My story is long so I will spare the details. My colon ca was missed during colonoscomy. Jan 2005, so here I am with metastatic stage IV colon CA. I am a practicing Pharmacist and am 44 yr old. Currently I own my own pharmacy, but have in the past been a Pharmacy Director at a large metro hospital and have a wealth of clinical experience. I had surgery in Feb 2006 and am now on chemo. FOLFOX-6 with Avastin and an experimental EGFR inhibitor Panitumumab. Panitumumab is like Erbutux except it is made by recombinate DNA technology instead of mouse protien.
Let me cut to the chaseI got the rash and it was lit the worst acne I ever had. Painful 24/7. I could only sleep 1 hour at a time. I though I would have to go off the drug. They call it an acneform reaction. Anyway I tried all sorts or lotions and creams.With little relief. I was eating percocet like tic tacs and could not sleep. I discussed this with my Dr' nurses and and were less than helpful. So I took maters into my own hands. I did a medline search and found an article out of Belgum, on how to treat this. You treat it like acne. (clinical signs, pathophysiology and management of skin toxicity during therapy with epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors.) My Dr. agreeed.
It responds very well to tetracyclines. I first used minocycline 75mg twice daily , my Dr. wants 100mg Doxycycline twice daily.
On my chest and back I used benzyl peroxide wash daily.Nothing on my face except cetaphil. Maybe benzyl peroxide wash diluted later.
On my scalp I use selenium (selsum) every other day. Do not use head and shoulders it makes it worse!!
On my face, chest and back I use cetaphil lotion. Or you could use any non-comedone forming (lubriderm etc. generics ok too) Don't use any thing that contains fragrance, parabens, dyes, or lanolin. Once the rash dries a little I started to use a little Sarna (contains menthol and camphor) mixed in with the cetaphil. I would try it on a small area first, it might sting but belief me it is very refreshing. (don't use it straight)
Also I take and alveeno bath every other day. And use alveeno wash in the shower. My scalp it impoving and drying a bit. I may use some coal tar next week. (t-gel).
Also stay out of the sun!! It makes it much worse.
Also avoid steroids they make it worse. Esp. fllouaranated steroids. The steroids you get with chemo(dexadron etc) are ok. And probably hydrocortisone cream or lotion would be ok. I have not used any.
Avoid head and shoulders shampoo it makes it worse!!
Anyway my rash it still visable andy ugly. mainly red but does not look so much like acne But it doesn't hurt and itches very little. Overall very tolerable. I do take atarax tablets sometimes for the itch. Overall I can tolorate the rash and can continue my treatment.
Let me know if this helps I may write my own article.
The article is in:
Anals of Oncology 16:1425-1433, 2005
doi:10.1093/annonc/mdi279
published online 12 July 2005.
If you can't find it send me an e-mail and I can forward you the article in a PDF file.
kevinlv@yahoo.com
I hope this can help anyone.
About me I am a Pharmacist with over 20 yr experience and own my own pharmacy. Also a Stage IV fighter.