Vectibix trick (maybe)

[ginabeewell]

I say maybe, because so far my sample size is one!

I did Vectibix with FOLFOX my first 19 rounds of chemo, and had an intense rash as a result. I went to a Derm multiple times for antibiotics and increasingly strong steroid creams I would use twice a day, but it was still brutal. Like, rash *inside* my eyelids, swelling so much I couldn’t see. That kind of rash.

When I returned to Vectibix five rounds ago, I made sure I started antibiotics weeks ahead of time. And I started to ice my face during the hour long infusion of Vectibix - thinking it might work like cold cap therapy to restrict the veins and lead to less chemo going to my face.

Well, I’m 10 weeks / 5 doses in. By now my face would typically have been taken over. It’s not perfect - I have a few things popping up in creases where I haven’t iced - but I’m using steroid cream once or maybe twice a week, and that’s keeping me looking mostly normal. With makeup, my skin would look perfect, but most days I hit Zoom with a bare face.

Anyway, it is worth a try if you have Vectibix or Erbitux as part of your protocol! Hopefully it will work for you too and then we can get data for more than just one (me). The only other thing I did differently this time was FOLFIRI vs FOLFOX, but I don’t think that would / should matter.

Good luck!

[Gravelyguy]

Gina that is great.

Vectibix is no joke. I am out of the loop. How many more rounds do you have to do. I am assuming a recurrence is it liver or elsewhere?

Dave

[ginabeewell]

Gina that is great.

Vectibix is no joke. I am out of the loop. How many more rounds do you have to do. I am assuming a recurrence is it liver or elsewhere?

Dave

Yes, that’s right. I need to update my signature! I was NED on a January scan following all my resections. Then two new spots appeared on the March scan. Did 5 rounds of FOLFIRI with only ok results so we added Vectibix for my next five rounds. My last scan was stable so I have a PET next week. My CEA is low - 0.7 - and it has been a good indicator for me, so I HOPE the PET looks good and someone clears me for another resection sooner vs later.

My onc here in Chicago says she would stay local for ablation, but if Kemeny thinks surgery, I should head to NY and let Kingham do it since he’s seen my liver three times now! Road trip!

[AlexandraZ]

Thanks for the tip!! Jesper will probably be starting back on Vectibix again and we definitely want to give it a try! His rash was brutal last time too, so if this helps that would be amazing.

[ginabeewell]

My neck has erupted into a painful red rash.

My face is feeling dry and delicate with a spot or two, but no real rash yet. This makes me more convinced the ice is working, as I didn’t ice my neck. But I will next time! Ouch.