My husband will be getting Erbitux as we found out today he is not a candidate for Cisplatin due to neuropathy. Any one have experience they can share? He is particularly concerned about the rash- not so much about the appearance but more about any pain associated with it. Thank you.

go to links on page bottom after you read about Erbitux

http://oralcancerfoundation.org/treatment/targeted_therapies.htm

I had the "rash". I just thought it was much more like a case of adolescent acne. My son is 15 and we both had the same face. I suddenly remembered my days in high school. No pain but a little uncomfortable in public. It didn't last long and my doctors liked the fact that I had it. Said that this showed the Erbitux was being effective.

Lady,

Please ask your MO about recent concerns of recurrence links to Erbitux as the only chemo with radiation. Has Carboplatin been dismissed as well?

My husband had the rash bad...even up in his scalp...we called it the "benjamin button" affect, he definately looked like he was aging backwards. Once it started to heal, I helped it along with some neosporin. Good news was, in the scheme of things, it came and went pretty quickly. Also, it was our understanding that the rash was a good sign.

Thank you everyone for the helpful information.

David: I did ask the MO at Moffitt and she they don't know recurrence rates of Cisplatin vs. Erbitux- there is no scientific data to support one way or the other. They are doing clinical trials now to determine this (and Cleveland Clinic told us the same thing- with HPV+ there is a belief that less toxic chemo and radiation may do the trick- but there is no scientific data to support this one way or the other). She told us when she started her career the same held true for Cisplatin- at that time it was not known how effective it was until it was thoroughly studied.

Not sure about Carboplatin- she did not mention- and wonder if he was excluded for same reasons (pre-existing significant neuropathy). She said Erbitux is choice number 2 when Cisplatin is contraindicated for his stage and type of cancer and it is FDA approved for Head and Neck cancer. They seem to be very on top of the latest and greatest at Moffitt and in fact last week had Maura Gillison there. She said we are looking at a "curable cancer" here and it is important to consider quality of life- if his neuropathy got worse with chemo my husband would not be independent- he would need help with dressing, buttoning, etc.. and may not even be able to work and use a computer. She said you don't know until you give it if that will happen or not, but once it does, it cannot be undone. So I trust their advice and my husband is comfortable with his decision, just a little worried about the rash.

Don't worry about the rash. The rash means the Erbitux is having the effect they want. You might want to look up Charm if you have questions about the Erbitux only route. Maybe you already have. I haven't gone back in the posts.
I won't say much else because I am not a Dr., but Charm has said and experienced plenty about/with Erbitux.
Kathy

Lady1

If platinum based chemotherapy like cisplatin and carboplatin would excerbate your husband's neuropathy, then Erbitux is a reasonable choice. My comments are on when the patient does have a choice between platinum and Erbitux. Here your doctors have determined there is no platinum option. The rash is indeed a very good sign. Best wishes
Charm

Hi, Lady1
my husband had the Erbitux and, fortunately, the rash to go along with it. He was on an antibiotic to help with the rash and avoid infection (sorry, I don't remember the name). Unlike real acne, the Erbitux rash is very drying. We used regular Eucerin first, and then their Aquaphor product as treatment progressed. Don't let it get away from you! Note that lotions should be applied AFTER radiation to the target areas, not before.

If you don't already, you and he should switch to a perfume free laundry detergent. A very mild shampoo and soap is also indicated.

My husband's rash started within a week of the first injection, and stop popping new spots about three weeks after the last. Best wishes to both of you!
Maria

I used 100% pure aloe (no addatives) it was easy to get and worked great more me as a moisturizer.