MY BOYFRIEND HAD HIS LOADING DOSE OF Erbitux AND NOW GETS Erbitux/CISPLATIN EVERY THURSDAY FOR 7 TIMES ALONG WITH 35 RADIATIONS FOR TONSIL/LYMPH NODE SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA CANCER. THE RASH (ACNE) FROM THE Erbitux WAS SO BAD THAT HIS NOSE WAS 4X THE SIZE IT USUALLY IS AND HIS ENTIRE NOSE, HEAD, NECK, EARS WERE COVERED WITH TONS OF PUS- BLOODY PIMPLES THAT WOULD JUST POP OPEN WHEN HE MOVED HIS HEAD. HE WAS VERY NAUSEAS AND READY TO GIVE UP ALL TREATMENT AND IT WAS ONLY THE FIRST 2 WEEKS!GETTING NO WHERE WITH THE ONCOLOGY NURSES I DROVE TO THE DOCTORS OFFICE, DEMANDED TO SEE HIM AND IN 8 HOURS GEORGES WAS 98% BETTER--LIKE A NEW PERSON. THIS IS WHAT WAS PRESCRIBED TO HIM : HOPE THIS HELPS SOMEONE ELSE.
2MG 2X DAY DEXAMETHASONE
200MG 2X DAY MINOCYCLINE 1ST DAY THEN 1/2 AMOUNT NEXT 15 DAYS
0.5 MG LORAZEPAM 2X A DAY
CLINDAMYCIN CREAM 2X DAY
EMEND JUST BEFORE CHEM AND AFTER (FOR NAUSEA)
XCLAIR CREAM FROM THE RADIOLOGIST ONCOLOGIST FOR NECK BURNS THAT WILL ARISE.

HE REALLY WAS A NEW MAN IN LESS THAN A DAY ATTITUDE AND ALL. I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE HOW YOU HAVE TO BEG FOR SOMETHING TO FEEL BETTER!!!
HOPE THIS HELPS SOMEONE ELSE.
BEST WISHES, JAYANN

Jayann,

Your soooo right that we have to be our own advocate and I'm glad you learned it early on in his Tx. Keep that attitude throughout.

Anyone who is going to have Erbitux should print Jayann's post and tuck it away. The rash can be a formidible thing to deal with- but not everyone has it- and there are some chemo Docs who are not that familiar with dealing with it. Amy in the Ozarks