Amifostine was initially used for kidney cancer treatment to protect the kidneys from radiation. Further studies revealed a similar efficacy for protection of salivary glands during radiation. Take away the horrible nausea some people have and add in many people develop an allergic type reaction starting with local redness around the injection site to full systemic allergic reaction. Many people make it half way through radiation with progressive allergic reactions. In my case, my temperature spiked within 30 minutes of the injection and 3-4 weeks into treatment I would get a fever of 104 with my entire body covered in red splotchy areas. From my eyes out, it was like having the flu and the fever associated with that. After being hospitalized several times, it was determined the Amifostine was the cause and the problem disappeared immediately after I stopped receiving the injections (first day without).

Did it help? Who knows, but just another weapon in the aresenal.

Ed

SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023