Skin-Related Side Effects of Mesothelioma Drug
We feel that this cutaneous toxicity must be recognized on account of its potential severity.
Raleigh, NC (PRWEB) January 05, 2015
Researchers in Perigueux, France are warning fellow cancer doctors to be on the look-out for a little-known side effect of the popular mesothelioma drug pemetrexed. Surviving Mesothelioma has just posted an article on the new research. Click here to read it now.
Scientists at Perigueux Hospital in Perigueux, France have just published a new report detailing the cases of two cancer patients who developed red, painful sores and swelling on their legs that resembled bacterial infection. Both patients were on pemetrexed, the primary drug used to treat malignant pleural mesothelioma.
“This cutaneous adverse effect is unrecognized, resulting in delayed diagnosis,” writes lead author Dr. Caroline Corbaux, who says the condition may be mistaken for an infection. “We feel that this cutaneous toxicity must be recognized on account of its potential severity.”
One of the patients, whose case was detailed in the French medical journal "Annales de dematologie et de venerologie", developed so much swelling and pain that it was difficult for her even to walk.
“This report is especially important for mesothelioma patients since pemetrexed is the primary first-line chemotherapy drug for most of them,” says Alex Strauss, Managing Editor of Surviving Mesothelioma.
To read the details of the French paper, including a potential way for mesothelioma patients on pemetrexed to avoid serious skin problems, see Mesothelioma Chemotherapy Side-Effect Mimics Scleroderma, Infection, now available on the Surviving Mesothelioma website.
Corbaux, C et al, “Pemetexed-induced scleroderma-like changes in the lower legs”, December 29, 2014, Annales de dematologie et de venerologie, Epub ahead of print, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25554663
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