Erbitux? How soon did you develop the rash?

BBC,

I don’t rember the exact timeline, but it was in the first week or two and then it is acne and cracked fingers for a few months.

Matt

Hi,

I had 8 weeks of Erbitrux once a week never had rash break out. Just my neck getting burned up from radiation twice a day for 65 rounds of radiation.

Stay strong and continue to be strong for your husband.

Hugs

My husband had his first infusion of Erbitux this past Monday and has not had a rash or skin eruption develop as of yet. Also, just for clarity, there has been no clinical evidience to support that rash equals efficacy.  Erbitux can be working without a rash.  Keep the faith.

My husband did get the rash (and mouth sores) two days ago after mowing the lawn and getting hot/sweaty.  They flared up initially, but have subsided some by this morning.  No radiation this time as he has four separate lesions in his lung.  If radiation plays a role in his treatment this time (he had 35 treatments initially last year), they will do so if/when he only has one or two spots.  We will have some prognostic tests done after 2 cycles (6 weeks of his 3 week regimen) to determine next steps.  In the meantime, we continue to play whack-a-mole with side effects and our emotions.  One day we are able to stay focused on the moment or issue at hand and others we're just a big mess.  And so it goes.... 

thank you for mentioning doxycycline.  I'll look into that.  -- jan

Azzamsaid said:

How many cycles we should

How many cycles we should take from cituximab

Azz,

Standard treatment is 1 initial loading dose and 7 weekly doses.

Matt

christine2080 said:

Cetuximab (Erbitux) rash

My husband broke out in a full blown rash all over his face and chest today. He looks miserable. We have a prescription cream we are putting on it, but it must take some time to kick in. He had his second chemo infusion on Monday. He had an allergic reaction to it & has to get Benadryl each time. I wonder if there is a connection between the allergic reaction and the rash? Thanks for mentioning Doxycycline; I plan to ask his oncologist about it tomorrow. Has your husband developed the rash yet, ByeByeCancer?

C2080,

I had the rash over my torso and face.  It looked bad, but did not really itch. My eyelashes and eyebrows and hair on my belly grew and my fingers cracked and to finish, my big toe nail fell off.

A really bad reaction is Tim6003 (see below).

Matt

ByeByeCancer said:

Yes, we got the rash!

Yes! My husband got the rash on day 6 after the first Erbitux.  He still has the rash all over his head and has now spread on his chest and stomach.  It is actually driving him nuts.  He gave up on the cream because it didn't seem to help, but still takes the doxycycline even though he doesn't know if its making a dent or not in the rash.  He finished radiation #20 today!

Congrats on #20! My husband finished #13 today. He doesn't feel like the cream is helping either, although he still patiently allowed me to put it on him. Between the rash and thrush, I don't know how he's doing it.

philipbacon67 said:

I'm on erbitux had one

I'm on erbitux had one treatment and I broke out within 5 days they gave me doxycycline and it's not working. What else can I do?

 

My husband was never prescribed doxycycline, so I can't speak to that. He was prescribed minocycline, but it was totally ineffective. We just got a prescription for prednisone yesterday and the rash is much better today. Yesterday the rash was bright red and even purple in places. Today the color has gone down and many of the bumps are gone. I expect it to be gone completely soon (or at least until he gets his next infusion).

My husband's rash was so bad that they prescribed prednisone. It has had an immediate effect on the overall appearance although he says his face is still sore and it looks like he has the measles. He hasn't completed the course of steroids though.