Hi all,

Thank G-d I am currently in remission. My doctor has me continuing on Erbitux to keep the cancer at bay. I receive it every two weeks.

While the side-effects are nowhere near as harsh as chemo and rads they do affect my functionality. Three of the side-effects are particularly difficult:
1) Spontaneous fissures of the skin on my hands (like deep, large, nasty paper cuts that just "happen" and stay for weeks at a time);
2) Ingrown finger and toe nails (painful);
3) Infections that develop around my finger and toe nails (to the point that I've had to have 6 of my 20 nails surgically removed).

Anyone else out there experiencing these kind of side-effects from Erbitux and, if so, any magic solutions?

Many thanks,
Eli
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HI... welcome and congrats on getting through this! Yikes.... I wish I could suggest something with regards to the Erbitux. I would try chapstick (weird I know) on your hands... my hands spontaneously split too some times (not related to Erbitux - just my skin!). Chapstick really helps them~ Also I'm almost afraid to say it... a manicurist... a good one, with sterile instruments, and who knows how NOT TO CUT you. May help there is a way they can trim your remaining nails to help prevent ingrowns. But that said you have to be very careful of infection so this may be a risk you shouldn't take. Congrats on the remission~ Hopefully someone else will come along with better suggestions. But I did want to say HI!

Hi, Eli
my husband was on Erbitux long enough to experience the skin fissures, but was able to go off it before the nail bed effects started. We found that Aquaphor (a Eucerin product) helped with the healing and discomfort. Best wishes!

Hi Cheryl & Maria,

Thank you so much for your suggestions. I will follow up on them. I really appreciate your taking the time to write.

I hope all remains "all clear" for all.

Best!
Eli
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