Husband's Plan - Clinical Trial

kimmygarland
kimmygarland Member Posts: 312
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
We've spent the last two days meeting with doctors, research people, nurses, etc. My husband finds himself in the unfortunate position of recurrence and has positive margins after his 3/5 surgery. He is slated for cisplatin chemo weekly, concurrently with 6 weeks of IMRT radiation. (They are dosing him weekly instead of every two weeks due to reduced kidney function he has from diabetes)

There is a clinical trial (Phase 2 trial) going on right now for recurrent hnc patients where they add Erbitux to the cisplatin/radiation treatment. They are in year 3 of the clinical study and have seen good results - stats going up by 20%. We don't listen to the stats much anymore since they have told us for the last 3 years there is 80-90% chance of cure and yet here we are still fighting. But, I digress. Our medical oncologist believes Bob could benefit from the addition of the Erbitux, and the entire team agrees. He had Erbitux with Carboplatin in 2009, so we know he can tolerate it.

Tomorrow he will have the CT and mask fitting. It will take them about a week to line up radiation plan, get the picc line in, etc. so we are looking at a start date around 4/20 I think.

The radiation oncologist was very honest with us today and said it will be rough, especially since we don't know how he will react to the cisplatin with his kidney function. They will do extra hydration, daily blood work, etc. to stay on top of monitoring kidney function. I am so worried, but am trying to just take one day at time. Today he feels good and I am trying to focus on that. I'll worry about tomrorow when it gets here.

I hope everyone currently in treatment is doing ok... thinking of you all. I hate this dmn cancer!

Comments

  • wifeforlife
    wifeforlife Member Posts: 189
    #2
    thinking of you
    I understand the hating of this damn thing!.. hang in there.. this could be the treatment that turns things around.. thinking of you.
    Wife
  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #3
    Rough, yes
    But this sounds like a good plan. They did carboplatin/taxotere/erbitux on me, with rads following induction and with the ertibux continued until I finally couldn't take the ertitux any more. I overreacted to the ertitux, so it just became too much with about 3 weeks of rads left. The ertitux also makes people react a little more to the rads, as well. But here I am, now six weeks past treatment, doing pretty well.

    I went off the pain meds three days ago, and have almost healed the radiation burns, which were not bad at their worst. I still have a little healing to do in the mouth ulcer department, but I can actually see the light at the end of the tunnel. My exercise tolerance has improved signifanctly, especially in the last week. Sooooo, I've got no complaints. I am regaining taste now, too.

    The plan is good. You guys just need to keep on truckin. And anticipate success.

    Pat
  • Noellesmom
    Noellesmom Member Posts: 1,859 Member
    #4
    update
    Sounds like a strategy, kimmy. Holding good thoughts that Bob will do well.


    Let us hear from you.

    Hugs.
  • Irishgypsie
    Irishgypsie Member Posts: 333
    #5
    Noellesmom said:

    update
    Sounds like a strategy, kimmy. Holding good thoughts that Bob will do well.


    Let us hear from you.

    Hugs.

    Prayer and mojo!!!
    Sending some prayers and Mojo, out to Bob! I hate cancer!!!!!!!!

    ;(
  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #6
    Sending prayers and positive thoughts...
    that this new plan is exactly what it takes to kick some butt on the recurrance.

    Hugs...

    p
  • osmotar
    osmotar Member Posts: 1,006
    #7
    New Plan
    Best wishes to you as you start this next phase.

    Linda
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #8
    Thoughts & Prayers
    Coming your way....

    JG
  • joannaw81
    joannaw81 Member Posts: 185 Member
    #9
    Skiffin16 said:

    Thoughts & Prayers
    Coming your way....

    JG

    ufff
    I know exactly how you feel. my mom had surgery on 3/1/12. they were not able to read any margins since everything was submitted in very small pieces. so we are not really sure if they took out everything or not. Doctor thinks he did. This was my mom's third reginal recurrance. She will start radiation to the neck soon and probably chemo, we have all the doctor appoitments for next week since we are waiting for results from MRI that she had done on Tuesday. Before going forward with the treatment doctor wanted to make sure that all the cancer is out. In addition they would like to see if she can get brachytherapy to the tongue. I think we should have the results tomorrow. Today I had a dream about my grandparents that passed away. I am scared becasue everytime I dream about them I get bad news....hopefully it is the opposite this time. Good luck to you, keep me posted of your husbands progress and don't give up!

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