Erbitux- "The Martha Stewart Drug"

Today, Pop received a new chemo therapy agent called, cetuximab (erbitux) also know as the “Martha Steward drug”. This is because it’s the drug (produced by ImClone Systems) that Martha Steward was doing illegal stock practices that eventually sent her to jail. Anyway, it turned out to be a great drug for Pop. Pop had no side effects at all. They said that if he were to have an allergic reaction it would have happen within the hour after receiving the medication. The only other side effect that it may cause is a rash and some ache in a few days. Other than that, they expect everything to go well. Pop is feeling great and ate a great meal, prepared by mom, as soon as he got home.

I’m sure many are wondering, “If this is such a great drug, why didn’t they give it to him from the very beginning?” The reality is, since it’s a new and obviously expensive drug, it’s considered a “second line drug”. This means that you give this after the standard and “normal” course of chemotherapy have failed. Since Pop had such severe toxicity to the other chemo, he certainly became a candidate for this new medication.

The plan is to repeat this new chemo treatment again next Tuesday and then repeat the CT scan next Friday to see if the drug is shrinking his lung lesions. Pop continues to feel good and is surrounded by support from his family.