Looking for information on experiences with Cetuximab

trixiedixie
trixiedixie Member Posts: 10
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Hi there,
I'm new to this journey, just had my second chemo and first radiation treatment today. I have been given cetuximab combined with radiation therapy and would really appreciate any information from someone who has experienced this combination. Can anyone enlighten me?

Comments

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #2
    Hi Dixie

    Welcome, glad to have you here with us on CSN. I did not do Cetuximab in my Chemo treatment but from what I understand of it, it is used with Chemo or sometimes by its self with radiation treatment. Try to Google it and you will get a lot more information about it and how it works.

    All the best to you
    Hondo
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #3
    Hondo said:

    Hi Dixie

    Welcome, glad to have you here with us on CSN. I did not do Cetuximab in my Chemo treatment but from what I understand of it, it is used with Chemo or sometimes by its self with radiation treatment. Try to Google it and you will get a lot more information about it and how it works.

    All the best to you
    Hondo

    AKA ERBITUX
    I did a lot of research about it, but chose to have radiation only. I was told it's a more targeted therapy, and not like other chemo drugs. There are a few that have had Erbitux, hoping they will chime in.

    Hoping you treatment goes well and has minimal side effects.
  • connieprice1
    connieprice1 Member Posts: 300 Member
    #4
    Cetuximab
    Hi Trixie, My wife Connie did induction chemo. The 1st week she did Cisplatin, Docitaxol, Cetuximab and 5FU, 2nd week just Cetuximab and the 3rd week off. She was suppose to do this chemo regimen 3 times adding up to 9 weeks of chemo. After the 1st week she had a lot of nausea but the 2nd week when she did just Cetuximab she was fine. So I felt the Cetuximab was easier on her. It is a target therapy that only attacks cancer cells and someday I hope all chemo drugs can be as mild as Cetuximab was. Everyone is different but for Connie the Cetuximab was a walk in the park. Hoping Cetuximab (Erbitux) is easy for you also, Homer & Connie
  • trixiedixie
    trixiedixie Member Posts: 10
    #5
    connieprice1 said:

    Cetuximab
    Hi Trixie, My wife Connie did induction chemo. The 1st week she did Cisplatin, Docitaxol, Cetuximab and 5FU, 2nd week just Cetuximab and the 3rd week off. She was suppose to do this chemo regimen 3 times adding up to 9 weeks of chemo. After the 1st week she had a lot of nausea but the 2nd week when she did just Cetuximab she was fine. So I felt the Cetuximab was easier on her. It is a target therapy that only attacks cancer cells and someday I hope all chemo drugs can be as mild as Cetuximab was. Everyone is different but for Connie the Cetuximab was a walk in the park. Hoping Cetuximab (Erbitux) is easy for you also, Homer & Connie

    Grateful for the information
    Thank you to everyone who commented.

    I am finding myself lucky to have been approved for this drug as the side effects do seem to be minimal and I have every reason to believe that I will find this a walk in the park, too. The radiation effects are a different story. I've only had 3 radiation treatments so nothing has really kicked in yet but I am waiting for the impending doom. It's just so hard to know what to expect when everyone is so different.

    Best wishes to all,

    Dixie
  • Fire34
    Fire34 Member Posts: 365
    #6
    trixiedixie said:

    Grateful for the information
    Thank you to everyone who commented.

    I am finding myself lucky to have been approved for this drug as the side effects do seem to be minimal and I have every reason to believe that I will find this a walk in the park, too. The radiation effects are a different story. I've only had 3 radiation treatments so nothing has really kicked in yet but I am waiting for the impending doom. It's just so hard to know what to expect when everyone is so different.

    Best wishes to all,

    Dixie

    Erbitux Also
    Dixie
    I was on Erbitux weekly for 18 weeks during a clincal trial at U of Chicago. I also did carboplatin,& taxol during induction. During radiation I had 5FU, hydroxyurea & erbitux. My only comment is watch out for the acne, mine itched like heck, my whole right side of my chest was one big patch of red. You have to be careful not to scratch the darn things as we are compromised druing chemo. Dont mean to scare you, but we are all different. Scambuster here also had Erbitux.
    Wishes & Prayers on your treatment
    Dave

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