The Colon Club

Hi everyone. My husband had his first treatment of Irinotecan + Vectobix almost 2 weeks ago and his nose is bright red and he feels like his entire face is "chapped." He's been trying Aquaphor, but I'm wondering if anyone has had success with other products. We are heading into a long New England winter, and I'm fearing that his skin will only get worse. Thank you for your input, and a huge thanks to all of our Veterans as we enjoy this long weekend . . .
jep

I've tried quite a few things, and what has worked best for me is La Mer cream ($$$$ but they gave me a free sample at Nordstrom which worked well enough that I can see myself buying more) and True Botanicals serum and oil (still spendy but less than La Mer).

I use a Keihl's wash for sensitive skin.

I literally did a "clinical trial" on my face, treating one side with one product and the other with a challenger, which is how I got to the products above. They beat out Cerave (derm reco and what I had used previously) and Kiehls creams. Now I use True Botanicals on my face and La Mer cream on my eyelids.

The tight red came before my rash, and it seems like I'm breaking out in the places I'm most dry (currently my eyelids OMG painful). So whatever he uses, have him use it liberally! Also in my case it spread to chest and back - Cerave has worked well enough in those areas to keep using.

Oh and my doctor prescribed Doxycycline and a steroid cream after I broke out. But we did some reading after the fact and figured out best practice is to prescribe this stuff before the rash hits, because it impacts 90% of people and can prevent a major reaction. So ask about getting that now if he hasn't already started taking these.

Ask for doxycycline (also supposedly it has a reasonable anti cancer effect due to targetting mitochondria) and just try natural moisurizing creams until you find one that suits him. My mom was given Pliazone cream which worked OK then she switched to a wide variety and is still settling on a favourite

This is an issue with the whole class of EGFr inhibitors. Both with the small molecule ones and the monoclonal antibodies. In the first clinical trials with Canertinib (CI-1033 one of the first EGFr inhibitors discovered) we would dose it with Benadryl, to minimize the rash. Later it was discovered that some antibiotics such as Doxycycline and Cephalexin (which my wife took for her rash from Erbitux) helps a great deal. Go see a dermatologist if your oncologist won't prescribe one of these antibiotics to ease your husbands suffering. I am actually surprised that they didn't put him on it prophylactically. Most do because its a long known side effect that is actually pretty easy to manage.

Good Luck

GrouseMan

My Onc prescribed doxycycline and a 1% hydrocortisone cream 2 weeks before I even started irinotecan/vectibix. I also used sunscreen religiously because ANY amount of sun exacerbated skin issues. Pay extra attention to the cuticles...no picking, pulling, or cutting. Very painful fissures can occur at the corners of fingernails. Infections can then get in there. Sometimes this treatment has to be halted because of this. I got the crazy eyelashes and other odd hair things. Eyelashes 3/4 of an inch long and growing in every direction!
I also noticed fatigue with vectibix that I didn’t have with other treatment so I needed naps. I wish the best for your husband and you.
Cyn

I did not have experience with that combo of treatments, or the face irritation, but thought I’d offer this- my son struggles with severe excema that sometimes cracks. California Baby Calendula cream worked for that. It also worked on a burn that I had. Not sure if it will help your husband’s skin irritation but I thought I’d share.
Korey