Cetuximab

Sierraoscar 4 days ago

2 replies
106 subscribers
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Hi,

Husband started Cetuximab and chemo (FOLFIRI) at the start of May for Mets from bowel to lung after 13 years.

After 2 treatments he had to stop as not tolerable.

Back to consultant today. (30th July )

Who seemed keen to continue original (non tolerable program)(because it showed results)

Husband wanted to stop all treatment. 63, previously fit and healthy.

Compromise of taking Cetuximab only, fortnightly. Consultant now interested to see how this works without the chemo element.

Has anybody had experience of this?

1st time round was Oxalipilatin which was tolerated but apparently is now considered very toxic! It gave him 13 years with radiotherapy and surgery.

Perhaps it's too expensive at his age?

court 4 days ago

Hi Sierraoscar
Sounds as though your husband is a good responder despite the side effects aspect . 63 is young to me and my mum only started treatment at 67 so I don’t think he would be the reason but there are complicated rules for using chemo and my mum could not use Oxaliplatin again as thirteen years later it was still classed as failing first line treatment .

She was too frail to tolerate it at 81 but she did take Cetuximab alone . She was very responsive to chemo and actually did brilliantly on Cetuximab alone . In fact so well they thought the radiologist made a mistake and went back and checked . On its own it was much easier than chemo . Each side effects aspect took a turn then receded back whilst a different one came . But through it all she was out and about . The more challenging aspect was keeping magnesium rich food going in . It stripped her magnesium and the supplements played havoc with her bowels .

But she did ever so well and got on with her life .
That was the most important thing to her .

I hope he gets good results with it . I don’t think too many people have it as a sole agent as you have to fail chemo and Cetuximab to use it on its own . It’s a complicated business for sure .

Take care ,

Court

Helpline Number 0808 808 0000

Sierraoscar 4 days ago in reply to court

Many thanks for your informative reply Court.

Hopefully he will find the Cetuximab easier to tolerate on its own and continue to respond. It's reassuring to hear that side effects should back off even if they evolve into new ones.

I'll start looking into the magnesium foods for him. The magnesium supplement that I take is certainly too much for him at the moment though this may well change.

Thanks again