Lapatinib/Tykerb and rash

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violinfingers
violinfingers Member Posts: 48
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

Has anyone out there gotten an extremely itchy and burning rash from taking lapatinib (Tykerb)?  My cancer is progressing on herceptin and so my onc added lapatinib to my regimen.  My tumor shrank after only 10 days on the med, but then I got this horrible rash and had to stop taking it!  Wondering if anyone out there has experienced this and knows a way of dealing with it while still taking lapatinib.  I will also post in Stage IV forum, but thought I'd check here to.  And, why is there no Triple+ forum?  I saw the Triple+ thread but I think we should have our own forum!!  

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  • Faith316
    Faith316 Member Posts: 2,431
    edited March 2012

    Tykerb rash is a very common side effect and actually the people who get the rash typically have a better response to the drug.  My rash is more like acne on my face and my scalp.  Some people get it more on their chest or back or arms.  For mine, my oncologist has me use Clindamycin which is an antibiotic gel.  Many other girls on this forum also use it.  For the places on my scalp, he tells me to use Head and Shoulders shampoo, but not the regular kind.  It is the H & S in the dark blue bottle that has selenium in it.  It is aggravating to constantly have zits but, if the Tykerb will keep me well, I'll gladly put up with it!  I've been on it for 2-1/2 years.  The other side effects it causes for me are diarrhea and big time inflamed, infected, sore ingrown big toenails.  Both of these are also common side effects of the drug.  Good luck.

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  • profbee
    profbee Member Posts: 858
    edited March 2012

    I had the same as Faith.  Rash?!  It was ACNE.  I hated it.  I used the Clindamycin too.  It was everywere, and they took me off for a week I think, and that broke the chain, and I stipped having that SE as badly.  I'm sorry you're dealing with this.  It's really awful.  Good luck!

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  • violinfingers
    violinfingers Member Posts: 48
    edited March 2012

    Hey thanks Faith and profbee.  I will have to mention Clindamycin to my oncologist.  My reaction is definitely a rash.  It was itchy and puffy and all over my body except not my face.  But the drug was working so I'd like to stay on it if I can find a way to live with it!!

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  • janicemarie3
    janicemarie3 Member Posts: 124
    edited March 2012

    I have the bad acne on my face and scalp and I asked my oncolgist and he said it wasn't from the Tykerb.  I thought that it was weird it started 4 days after I started my treatment.  Is there anything else you can do for it without the perscribtion.  Does the sun make it worse?

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  • Faith316
    Faith316 Member Posts: 2,431
    edited March 2012

    Try some PanOxyl bar soap.  I saw a dermatologist on Dr. Oz recommend this recently for acne.  I bought a bar at Walmart and have used it for a couple of weeks.  I think it may be helping some.  Just don't let the lather drip on your clothes or it will bleach them.

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  • janicemarie3
    janicemarie3 Member Posts: 124
    edited March 2012

    Thank you Faith I will try that.  Have you had the acne since you started the Tykerb 2 years ago?

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  • Faith316
    Faith316 Member Posts: 2,431
    edited March 2012

    Unfortunately, yes.  I get so tired of it.

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  • janicemarie3
    janicemarie3 Member Posts: 124
    edited March 2012

    Faith does benadryl work for the itching of the scalp.  You are my hero for dealing with this for so long .  It is so frustrating now it has spread to my chest. 

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  • profbee
    profbee Member Posts: 858
    edited March 2012

    They did tell me that the sun would make it worse. I was using neutropenia 100 SPF

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  • Faith316
    Faith316 Member Posts: 2,431
    edited March 2012

    I have not tried using Benadryl.  I am constantly touching/rubbing  my scalp because it is itchy, but I try not to scratch or else it makes it bleed.  Profbee is right about the sun.  I am fair-skinned and have always gotten sunburned easily but now on Tykerb it is almost immediate if I am out for more than 5 minutes.  What makes it tough is that I have a pool that I can't get in during the day.  I just use it in the evenings.  But, all the aggravation is worth it if I stay NED!

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  • janicemarie3
    janicemarie3 Member Posts: 124
    edited March 2012

    I just went and bought the head and shoulders.  Also I bought some natural face wash from neutregna it seems to be helping a little bit. I felt my tumor in my lymph node and it the past week since I have been on Tykerb it went from the size of a golf ball to not being able to feel it anymore.  So I guess it really is working.  I hope that it is working for the mets I have to my ribs.

    Thanks for all the info ladies I really am glad I found this thread.   Hope you all have a great weekend.

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  • Faith316
    Faith316 Member Posts: 2,431
    edited April 2012

    Janicemarie,

    Any improvement since you have used the Head and Shoulders?

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