Antibody Treatment

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cancerx6
cancerx6 Member Posts: 25
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

I have come back to my 'head and neck' family to seek advice!  I posted several weeks ago about possibly having a good portion of my tongue removed only to find the CT and biopsy came back negative!  I was elated but still in so much pain I'm now on pain patches with roxicet for break-through pain.  Friday I had 2 more biopsies - the doctor used something that looked like a wrench to take the biopsies and the pain was terrible!  In addition I had a PET/CT scan that included the top of my head to my pelvis.  There was concern that cancer might have metastasized to my hip or lung.  Just got a call that the hip and lung are fine - BIG SIGH OF RELIEF!  However, it looks like there is cancer in the tongue once again - I have had chemo and radiation and 3 surgeriies already!  I see the ENT oncologist Thursday.  His thoughts were that I will need surgery either to find out what is causing the pain or again, remove most of the tongue to get rid of the cancer.  The medical oncologist who ordered the PET/CT told me of an antibody treatment for head and neck cancer that could possibly be used instead of surgery or with a less invasive surgery.  Have any of you had/heard of this?  Is it chemo?  Sorry for the rambling but between the drugs and the pain and the possibilities running through my head, I am in a muddle!  Looking forward to hearing from you and wishing everyone good heath!!!!!!!

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  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #2
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    The only thing I've heard about an

    antibody type drug being used to treat cancer was a few weeks ago, and a woman who'd had cancer for a long time was treated with the measles vaccine....a HUGE dose of it (like enough for 100,000 people).  I think it was at the Mayo Clinic.

     http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/05/15/measles-vaccine-cancer-mayo-clinic/9115363/

    Let us know what the Dr. has in mind, I'm interested.

    p

  • corleone
    corleone Member Posts: 312 Member
    #3
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    phrannie51 said:

    The only thing I've heard about an

    antibody type drug being used to treat cancer was a few weeks ago, and a woman who'd had cancer for a long time was treated with the measles vaccine....a HUGE dose of it (like enough for 100,000 people).  I think it was at the Mayo Clinic.

     http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/05/15/measles-vaccine-cancer-mayo-clinic/9115363/

    Let us know what the Dr. has in mind, I'm interested.

    p

    Hi Phrannie and cancerx6

    I think that the antibody the Dr. referred to is most likely Erbitux (Cetuximab). This is not a chemo treatment; it’s an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor, a monoclonal antibody given by intravenous infusion. I didn’t have this treatment, but some others from this forum did.

    There are many other types of monoclonals that could be used. Cetuximab is now (more or less) part of a the standard treatment approved by FDA a few years ago, but most of other type of monoclonals are experimental drugs, and you need to be enrolled in a clinical trial.

     

  • KB56
    KB56 Member Posts: 318 Member
    #4
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    Erbitux

    Actually I had Erbitux as part of my treatment and it was done concurrently with the radiation.   It was described as my "chemo" and I had 7 treatments, once a week, with 34 radiation treatments.    The side effects are not near as bad as the other chemos (the biggest one being acne on the face and a bad skin rash on my trunk (stomach and back)). 

    My primary was my right tonsil and they did a tonsillectomy to remove that but I did not have a neck dissection because the surgeon thought it was too risky as the lymph nodes were wrapped around juglar, carotid artery, nerves, etc.   I'm one year out from treatment and so far so good with no recurrance. 

    Good Luck,

    Keith

  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #5
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    KB56 said:

    Erbitux

    Actually I had Erbitux as part of my treatment and it was done concurrently with the radiation.   It was described as my "chemo" and I had 7 treatments, once a week, with 34 radiation treatments.    The side effects are not near as bad as the other chemos (the biggest one being acne on the face and a bad skin rash on my trunk (stomach and back)). 

    My primary was my right tonsil and they did a tonsillectomy to remove that but I did not have a neck dissection because the surgeon thought it was too risky as the lymph nodes were wrapped around juglar, carotid artery, nerves, etc.   I'm one year out from treatment and so far so good with no recurrance. 

    Good Luck,

    Keith

    erbitux

    I just finished erbitux. It is my understanding that it is not a cure. I have had 2 recurrences and the erbitux and taxol where an attempt to keep lingering cancer cells at bay.

  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    #6
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    cancerx6, i'm not familiar

    cancerx6, i'm not familiar with that but wanted to say I'm praying for all to turn out well for you.  please let us know what you hear.

    dj

  • donfoo
    donfoo Member Posts: 1,771 Member
    #7
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    corleone said:

    Hi Phrannie and cancerx6

    I think that the antibody the Dr. referred to is most likely Erbitux (Cetuximab). This is not a chemo treatment; it’s an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor, a monoclonal antibody given by intravenous infusion. I didn’t have this treatment, but some others from this forum did.

    There are many other types of monoclonals that could be used. Cetuximab is now (more or less) part of a the standard treatment approved by FDA a few years ago, but most of other type of monoclonals are experimental drugs, and you need to be enrolled in a clinical trial.

     

    I am in a muddle!

    Hey Corleone,

    Not many posts these days perk my ears but Erbitux not a chemo got my attention. After some pecking away to learn more, indeed a monoclonal antibody is not technically part of the family of classic chemo drugs. Learn something new everyday. LOL

    However, Cancerx6 lamenting being in a muddle aptly describes how we all land here once getting a cancer diagnosis. With the blast of new terms it seems reasonable to initially call erbitux a form of "chemo" just to lessen the overwhelming confusion.

    For those who attain your level of expertise, we'll call them different Laughing

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