#9001 12-16-2006 10:32 AM | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 417 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | OP  "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 417 | I am in my 2nd metastic recurrence. My oncologist wnated to try Erbitux. Wednesday morning the 13th they hooked me up to begin administering the Erbitux. The infusion had barely began when I coded. The emergency reactive team (Harvey Team) at VA Memphis were able to revive me but I had to spend two days in medical intensive care for observation. The Chemopharmacist stated that a reaction like that was extremely rare, one in a million. The bottom line is no matter the Chemotherapy, always ensure that whoever is administering the chemistry stand by your side for a while after the infusion begins, if my nurse hadn't been by my side, I could have been dead for quite some time before anyone noticed. This Metasteses is extensive but I remain positive and try to see the humor in my last episode. I am now a celebrity at Memphis VA chemotherapy room and a legend among the nurses and residents, it's good to be the king. Darrell
Stage 3, T3,N1,M0,SCC, Base of Tongue. No Surgery, Radiationx39, Chemo, Taxol & Carboplatin Weekly 8 Treatments 2004. Age 60. Recurrence 2/06, SCC, Chest & Neck (Sub clavean), Remission 8/06. Recurrence SCC 12/10/06 Chest.
| | |
#9002 12-16-2006 12:04 PM | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Darrell,
From this newby, Hang In There !!!
Keep us posted because we are all right beside you.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | |
#9003 12-16-2006 05:11 PM | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 493 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 493 | Wow, what an experience to go through. Glad you are still with us!
Stay strong and faithful.
Tim Stoj
60 yr old. Dx Jun 06 with BOT Stage IV. Neck dissesction on 19 Jun 06. Started Tx on 21 Aug 06/completed 33 IMRTs and 3 CT (2 Cisplat & 1 Carboplat) on 5 Oct 06.
| | |
#9004 12-19-2006 08:26 AM | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 209 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 209 | Darrell,
I am sorry you had to go through that ordeal.
You are so impressive in how you react to adversity. Your humor and determination to make the best of the situation earns you that celebrity status not only at the VA, but this forum as well
I loved the part about "it's good to be king"!
We could address you now as "Your Highness".
Take care, I hope you keep us posted.
Ginny
(spouse to Mike)
Ginny, spouse of MikeG. SSC BOT T2N1M0 Stage III, Dx 06/27/06 at age 52, Tx 07/31/06 through 09/28/06 Chemo Cisplatin & 5FU x2, Radiation x42. Cancer free and doing well.
| | |
#9005 12-19-2006 03:10 PM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 | Dear King Darrell, What a scary story! And I'm glad you posted it. Altho, I would assume that most people taking Erbitux for the 1st time would have very experienced Chemo Docs, that may not always be the case. When my husband got his 1st injection, the Doc stayed in the room with us for the 1st 2 hours and the chemo nurse was never more than 20 feet away the whole day. John did not have the severe reaction you did, but his blood pressure dropped precipitously about 5 times and they had to stop the infusion and then restart. It took 7 or 8 hrs. to do the 1st one. The subsequent 6 weeks, John had to stay in the chemo room for an hour after each infusion to be monitored. This drug is a potential hazard to some people. Keep fighting Darrell and thank you for posting. Amy
CGtoJohn:SCC Flr of Mouth.Dx 3\05. Surg.4\05.T3NOMO.IMRTx30. Recur Dx 1\06.Surg 2\06. Chemo: 4 Cycles of Carbo\Taxol:on Erbitux for 7 mo. Lost our battle 2-23-07- But not the will to fight this disease
:
| | |
#9006 12-19-2006 03:31 PM | Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 15 Member | | Member
Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 15 | That is very scary. So you had cancer and then 2 recurrances? | | |
| Forums23 Topics18,170 Posts196,933 Members13,105 | | Most Online458
Jan 16th, 2020 | | |
|
