Post by jljenkyns on Apr 9, 2007 11:13:30 GMT 1
week 1
I thought i would keep a diary of changes if any while on Tarceva, Before taking Tarceva i was taking Diclofenac, Paracetemol, Tramadol and Oramorph this was to combat pain in the right hand side of my chest and shoulder. I would be taking various combinations of these painkillers at any given time depending on the strengh and frequency of the pain. I also regularly take vitamins, Shiitake capsules, Vitamin B, Vitamin B complex,Vitamin C, Milk Thistle, Sillenium and Pomegranate extract.
Days.1,2,qnd 3. I started taking Tarceva on Tues 3rd April 2007 after 3 days i started to see a rash appear on my face more prominent around my nose and eyes. My skin is very dry around these areas.
Day4.The spots are more prominent now on my neck , chest and shoulders, I have developed mouth ulcers and the inside of my nose is very dry.
Day 5 the spots are again more prominent and my face especially is very dry i am now having to apply cream to try and keep it moisturised. The most noticable thing is now the lack of pain!! it has now been 2 days without any painkillers and no signs of pain my cough has become very very light, my Breathing is getting better.
Day 6. The rash is still there had a bad night sleep very uncomfortable with the rash but must not complain. still no painkillers required.
Day.7 Still no pain. Breathing is much more relaxed but the rash is like a measels expolsion it seems to be getting worse.
I have started taking Anti-Histimanes and using E45 cream this is supposed to help i will just have to wait and see still not had a decents night sleep.
week 2.
Day.8 Rash is decidely worse , my nose and lips are slightly swollen little white headed spots all over my nose and some around my chin. The rash is now in my scalp still only managed about 2 hours sleep.( frustrating)
Day.9 Rash unbelievable seem to have doubled overnight even more itchiness. E45 not really helping nor the Anti-Histimanes i am unable to shave owing to the rash. Today i am seeking advice today from Home Health i think i need to have a couple of days off the Tarceva and start back on a lower dosage and let my body build up gradually. Only good things is still no need for painkillers and still no pain (except my face and especially my nose) think i will ask the doctor for Anti-Biotics.
Day.10 Still no pain and no painkillers required. Brething quite normal now. Cough minimal.After another awful night with maybe 2 hours sleep i have decided after speaking to Home Health and the Oncologist to stop taking the Tarceva for the time being to reduce this horrendous rash then restart on a smaller dosage ie: 50 , 75, or 100 mg.I have not been able to have a shave for 4 days ( I look that bad when i went to the shops a Big Issue Seller asked ME! if i wanted some money for a cup of tea?) I will no doubt still get a rash but not as severe as this ( I HOPE) I am thinking of posting a Photograph of the rash at its worse? It will not look good but it will keep the kids away from the fire!
This does not mean that anyone else will have the same rash. I would like to compare with someone if they have any photographs just for my peace of mind. On a positive they do say that the worse the rash the better the response but as everybodys chemistry makeup is different i will reserve judgement.
Day.11 Still no pain spots still raging, Breathing good , cough very light and infrequent.
Day.12 Stopped taking the Tarceva need to reduce the rash.
Still painfree spots showing no sign of clearing up, Breathing good no cough today.The spots on my nose are starting to go.
Day 13.Slight pain in the right hand side of my chest today today had to take a diclofenac, still no sign of the spots clearing. The postules on my nose have nearly cleared. Breathing good, slight cough today but only this morning.still not had a good nights sleep still only getting about 2 or 3 hours per night.
Day.14 Yesterday against advice ( Stubborn Sod(I decided to lie in the sun with a factor 30 suncream. I normally have a slight rash on my chest and shoulders this goes when i expose them to the sun. This morning the rash has improved by about 60% i nearly look normal now if that is possible.(lol) Anyway breathing still normal , no cough, still a slight niggle to right hand side of chest and shoulder.Once the spots have gone completely i will start back on the Tarceva on a lower dosage.
Week 3
Day.15 Well i have found out that theE45 cream definitely does not work it makes the rash worse. I am now just taking the Antibiotics and Steroids i feel confident enough now to start taking 75mg of tarceva tonight.
Days 16-17-18 Everything still normal, rash still prominent still a slight niggle to right hand side of chest.breathing normal, no cough.
Day 19. 20th April. Started back on 75mg of Tarceva . Rash very light. breathing normal , no cough, still a slight pain to right hand side of chest.
Day.20 -21. Breathing very regular- Barely no pain - No cough - Only one Diclofenac per day at the moment . The rash is starting to fade more now, I have found that using creams make the rash worse.( For Me) What i have found to be a great relief within approx 30 minutes is Calamine Lotion applied liberally.
week 4
Day.22-23-24-25. Breathing very normal - No pain - No Cough -
No painkillers required, Rash now nearly clear still taking 100mg per day.
Week 5
Day 25-26.27
Still pain-free , No painkillers required, Breathing normal.No cough
managed to get out on my Bike yesterday everything looking good.Still taking the Anti-Histimanes and now taking 5mg of prednisolone every 2 days to help control any rash that may want to appear
I thought i would keep a diary of changes if any while on Tarceva, Before taking Tarceva i was taking Diclofenac, Paracetemol, Tramadol and Oramorph this was to combat pain in the right hand side of my chest and shoulder. I would be taking various combinations of these painkillers at any given time depending on the strengh and frequency of the pain. I also regularly take vitamins, Shiitake capsules, Vitamin B, Vitamin B complex,Vitamin C, Milk Thistle, Sillenium and Pomegranate extract.
Days.1,2,qnd 3. I started taking Tarceva on Tues 3rd April 2007 after 3 days i started to see a rash appear on my face more prominent around my nose and eyes. My skin is very dry around these areas.
Day4.The spots are more prominent now on my neck , chest and shoulders, I have developed mouth ulcers and the inside of my nose is very dry.
Day 5 the spots are again more prominent and my face especially is very dry i am now having to apply cream to try and keep it moisturised. The most noticable thing is now the lack of pain!! it has now been 2 days without any painkillers and no signs of pain my cough has become very very light, my Breathing is getting better.
Day 6. The rash is still there had a bad night sleep very uncomfortable with the rash but must not complain. still no painkillers required.
Day.7 Still no pain. Breathing is much more relaxed but the rash is like a measels expolsion it seems to be getting worse.
I have started taking Anti-Histimanes and using E45 cream this is supposed to help i will just have to wait and see still not had a decents night sleep.
week 2.
Day.8 Rash is decidely worse , my nose and lips are slightly swollen little white headed spots all over my nose and some around my chin. The rash is now in my scalp still only managed about 2 hours sleep.( frustrating)
Day.9 Rash unbelievable seem to have doubled overnight even more itchiness. E45 not really helping nor the Anti-Histimanes i am unable to shave owing to the rash. Today i am seeking advice today from Home Health i think i need to have a couple of days off the Tarceva and start back on a lower dosage and let my body build up gradually. Only good things is still no need for painkillers and still no pain (except my face and especially my nose) think i will ask the doctor for Anti-Biotics.
Day.10 Still no pain and no painkillers required. Brething quite normal now. Cough minimal.After another awful night with maybe 2 hours sleep i have decided after speaking to Home Health and the Oncologist to stop taking the Tarceva for the time being to reduce this horrendous rash then restart on a smaller dosage ie: 50 , 75, or 100 mg.I have not been able to have a shave for 4 days ( I look that bad when i went to the shops a Big Issue Seller asked ME! if i wanted some money for a cup of tea?) I will no doubt still get a rash but not as severe as this ( I HOPE) I am thinking of posting a Photograph of the rash at its worse? It will not look good but it will keep the kids away from the fire!
This does not mean that anyone else will have the same rash. I would like to compare with someone if they have any photographs just for my peace of mind. On a positive they do say that the worse the rash the better the response but as everybodys chemistry makeup is different i will reserve judgement.
Day.11 Still no pain spots still raging, Breathing good , cough very light and infrequent.
Day.12 Stopped taking the Tarceva need to reduce the rash.
Still painfree spots showing no sign of clearing up, Breathing good no cough today.The spots on my nose are starting to go.
Day 13.Slight pain in the right hand side of my chest today today had to take a diclofenac, still no sign of the spots clearing. The postules on my nose have nearly cleared. Breathing good, slight cough today but only this morning.still not had a good nights sleep still only getting about 2 or 3 hours per night.
Day.14 Yesterday against advice ( Stubborn Sod(I decided to lie in the sun with a factor 30 suncream. I normally have a slight rash on my chest and shoulders this goes when i expose them to the sun. This morning the rash has improved by about 60% i nearly look normal now if that is possible.(lol) Anyway breathing still normal , no cough, still a slight niggle to right hand side of chest and shoulder.Once the spots have gone completely i will start back on the Tarceva on a lower dosage.
Week 3
Day.15 Well i have found out that theE45 cream definitely does not work it makes the rash worse. I am now just taking the Antibiotics and Steroids i feel confident enough now to start taking 75mg of tarceva tonight.
Days 16-17-18 Everything still normal, rash still prominent still a slight niggle to right hand side of chest.breathing normal, no cough.
Day 19. 20th April. Started back on 75mg of Tarceva . Rash very light. breathing normal , no cough, still a slight pain to right hand side of chest.
Day.20 -21. Breathing very regular- Barely no pain - No cough - Only one Diclofenac per day at the moment . The rash is starting to fade more now, I have found that using creams make the rash worse.( For Me) What i have found to be a great relief within approx 30 minutes is Calamine Lotion applied liberally.
week 4
Day.22-23-24-25. Breathing very normal - No pain - No Cough -
No painkillers required, Rash now nearly clear still taking 100mg per day.
Week 5
Day 25-26.27
Still pain-free , No painkillers required, Breathing normal.No cough
managed to get out on my Bike yesterday everything looking good.Still taking the Anti-Histimanes and now taking 5mg of prednisolone every 2 days to help control any rash that may want to appear