I need to sign a consent for Vectibix

Doc_Hawk said:

Vectibix ...
(... which I call "Wheatabix") will start off as a rash, but that will fade after a couple of months. The skin on my shoulders and arms is pretty dry and I use a loofah on it every day. Unfortunately, I don't have anyone who can put lotion on that spots that I can't reach. It may cause the skin on your hands and feet to start cracking into painful splits. As mentioned above, avoid sunlight. I've almost gone vampire after getting a horrible 3rd degree sunburn on my face and left hand back in March. Aguaphor is the best thing I've found for the skin: unlike lotions, it does not cause the splits to burn when I use it. Invest in some white cotton gloves. It will keep the Aquaphor from getting on things you touch (it's greasy) and the padding helps to protect your splits.

Just remember that cancer and chemo are different for everyone, so you may not experience these things at all. The worst part of the splits on the fingers for me is that it inhibits my typing. I used to be able to hit 125 wpm and could write a 10 - 15 page academic paper in about 8 hours. At the end of the last semester it took 2 days to write 8 pages. PM me if you like, and if you need someone to talk to with similar experience, I'll give you my number. I wish there'd been someone with experience to ask questions when I first started on wheatabix last year.

idlehunters said:

TCM....
Is Traditional Chinese Medicine. I get my nails done any time there is no infection in nails. I get fake nails put on hands and feet as often as I can. I had been bald for the past 2 years....until I started Vectibix..... My last chemo...which was Folfiri did my hair in.....but this Vectibix makes my hair on my head grow thick..... Not only on top of my head...but my brows I have to wax weekly and I have trimmed my eyelashes 3 times now. I went from NO brows, lashes and hair to excess hair....strange!

Jennie

CherylHutch said:

Vectibix Club
Hey Donna (and gang!),

It appears that quite a few of us are on Vectibix now... we should form a club

So, Donna... what sort of consent form was it that you had to sign for Vectibix? Was this for insurance purposes? I'm in Canada, but didn't have to sign any form so am not sure if this is an American thing or ?

As for "vanity"... don't think anything of it We have to go through so much on this journey, that if we have one or two things left that we want to protect (call it vanity or whatever), then we have that right... and who cares if those not going through the same journey think, "Well, that's so vain... surely you have something more important to worry about?" Don't listen to them... they don't have a clue what they are talking about or why something might be important to us.

Now, having said that... at the moment, my treatment is Vectibix only. I've been through all the others (and my empathy goes out to any of you on FOLFOX or IRINITECAN... these two I reacted to so badly, that I won't be able to try them again). So of all the chemos, and unfortunately I have been through all of them so my hopes are all on Vectibix that it will work for me for a long time to come... I find Vectibix to be one of the easiest as far as side affects that interfere with one's lifestyle. I wasn't sure how to word that because I DO have side affects, but different than all the previous chemos. I don't get the chemo fatigue, or the nausea or any of those that seem to be common with all the chemos. But yes, I have gotten the rash and the worst for me was the splitting/pain with the fingers. Anything I've tried has not done anything to heal the fingers... the only way for them to heal is to stop the Vectibix.

The rash is the least of my worries. Yes, I get it on my face and where as I think it's super noticeable, my friends have looked at me closely and say that it is not noticeable unless I point it out... and then they see it, but only because they've been told. What I do before I go out in public... first, is to moisturize. Do not use a scented moisturizer... that will only feel like the skin is burning. I use a variety of moisturizers... but to stick with a theme, I use Clinique's Red Solutions cleanser to wash my face, followed with Clinique's Red Solution moisturizer. I then use a cover-stick to dab on any of the spots I think are particularly noticeable (not unlike you would do with an annoying zit). And then I put a Clinique 40SPF light foundation in lotion form... just a light base. I will then do my makeup which has always been very simple... a light powder blush, eyeliner under the lower lashes and then mascara. Voila, I'm good to go

Hehe... interesting everyone's different reaction about hair! When I was on the Irinitecan, I lost all my hair. I prepared for that and bought two good wigs... but seriously, I hate wearing wigs, no matter how good they may look. They are way too hot!! So for the most part, during the 10 months or so when I was bald, I just wore casual hats... like baseball caps, an Olympic beret, and a few others I had on hand. My hair grew back in, very curly (I guess you could say I had wavy hair before... personally, I thought I just had a head of frizz, especially during the rainy days ). I now have curly hair... which at the moment is in dire need of a cut/styling and color. I haven't had a cut since it grew back and it's now out of control

I DID notice the eyelash thing!! Wow... I ended up with the best eyelashes!! But they also were a pain... the were so long that they would curl and sometimes the tips would then end up IN my eyes!! I never ever thought I would have complaints about having long eyelashes

So, all in all... Vectibix is a fairly easy treatment to be on. The rash, such as it is, is fairly easy to control... mind you, the body rash can be extremely itchy. I have found the simple Calomine lotion to be effective. As for the dryness of the skin... that is harder. That's where I have about 60 different lotions and potions to try... and I can't say I've really found a perfect solution. I have ordered some tubes of "Lucas' Papaw Ointment" from eBay Australia. It is only sold in Australia, hence ordering it from the Aussie eBbay. It is the consistency of vasoline, but is made up of a Papaya enzyme. I also use it on the split fingers... which helps, but so far has not cured them.

I was on 12 sessions of Vectibix when I was in dire need of a break because of the fingers. Timing was great because I ended up having a breathing problem and we found out one of the tumors in my lungs was partially blocking my airwaves. So to shrink that puppy, we needed to radiate... and neither my regular Oncologist or my Radiation Oncologist wanted me on Vectibix (or any chemo treatment) while going through the radiation. So all in all, I was off Vectibix for 2 months... and yayaya... my fingers healed!! I have now started up with the Vectibix again (just had my second treatment yesterday) and the rash has started up on my face, but so far, not the fingers. I know it's probably just a matter of time, but I'm daydreaming that it doesn't affect my fingers this time. We shall see.

So, today you started your Vectibix. You mentioned you are having an injection today? I get mine via IV... it's a one hour infusion (along with, I need a 3 hour infusion of magnesium because, for some reason, Vectibix eats up the magnesium in our bodies). So by injection, do you mean an IV infusion, or are you getting it differently?

Cheryl in Vancouver