Erbitux Questions

[Guest guest]

Hi All -

I'm a new member, but a long time reader. It's been difficult for me

to see Narice lose Phil. I posted once, and Joe Savage answered my

questions. It was hard to see him go, as well.

I started reading this board back in the summer of 2003. At that

time, my dad was diagnosed with metasized colon cancer. He was

originally diagnosed with colon cancer in May 1996. He had surgery

and a few chemo treatments after that. Then he was cancer free for

seven years until they found it in his lung.

Since then, he's had radiation and all of the chemos. He's run out of

options, now. The oncologist wanted him to start Erbitux 6 months

ago, but his tumor was negative (or not reactive), something that

prevented Medicare from covering it. So, he just took Campostar alone.

That chemo did not work and we tried to get him into a clinical trial

at the Hillman Cancer Center here in Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, they

did not except him - something to do with him taking Xeloda.

Now they want him to try Erbitux, saying that Medicare may now cover

it, because other trials were done. And if not, the drug company will

pay for it.

Has anyone heard of this? I find it amazing that would be the case.

I'm not very hopefull that Erbitux will do much good, though, at this

point. The one good thing, he still remains asymptomatic. The way

they discovered this in 2003, was due to a rise in his CEA level.

Any advice on Erbitux will be appreciated.

Nita