Cetuximab for Head and Neck Cancer User Reviews

• Anonymous
• November 23, 2008

Cetuximab "My father-in-law was diagnosed with metastatic squamous cell head and neck cancer. Had 6 weeks of radiation, but cancer had spread. Conventional chemo did nothing. Had large tumors, one breaking through the chest wall. Could not do daily tasks. He started on Erbitux infusions, and within four weeks, two of the tumors had disappeared, and the larger ones had shrunk. Didn't need pain medicines anymore. Side effects he experienced: blood infections from the PICC line, electrolyte imbalance, rash on his body. He is happy with the drug. He has lived several months longer than anticipated, but he must stay on Erbitux or the cancer will come back."

• ELM...
• October 16, 2015

Cetuximab "I heard good things about this drug for metastatic head and neck cancer (mine began in my tongue and has moved around my mouth and into my neck - I'm a 30-year-old female with no risk factors), but had a severe allergic reaction during my first infusion. I felt a hot flash move from my midsection to my head, then everything started swelling until finally my throat began to close. It was instantaneous. I only had about 10-20 cc's. Luckily, my nurse was prepared and flushed the line immediately and gave me meds to stop the reaction. My doctor has already ordered panitumumab to replace it."

• Gob...
• May 11, 2020

"Have been on cetuximab weekly for 15 months for head and neck (HNC), i.e., secondary tumor in pharyngeal space. Tumor has shrunk and now stable with no metastasis elsewhere. Side effects of rash, nail infections, flaky skin, fatigue are bearable. My original mouth cancer surgery and radiotherapy have left me debilitated with no taste or smell, poor swallow, and hence limited to a soft diet. Also, my speech is poor. Quality of life has deteriorated. However, cetuximab has kept me going and seems to have given me an extension of time."