I know of some people that are on long term Erbitux for a year for palliative care, and don't know of any about any maximum allowed chemo, but most use trial based therapies, may switch to another to avoid developing a resistance or when no improvement is seen. Some targeted therapies need to be long term in the palliative setting, like 6 months to a year for benefit, some chemos are given in cycles, then stopped, and restarted again.

I had Erbitux with radiation, for 6 weeks, but that was for curative intent. The first week is a loading dose, based in your weight, about 470mg for me, along with an infusion of Benadryl, a Tylenol, Hydration. After that were weekly infusions around 250 mg. The first infusion they monitor you closely since a small percentage have a severe allergic reaction, heart failure from it. The worst part of Erbitux is the rash, which can be severe, and the itching, skin dryness drove me crazy. They will give you antibiotics once the rash appears, and the best to use they say is Minocycline. I had 50mg capsules 3x a day.

Good luck.



10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil
11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp
01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks
06/11 30 HBO
08/11 RND PNI
06/12 SND PNI LVI
08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy
10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux
10/13 SND
10/13 TBO/Angiograph
10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI
12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo
11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO
03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN
09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy
04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site
06/17 Heart Attack Stent
02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs