EVERYWHERE.  He has been told to drink 8 8 oz. glasses of water per day, I know that we all know that but the liver and kidneys have to deal with this toxin (Tarceva) and process that.  You need to be fully hydrated to deal with it.  For his fingers and hands we have now been told to soak them in vinegar 1:10 ratio to water or epsom salts (1/4 cup per basin) for 10 minutes, twice a day, in tepid water and then use Bag Balm to cover all of the worst areas.  This is making his split fingers and worst hand spots to heal.  Hope this helps someone else.  Good luck to you all. crazeepainter Sun, 02 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT