Chemotherapy using monoclonal Cetuximab antibody is a preferred mechanism for treating bowel, neck head cancer. Clinically known as Erbitux or C225, Cetuximab is an identically cloned antibody of human and mouse chimeric cells. Characteristically, this antibody is infused intravenously varying on the patient’s height, weight and time or stage of cancer. Before going through the treatment, patients should understand the Cetuximab chemotherapy mechanism & side effects, which will help them to cope with their cancer treatment.

Erbitux is used for treatment for head and neck cancer. It is also used to treat metastatic colorectal cancer. This mode of chemotherapy is biological and hence is preferred over other treatments.

Cancer treatment inhibits the rapidly dividing oncogenic cells which transform the cancerous genes into neighboring normal cells and induce them to multiply speedily. Antibodies like cetuximab bind to epidermal growth factor receptors found on cancer cells as well as normal cells of metastatic colorectal and neck or head cancer patients and restrain them from proliferating.

Why One Should Get Cetuximab Treatment

Your doctor knows a host of cancer treatments but which chemical is to be used varies with the patient’s health and genetic characteristics. The stage of tumor plays a crucial role to decide a treatment. For example, patients who have mutation of KRAS gene do not show any improvement when administered with Erbitux. Conclusively, these patients are not to be treated giving Cetuximab. On the contrary, patients given a dose of Cetuximab or Erbitux coupled with irinotecan have shown regular reduction in their tumor sizes as compared to those who were only infused with Cetuximab.

In patients who suffer from metastatic colorectal cancer, it is usually given by doctors when the cancer has not spread to the liver and the patients have not been treated with any chemotherapy drugs previously. Your oncologist will guide you if you are eligible to be administered Cetuximab chemotherapy.

Patients who suffer from head and neck cancer are given Cetuximab chemotherapy in combination with radiation. It is usually given to patients in whom the cancer has started spreading locally.

Treatment during Pregnancy or Nursing:

A consultation from doctor or advisor becomes imperative if a patient becomes pregnant in course of treatment. Women must restrain from conceiving for a duration of 6 months and nursing their baby for a duration of 2 months after the last infusion of drug.

Side Effects of Cetuximab Treatment:

Patients should seek medical attention in case they experience uneasiness in breathing, skin allergies or have fever more than 100 degrees centigrade. To list some common side effects people face after Cetuximab exposure are

1. Skin Related Troubles:
   • Rash
   • Reddishness of skin
   • Itching
   • Mild Acne
   • Allergic Blemishes
2. Lung & Breathing Troubles:
   • Increased cough
   • Difficulty in breathing
   • Shortness of breath
3. Gastrointestinal Problems:
   • Stomach Pain
   • Nausea
   • Vomiting
   • Sores on the side of mouth & lips
   • Constipation
   • Diarrhea

The results vary for every patient. A close coordination and supervision from doctors in hospitals and clinics is usually done during the treatment in order to monitor the side effects. The patients are usually explained the basics of chemotherapy before the treatment. In case the patients experience severe toxicity due to the Cetuximab chemotherapy mechanism & side effects, the doctors might consider reducing the dosage or frequency of administration. The treatment can be resumed after the patient recovers.