Acne-like rash after chemo?

racesmom

I just began my first round of TCH (of 6) and am experiencing a rash that is spread over my face (mostly where I got acne in my teens) that is white heads that appears with an hour.  The area will be clear one hour and suddenly a painful white-head will pop up.  The chemo nurse (who told me in a most bored manner) told me that this was a 'normal range' rash and I should use Head and Shoulders Shampoo to treat it.  Has anyone ever experienced this?  It's pretty painful!

Also, I had a lumpectomy back in late April, but still experience site pain and breast 'twinges'.  Also normal?

LoriR

Racesmom

I too am on TCH but 4 not 6.  Is your C carbopaltin or cytaxin - mine is cytaxin (not sure if I am spelling it right).  I have not had this SE but I do know someone treating for colin cancer who got this but I am not sure what chemo meds she is on?

As for the pain - I get the twinges and have had a day or two of the pain but not constant.  I called the surgeon and he did say that about a month after surgery it was normal to have pain.  It is the scar tissue building.  I have been using cocoa butter on the outside scar so I don't know if this has helped or not but other than those two days of pain - that was it.  good luck to you

I hope you don't mind if I ask how you were diagnosed with mets if your nodes were negative - did you have other tests.  I didn't have any other tests done since the nodes were negative

racesmom

I did have other tests...all negative..no mets.  The bpain isn't constant...twinges here and there.  My C is Carboplatin. 

LoriR

Racesmom

 Well that is great news news on the mets - I guess I misunderstood on your Dx line I thought that meant you had some mets.  Did your nurse - who sounded like she was a little insincere about the whole thing tell you which drug is causing the SE.  Mine gave me 3 sheets of paper - one for each drug with all of its SE and which ones would be most prominent.  I keep them on my fridge and it is a simple reference for me - maybe you could ask for that

Jaimieh

I had this as did a bunch of women on the TCH thread.  I got put on prednisone and a topical cream and it went away.  I am sorry that you have it it hurts like hell.  I actually found it to be worse than the teenage acne.  Come join us on the TCH thread there is lots of info and support there. 

racesmom

Ok...I did have a profile boo-boo on the mets, but it's changed...and...moving over to tch now....

BrittaA

Hi racesmom ,
I totally feel for you. I'm a cancer survivor and was a caregiver to my father who battled cancer for 8 years. I couldn't find much information to deal with the side effects of chemo and radiation treatment so I started a blog,( www.CincoVidas.com ) that focuses on the side effects of chemo and radiation on the hair, skin and nails. My father also suffered from a terrible acne/rash while he was on the drug erbitux.. I did a post on rashes from certain cancer drugs and natural ways to alleviate them http://blog.cincovidas.com/tarceva-drug-side-effect-this-rash-is-driving-me-nuts%e2%80%94help .
Hope this helps.
Love, strength, survival
Britta