Hi everyone,

So after my dads first cycle with Erbitux, carboplatin and docetaxel which I mentioned before, he didn't take it to well and had to spend a couple days in hospital.

On the second cycle the doctor increased the Erbitux doseage and reduced that of carboplatin and docetaxel in fear that it would make my dad sick again. The doctor also gave my dad a jab that increased white blood cells (it was quick, like 3 seconds) jabbed at the belly area. My dad didn't have such a bad reaction this time. But still had a fever. Spent couple days in hospital.

The doctor also administered Erbitux on the week in between the third cycle (last week)

today the date of cycle 3......the doctor switched my dad to xeloda (capecitabine) which can be administered at home.....and administered 2 weeks worth or Erbitux.

I feel that this is not the way to cure and the doc has given up treatment for my dad. He says the tumor is rebounding too fast in between the cycles and he won't continue to try the previous 3 drug plan as it would do more harm for my dads well being. My dad is tough and he himself has gotten into the routine where he knows he might need to stay a couple of days at the hospital after chemo. I also feel that the doc reduced the chemo doseage on the second dose so of course the tumor rebound might be faster and he didn't administer Erbitux every week which is the norm (correct?)

Does anyone else get a fever for a couple of days when they do chemo?

How many cycles could everyone else tolerate?

I don't think my dad should use capecitabine yet.....not now. We should still fight this no?


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Care giver to father 61
SCC Tongue T1N2b stage IVA
6/1/12 - Tumor BOT (SCC)
6/10/12 - PET scans show 2 lymph node
6/30/12 - Glossectomy with 2/38 LNs 1cm clear marg
8/22/12 - started chemoRT (poor tolerance to Cisplatin)
10/2012 - 2 rounds of chemo only and RT completed
5/2013 - Upper left neck wounds started breaking down
8/2013 - PET scan shows recurrence and metastasis bottom of neck and possible lung
9/5/2013 - chemo: docetaxel/carboplatin + Erbitux