I would like to know patient reaction to Ethyol during radiation treatment?

My husband has oral cancer and I am getting mixed opinion and I am confused. Please help.

Thanks in advance

bb1217,
I had the daily injections prior to radiation on each visit. I was told the radiation had to begin within thirty minutes to an hour after the injection. The nurses injected me in the backside of my biceps, alternating daily, until the final week when they had to go to my literal backside. At $1600 a pop, who knows? I had six weeks worth. I understand it's to help protect that salivary glands, that somehow it gathers around the 'good' tissue, thereby protecting that tissue from the IMRT side splash. I was also told the Ethiol was 'burning me up' during radiation, too... BUT, if it's any indication I am now able to eat soups and chowders and such, even a small chili-dog last nite just three months plus 11 days out of radiation. Some people here at OCF say that is sort of phenomenal (?). Of course, having never done this, I wouldn't know. If my salivary function is an indication of the protective effects of Ethiol, then I would say it worked for me even if it did 'burn me up.' Granted, my salivary function is not that wonderful, my mouth really gets dry at night, and I have to keep the biotene gel, and the Oasis spray handy... I still have xerostomia. In short, I don't know, but it appears to have worked for me. God bless you both... I hope this has been somewhat of a help.

JBNich,
Thanks for quick response. Did you encounter blood pressure drop?

bb1217 --

Use the Search box in the upper right corner of each forum page to search for Ethyol (the brand name) or amifostine (the generic name). A number of people here have tried it, some with success and some not.

All the best --

Leslie

Well,
I was taking Atenolol 25 mg/day... a relatively small dose, and as a result of everything I went through, having lost so much weight... I'm not taking any meds... AT ALL! I had antidepressants, pain meds, the whole nine yards, and now... nothing. Yes, I did experience a drop in BP, but the nurses and doc were right there every minute of every day I was under their care.

I will greatly appreciate if anyone had a good or bad reaction to drug recommended prior to radiation theray called 'Ethyol'. My husband already has cardiac and kidney problem and I am not sure if the use of'Ehyol' can complicate situation more.

Thanks in advance.

I received it daily during Radiation via IV. It is a very short lived chemical in the system -- which is why it has to be given within 30 minutes of radiation. After about 4 weeks, I noticed that I would get nauseous about 1 hour after the infusion. I could almost set my watch by it -- by the time I had it, got down to radiation, had the rad and started walking back to the car, a bout of nausea would hit at just about the same location in my walk every day. Nothing serious, no vomiting, just a nauseous feeling that passed after about 20 minutes.

Today I can eat virtually anything, but still have to use lots of water, Biotene, etc. If I talk a lot, exercise, etc., dry mouth gets severe. But I surmise it would have been much worse had I not had the Amifostine (aka Ethyol).

[quote=bb1217]I would like to know patient reaction to Ethyol during radiation treatment?

My husband has oral cancer and I am getting mixed opinion and I am confused. Please help.

Thanks in advance [/quote]

I had Ethyol but I only lasted about halfway through the treatment and developed an allergic reaction to it. I have saliva although it is noted as "thick and ropey". The reaction I had started shortly into treatment and got progressively worse and eventually cause a severe reaction within minutes of the injection so it was decided by the medical team to stop. Even if I had to do it again, I would consider the Ethyol because of the documented benefits of salivary gland function.

My blood pressure has been about 112/76 for many years but when it went lower I don't know if it was from dehydration or the Ethyol or the chemo. My creatinine went to 1.2 as soon as I had the first Cisplatin dose and never went down.

I hope this helps.

Ed

I did not have ethyol, although it was discussed at great length with the RO. She figured that given the side effects that it can have (has) it was not worth it in my case. Note!! this does depend on what exactly gets radiated. The radiation field may be quite different from patient to patient. Especially with IMRT the parotid glands (or one of them) are often not destroyed. Also note that there are other salivary glands (submandibular and sublingual)... which are more likely to be in the radiation field (depending on cancer location)

That said, I can eat pizza (stromboli actually), soft bread etc without having to drink water, although I usually do. I have issues with crumbly food and taste that is not quite where it should be.

Markus

Like Markus, I was told by my docs that it wasn't worth it for me to get it. I was told that my saliva should be just fine within 90 days of Tx. Well they missed it by about 13 months but now my taste and saliva are really much much better and if they stop improving today, I'll be OK with where they are.

One thing that you will hear all the time and it's true...we all have similar but different reactions to the Tx because of all the variables that come into play. What works for some may not work for others and vice versa.