Angel

Brian answered your last question, explaining in plain english the prevailing theory most doctors use: combine the Erbitux with the chemo to maximize the effect. And as usual he's right that Erbitux alone is not commonly used first. I did not like what I read about the side effects and possible risks of cisplatin nor putting such a powerful poison into my bloodstream. Each medical team is different and mine was willing to substitute the killing effect of the more narrowly focused radiation for the cisplatin (which is why I had the max rads of 72 gy). I liked the whole MAB idea. So I took a chance on just Erbitux alone -knowing that the current "gold" standard is both. It was a decision I made, not the doctors, just like not getting a peg. Not the usual but worked for me.

As to side effects, the most common is the acne like rash and increased radiation dermatitis. In other words, your skin can blister up real bad and real red. My reaction was way worse than any of the patients my team had seen. On the other hand, some believe that the worst the skin reaction to Erbitux, the more effectively it is working. there were little things like every fast growing cell took a hit too, such as fingernails and toenails. Heck for the first time, even my ear hair slowed down. (inside old fogey joke)
Last but not least, it let me joke about Martha Stewart saving me.