Trisha,
I've taken all of these chemo's, survived, and thriving!
I see their substituting the 5-FU with Erbutux (cetuximab), which I heard about, and the acronym, CPT, which may be better because 5-FU has its its own nasty toxicities.
Erbitux is not really a chemo, it's a targeted therapy, a monoclonal antibody that works to inhibit the EGFR, Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor.
What's funny, may not really, but Martha Stewart went to jail because of the
Erbitux stocks way back when, so every time I see her on TV I think of
Erbitux.
Yes, there is very rare risk of allergic reaction and heart attack with
Erbitux, usually during the first or lesser the 2nd dose, so they will monitor you very closely, and anything out of the ordinary to let them know. He'll probably go forchemo orientation before having any infusions with instructions on care, contact numbers, etc. The first dose may be a loading dose, and thereafter a lesser dosage. That's at least with the weekly dose I had with Taxotere.
Erbitux has several side effects, most notably is the facial and body rash, which should not be used as an indication it's working, but is rather its a side effect of an EGFR Inhibitor. There are medications for this, which can help manage the rash, and OTC products to use for body care. Another are mouth sores, mucocitis, can be worse than Cisplatin.
There's plenty information on
Erbitux here, which I know I posted about, as well as the other chemo's. if not, I have some.
I wouldn't consider Tijuana, even with all the cancers I had! I've read nothing but bad things about these places, and really have no proof anyone has been cured from their sometimes toxic treatments. Many have been closed down due to the fraud, and death, but I guess some are able to avoid this by one quark or another, even in the U.S.
http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/drug-info/erbitux.aspxhttp://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/drug-info/Taxotere.aspxhttp://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/drug-info/cisplatin.aspx
