Margaret,

The following represents my opinions/expriences, hopefully you may find this helpful.

Such decisons are painful. The first thing you have realize is that people react differently. I know littlle about KGF but from what I understand (I am not an MD), it adresses radiation induced mucositis. As such it does not weaken or destroy cancer cells (as far as I know).

Your question is cisplatin and ??

Both cisplatin and Cetuximab attack cancer cells (amongst other things). They do this differently. Cisplatin acts within the cell while Cetuximab inhibits an extracellular grow hormone receptor. In my opinion (!!!) it would seem to be best to attack from as many fronts as you can as long as it is safe. ... and how agressive your MO is.

Sideeffects:
It is said that Cetuximab has fewer side effects. As I was told a significant fraction get a skin rash, No big deal when you are trying to cure cancer. There are 3-4% severe reactions. I was initially only going to be treated with Cetuximab in conjuntion with radiation.
On the 24th of May I was given Cetuximab and had an anaphylactic shock after only 10 minutes, blackout etc including a visit to the ER. The agreement I had with the MO was to use a test dose, which did not happen. (I used to work with mice a long time ago). Since then I have talked with other MOs and they all say that they have lost people on Cetuximab.
I think that if one can handle it, the drug is good, I would use it despite of the above, if I could.
However one has to be extremely vigilant during the first infusion because things may happen very fast.

Cisplatin (I am getting this now weekly, yesterday was the first treatment so take what I say about my experience with a boulder of salt). They do it weekly because I also get radiation, a fairly wide field.
Your team must have told you about the toxicity of the drug it also it makes you nauseous etc. If you get this weekly they give you a smaller amount (ca 1/3) but more frequently. For me this was for me a non event, nothing happened at all.

There are other posts here where people only had 2 out of 3 cisplatin treatments. Some also switched to carboplatin which is less toxic but some say is also less effective.


Best wishes!!

Markus