Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Patients must have a diagnosis of colorectal or lung cancer and be planning to
receive one of the following epidermal growth factor receptor (HER1/EGFR) inhibitor
therapies listed below for at least 6 weeks:

- Cetuximab 400 mg/m² loading dose, 250 mg/m² weekly

- Cetuximab 500 mg/m² every 2 weeks

- Panitumumab 6 mg/kg every 2 weeks

- Erlotinib hydrochloride 100-150 mg daily

- Other HER1/EGFR inhibitor therapies, schedules, or doses of the above listed
agents are not allowed

- Concurrent chemotherapy and other anti-cancer therapies (such as carboplatin,
paclitaxel, and bevacizumab) are allowed EXCEPT for the following
chemotherapeutic agents that are known to cause skin rash that could interfere
with EGFRI-induced skin toxicity assessment: gemcitabine, capecitabine, and
topical fluorouracil (Efudex™, Fluoroplex™, Carac™)

- Patients must have completed the baseline S1013 Functional Assessment of Cancer
Therapy- (FACT) EGFRI 18 within 7 days prior to registration

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- Patients must have a Zubrod performance status of 0-2

- Patients must not have any of the following serious concomitant skin disorders that,
in the investigator's opinion, could interfere with assessment of epidermal growth
factor receptor inhibitor (EGFRI)-induced skin toxicity: atopic dermatitis [eczema];
contact dermatitis; psoriasis; rosacea; severe photosensitivity; scleroderma;
steroid-induced acne; or xerosis

- Patients must be able to complete questionnaires in English

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- See Disease Characteristics

- Patients may have had prior epidermal growth factor receptor (HER1/EGFR) inhibitor
therapy but must have fully recovered from any skin toxicities prior to registration

- Patients must not be planning to receive any of the following concomitant medications
that can cause skin rash or other dermatologic reactions that could interfere with
the EGFRI-induced skin toxicity assessments, for the duration of the study:
allopurinol; systemic corticosteroids; topical retinoids (Retin-A™, Tretinoin™); or
oral retinoids (Amnesteem™, Claravis™, Sotret™)

- Patients must not be planning to receive concurrent external-beam radiation therapy,
including prophylactic cranial radiation

- Patients may concurrently participate in other therapeutic clinical trials