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#79007 08-20-2008 06:39 AM
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Markus Offline OP
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There is some info re severe allergic reaction to the MAB Erbitux. This reaction occurs within minutes of the infusion. It is not the more normal skin rash.

http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/news/newsreleases/2008/cancerdrugallergy.htm

Hopefully, they devise a test for this soon, the alternative is to be extremely careful the first time you are given Erbitux. How many MO's hang around in the chemo lounge?, exactly!

It still irks me that although I told my MO that I might be allergic** to Erbitux and we agreed on a test dose it did not happen and the result was an anaphylactic shock.

** I worked with mice (Erbitix is a mouse derived antibody).

Hope this info is useful for somebody.

M


Partial glossectomy (25%) anterior tongue. 4/6/07/. IMRT start @5/24/07 (3x) Erbitux start/end@ 5/24/07. IMRT wider field (30x) start 6/5/07. Weekly cisplatin (2x30mg/m2), then weekly carbo- (5x180mg/m2). End of Tx 19 July 07.
Markus #79010 08-20-2008 07:27 AM
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Markus, thanks for that info, I do remember you sharing it with me in a previous post but the reminder was needed. We will strictly request a test or partial dose before the loading dose is administered IF we end up selecting Erbitux (which I am still deciding and looking for studies about the efficacy of).


FIL completed treatment 10/08. CG to father in Law in india who had SCC oral tongue T2N2M0. FIL underwent surgery, neck dissection, IMRT, and erbitux without losing weight or getting nauseated. Completed October 2008. SO far so good.
marma #79011 08-20-2008 07:32 AM
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I had Erbitux added to my regimen after pathology revealed effusion in one of my nodes. During the loading dose, which happened on Day 1 of my radiation treatment, I began to feel a tightness/tingling in my chest, rang for the nurse and it was stopped immediately. A dose of Benedryl was administered and the treatment was continued with no further trouble. And I slept like a baby thanks to the Benedryl.


Stage IV SCC lt lateral tongue, surgery 5/19/08 (partial gloss/upper neck dissection left side/radial free flap reconstruction) IMRT w/weekly Cisplatin & Erbitux 6/30/08, PEG 1 6/12/08 - out 7/14 (in abdominal wall, not stomach), PEG 2 7/23/08 - out 11/20/08, Tx done 8/18/08
Second SCC tumor, Stage 1, rt mobile tongue, removed 10/18/2016, right neck dissection 12/9/2016
Third SCC tumor, diagnosed, 4/19/2108, rt submandibular mass, HPV-, IMRT w/ weekly Cisplatin, 5/9 - 6/25/2018, PEG 3 5/31/2018
margaret_in_ma #79016 08-20-2008 08:18 AM
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Markus Offline OP
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To be sure it is a RARE event and something that you can easily catch. The last thing I want to accomplish is to steer anyone away from Erbitux.

However anyone who has been in a chemo lounge knows that the nurse is not constantly beside you. The other thing to realize that there has to be a communication between the nurse who is there and the MO who most likely is not. It is bets to check that the nurse is aware of special arrangements.

M

Margaret on a lighter note: all this proves is our immune system is able identify rodents as foreign! You can make you own rhyme on that.







Last edited by Markus; 08-20-2008 08:22 AM.

Partial glossectomy (25%) anterior tongue. 4/6/07/. IMRT start @5/24/07 (3x) Erbitux start/end@ 5/24/07. IMRT wider field (30x) start 6/5/07. Weekly cisplatin (2x30mg/m2), then weekly carbo- (5x180mg/m2). End of Tx 19 July 07.
Markus #79018 08-20-2008 08:30 AM
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There's a mouse in the house?

To be sure, Markus. My medical team was very, very clear with me about potential side effects of bth the Erbitux and the cisplatin, started the Erbitux loading dose very slowly and my infusion nurse was on her toes waiting for something to go wrong. My regular MO was out that day, so I had as a substitute the head of the H & N program, who had headed up some of the clinical trials for cisplatin in H & N cancers, so I was in the best hands possible. It turns out, experience makes a huge difference!


Stage IV SCC lt lateral tongue, surgery 5/19/08 (partial gloss/upper neck dissection left side/radial free flap reconstruction) IMRT w/weekly Cisplatin & Erbitux 6/30/08, PEG 1 6/12/08 - out 7/14 (in abdominal wall, not stomach), PEG 2 7/23/08 - out 11/20/08, Tx done 8/18/08
Second SCC tumor, Stage 1, rt mobile tongue, removed 10/18/2016, right neck dissection 12/9/2016
Third SCC tumor, diagnosed, 4/19/2108, rt submandibular mass, HPV-, IMRT w/ weekly Cisplatin, 5/9 - 6/25/2018, PEG 3 5/31/2018
margaret_in_ma #79019 08-20-2008 09:59 AM
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Could not resist the pun. My MO had been wondering why almost all the patients he heard about or treated that had such a reaction to Erbitux were from the South. Other reports on this indicated that the cause was probably being bitten by "seed ticks" which trigger the antibody which are especially prevalent in TN, NC & GA. I agree that it would be great if they develop a test because the nurses warned my wife each and every infusion to watch closely for a reaction which did not help either of our stress level. At least the benadryl did help grab a quick nap.
I lost the link to one article I found that suggested that prior work with mice was not a factor as the antibodies were specific to the sugar and not the protein nor the mouse amino acid as the shock did not occur with patients with prior documented allergies to mice.
On a side note, this week marks the first time since ending Erbitux that my fingernails have grown long enough to cut.


65 yr Old Frack
Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+
2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG
2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery
25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Apaghia /G button
2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa
40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin

Passed away 4-29-13
Charm2017 #79028 08-20-2008 11:49 AM
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The MO I had stuck with me for about 15 minutes the 1st time to be sure. I had no idea about why he was there and din't ask him. When he left I asked the nurse. LOL She was much easier on my eyes too.


Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
EzJim #79128 08-21-2008 06:49 PM
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My husband's doctor was present everytime he had the Erbitux. As a matter of fact we couldn't schedule our weekly appointment unless he was going to be there. The whole staff was very dilligent. He did have a problem the morning after his first treatment. He woke with flu like symptoms and when I called the oncologist's office our regular was not on. A doctor on call said that those were not side effects of the drug but when I went on the manufacturer's website-those exact symptoms were listed. Sometimes you have to be your own research team.

Sue


cg to husband, 48 Stage 1V head and neck SCC. First surgery 9/07. Radiation and several rounds of chemo followed. Mets to chest and lungs. "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain." Went home to God on February 22, 2009.

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