Tarceva - dry mouth & dry skin

• By molar
• Posted April 17, 2009 at 9:20 pm
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I've been on tarceva for 7 weeks. It sucks all the moisture out. I drink lots of water and use almond oil and eucerin for moisturizing my skin.

Susan M

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• By Marylou1
• Posted April 17, 2009 at 9:40 pm
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Hi Mike:
It's true that Tarceva does suck the water out of your body and cause extremely dry skin. I have been on it for, I think 15 months now, and keep tic tacs with me all the time if I am away from home. Also, if possible I carry a small water bottle.

For inside the ears, you may want to use a qtip with a little baby oil or other cream. Inside my ears used to drive me bonkers until my ENT told me that they were very dry inside. I never thought of it being related to the Tarceva but he said it obviously is.

Please be careful with the dry tongue and mouth. If you start to have mouth sores, you can mix up some magic mouthwash. You will only need 1 ingredient that is an RX, and that is Lidocaine Viscous 2%. Your Onc will usually write an RX for it. Mine does.

If you want the recipes, please just let me know. There are 2 different ones. I have had several bouts with my mouth breaking out and so painful that I was grateful to have the Lidocaine on hand.

There are a lot of things you can try. Different things work for different people. I exfoliate my skin, and also use almond oil and Eucerin cream. If you look at my picture, even though I am wearing make up, you will see very little rash. This picture was taken February 15th.

Good Luck fellow Tarceva User, and God Bless.
Marylou

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• By Maikido
• Posted April 17, 2009 at 10:03 pm
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Thank you Susan,
I appreciate your advice!

Michael

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• By Maikido
• Posted April 17, 2009 at 10:15 pm
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Hi Marylou,
wow that was a great response, thank you so much! Wow you're in Bucks County, that's very near where I live; I'm between Princeton and Trenton NJ..

I did look at the photo and your skin looks great... you look about 20 years younger than your posted age too!

God bless you and your family,
Michael

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• By cmbrne
• Posted April 18, 2009 at 11:09 am
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Hi Maikido
You are so lucky that Tarceva is working for you. The side effects are annoying, but nothing like some of the other chemo drugs. I took Tarceva for awhile and all I got out of it was dry skin and painful cuts on my fingertips. It didn't touch the cancer. Drink lots of water, and keep your mouth moist. Lemon drops are good for dry mouth. There are several good creams for the dry skin problem. I was also given an antibiotic if I had a painful breakout, but I didn't break out so I didn't have to use it. Good luck with this treatment. It's a wonderful cancer drug when it works.

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• By Keepnlucky
• Posted April 18, 2009 at 1:03 pm
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Hi Michael,

I've been on Tarceva since march 6 - probably about the same time as you. Susan M. 's advice for the almond oil, etc. is good and it is working for me. Also, I had my onc prescribe minocycline 100 mg twice a day and it has done wonders in stopping a lot of new growth of the rash. My face is almost clear, chest, back etc, still has a lot.

There are sprays for dry mouth - my dentist gave me one that works well - he said that almost all drug stores carry them. When that isn't conveninent, I'lll chem a piece of non-sugar gum for 4 to 5 minutes and it keeps me going. Good luck! Bob
PS - I like your attitude!

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• By Maikido
• Posted April 18, 2009 at 3:08 pm
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Thank you cmbrne,
God be with you!

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• By Maikido
• Posted April 18, 2009 at 3:23 pm
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Thanks Bob,
I truly appreciate your post! Have a great weekend!
Mike

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• By molar
• Posted April 18, 2009 at 4:58 pm
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I got the advice to use almond oil and eucerin from Marylou1. She's the best, and as I recall, she had a grade 4 rash when she first started tarceva. She toughed it out and I think she is glad she remained on the drug. Keep moisturizing!

Susan M

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• By arlene
• Posted April 19, 2009 at 4:17 pm
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Mike- my husband has been on Tarceva for 2 years now. He uses Aveno cream on his dry skin and he hasn't had anymore breakouts in almost a year. He uses tea tree oil on his fingernails and toe nails because they split very easily. good luck - arlene

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• By Maikido
• Posted April 19, 2009 at 5:20 pm
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Thanks,
i forgot to ask about the nails and other areas. My feet have been pealing, and one of my toe nails are cracking a little so i really appreciate the tea tree oil suggestion.

God's speed Arlene!

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• By abideinhope
• Posted April 19, 2009 at 8:29 pm
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My father is 77 and diagnosed last week with stage 4
non small cell adenocarcinoma lung cancer. In 1969 he had a horrific brain tumor that was treated at Mass General Hosp with 52 rounds of cobalt. It worked -- he survived -- and was written about in many medical journals. However, it's quite likely the cobalt treatments have contributed to his new lung cancer
diagnosis.

The big question is whether or not to pursue chemo.
His prognosis is 3 months without treatment, or 12 months with chemo. He feels he needs to try something but we also fear the side effects of Taxol
or Carbo may be too much for him.

I'm wondering if any one has used Tarceva as a first round chemo. It seems to have the least side effects.

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• By Maikido
• Posted April 19, 2009 at 9:10 pm
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Hi,
thanks for writing; sorry I'm not sure what your name is so i'll call you abideinhope for now.. Anyway please keep your spirits up, try to inspire your father to convince himself that he is going to beat cancer again. With a prognosis of months to a year I think it's key that he gets it in his head to win!

Now I would suggest that you don't think of this as just a first round chemo because of your Dad's staging and prognosis. Tarceva is a fast acting drug, but everyone's body is different and we react differently so I would ask his Onco. about this.

I've also have stage 4 nsclc / adenocarcinoma and my first line of treatment was Taxol & Carbo, the side effects were tough. Before I went forward with any of my treatments my wife and I went to Fox Chase to ask if they agreed with my treatment plan (they did); that may be something for you to consider, consulting with another Cancer Hospital, and you may be able to do that online or by phone.

I pray that God helps your Father and blesses him with another remission!

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• By webwawa
• Posted April 20, 2009 at 3:44 pm
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a prescription benzyl peroxide ointment on spots at night really helps (except it can bleach clothing/towels/pillow cases). i have to use Eucerine vaseline-type ointment on my face, and oils (shea, olive, etc) on my body all of the time. it helps a lot.

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• By Maikido
• Posted April 21, 2009 at 12:31 pm
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Thanks Webwawa,
by any chance do you have shortness of breath too? My Onco. said it could be from Tarceva, but I have a little fluid in my lung (not enough to drain) and it's allergy season here in Jersey.

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