Does anyone on Cetuximab have a severe facial reaction?

Posted by kathenn56 @kathenn56, Aug 11, 2023

My son is on cetuximab (erbitux) and has a severe facial reaction to it. Has anyone else had this and if so how did you treat it. Thanks

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I entered Cetuximab into the search function at the top of this page and found several comments about this drug on Connect. I wasn't familiar with this drug what so ever. Looking up this drug on the US FDA website it mentions an acne like rash and says the rash rarely leads to dose reductions or termination of therapy, it is generally reversible. It doesn't say the rash itself is rare but it does list many rare reactions and common side effects such as photosensitivity.
Has he been on this drug for a long time? Is his doctor concerned or has it been discussed with the doctor(s)?

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Thanks for getting back so quickly. He’s been on it about 5 months now has had great results for the tongue and neck cancer. Did not have any results from the original keytruda. He was referred to a dermatologist who specializes in chemo drug side effects. She put him on acutane but that did not help and has just put him on acitretin. Don’t know about that one yet only prescribed today. He doesn’t want to change or adjust the cetuximab because it is working great for him. Only the side effect is a very red painful rash on face.

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@kathenn56

Thanks for getting back so quickly. He’s been on it about 5 months now has had great results for the tongue and neck cancer. Did not have any results from the original keytruda. He was referred to a dermatologist who specializes in chemo drug side effects. She put him on acutane but that did not help and has just put him on acitretin. Don’t know about that one yet only prescribed today. He doesn’t want to change or adjust the cetuximab because it is working great for him. Only the side effect is a very red painful rash on face.

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@kathenn56, cetuximab is known to cause a facial rash or acne-looking skin for some patients. This article offers some helpful tips.
- Nail and Skin Changes https://www.oncolink.org/cancer-treatment/oncolink-rx/cetuximab-erbitux-r#:~:text=Cetuximab%20has%20some%20unique%20nail,and%20dry%2C%20and%20feel%20sore.

I hope acitretin helps. This study speaks of the potential benefits of cream with Vitamin K.
- Management of Skin Toxicity Associated with Cetuximab Treatment in Combination with Chemotherapy or Radiotherapy https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3228080/

Might be worth discussing with the dermatologist.

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