| The Treatment |
| Mimi is participating in a clinicial trial through UC Davis. The trial involves four chemotherapy treatments three weeks apart followed by weekly treatments with a new targeted therapy, Cetuxamab or Erbitux. This more targeted drug has been approved for colorectal cancer and Mimi's trial tests it for effectiveness in treating lung cancer. We travel to the UC Davis Cancer Center, located in Sacramento, California (2+ hour drive) every three weeks for treatment. (Fortunately there are outlet stores on the way.) On the other weeks, Mimi gets her infusion in San Mateo. Since Stanford is only a few minutes away, Mimi goes there for blood tests, scans and other issues. The chemotherpy caused nearly full-body hair loss (including eyebrows and eyelashes), but doesn't remove leg hair! One friend commented, "wow-you know how much it costs for a bikini wax!" It also causes fatigue, joint pain, neurological and other symptoms and lowers the ability to fight infections. Apart from hair loss-- these side effects have been pretty well controlled. The worst part of the Chemotherapy for Mimi was having nearly constant migraine headaches that would not respond to her migraine mediication and a large, unfortable allergic rash. The Cetuximab causes a rash and other side effects that are far more tolerable than the chemotherapy. . We chose to participate in the Davis trial, because it offers the most promising targeted therapy. Davis, by the way, is on the cutting edge in lung cancer treatment. It has four lung oncologists (compared to one at Stanford and less than one at UCSF). |
| We are also exploring complementary therapies such as visualization/imagery, accupuncture, medical chiigong, etc. We're open to suggestions. (No drinking urine, please--it really was suggested to us!) |