What helps with chemo rash?

Yes and also my face shoulders and back. In addition I had terrible hand foot syndrome. I’m now on Cabometyx and my tumors are shrinking and some are dying. Hardly any side affects to be of any concern. Best of luck to you, everyone is different.

Hello @debhiowa and welcome to the NETs support group on Mayo Clinic Connect. From your post, I am guessing that this rash is uncomfortable. Does it cause itching or other discomfort?

We do have some members who have taken CapTem, including @zacharycat and @tomrennie. Perhaps they can share their experiences with you.

Here is a link with a list of many of the NET Connect members who have used CapTem: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/neuroendocrine-tumors-nets/

What has your doctor said about this rash?

The best thing for me for the chemo rash itch was an oatmeal bath, about 2 cups of regular whole oats oatmeal in cheese cloth pouch, warm, not hot, water. Put the pouch in tub while filling and then use it as a wash cloth to gently pat your skin. Aaah, relief. The rash stopped after a few days. The oatmeal saved my sanity. I used a fine mesh lingerie laundry bag instead of cheese cloth after the first bath. Worked fine.

Thanks for this great suggestion, @kakalena. Are you still taking chemo?

I am only on the 2nd CapTem cycle, so nothing really has happened yet as far as bad effects. The number of pills to take sometimes seems overwhelming, and I had to count the remaining ones occasionally to recall if I had taken them all or not.

@hopeful33250
That chemo was 3 years ago for lung cancer. Have had pancreatic cancer chemo since, but with no rash

Good morning all! Pnet diagnosed and removed by surgery 3 years ago, Grade 2 with ongoing liver mets. I've finished 5th cycle of CapTem, the Tem portion about a month ago. Mine is not itchy but I've had pretty severe rashes all 5 cycles, that come and go. Bad enough that people in public wonder if I'm contagious with something terrible LOL. My oncologist told me to use Cortisone 10 when it's the least severe and she gave me an RX for Triamcinolone Acetonide Ointment USP 0.1% for when it's severe. This has worked pretty well for me and my rash is almost completely gone now since I'm taking a chemo break. My oncologist is a NET specialist at Ohio State Wexner. Also I don't know if this works, but I've heard from a couple of friends I know with lung cancer, but no liver mets, that there's something to taking Red Reishy mushroom as a supplement to help with chemo rash. It metabolizes through the liver tho, thus I've not been brave enough to try it. Hope this is helpful!

@cmhgiddy24 @debhiowa I took CAPTEM 4 years ago for 13 cycles and have taken capecitabine for the last three years. Skin rashes are hard to get rid of once you get them. I learned to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. It is not something that I have regularly done in my life. I had to make it a habit. I still do it twice a day. I use cerave lotion. I especially pay attention to my cheeks on my face, my hands and feet. Hand-foot syndrome hurts and is a common side effect of capecitabine. You want to try to avoid it. I still get rashes on my cheeks. I also use triamcinolone primarily on my face. It works well for me. I used to get rashes all over, but moisturizing regularly mostly keeps it away.

Yes, the rashes are hard to get rid of, I still have some stuff popping up a month after my break started. I'm 75 so my body soaks up any moisture it gets almost immediately. My feet completely peeled a couple times. In the off time I also use aquafor. Everyone have a great day!

@cmhgiddy24 Other folks here have had success with aquafor. Each of our bodies is different. It takes some trial and error. Peeling feet are no fun. Hopefully, you don't have to deal with that again.