The Cancer Drug Erbitux Is Extremely Toxic to the Skin

Tuesday, August 19, 2008 by: Kevin Krautsack
Tags: drug side effects, health news, Natural News

(NewsTarget) Merck, a well know pharmaceutical and chemical company, according to various news sites, has applied to the European Medicines Agency to broaden the use of Erbitux to include neck and head cancer. Currently Erbitux is used to "treat" Colorectal cancer and is classified as an EGFr(Epidermal growth factor receptor).

"Erbitux (cetuximab) for injection is a monoclonal antibody that targets and inhibits epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr). EGFr is over-expressed in more than 35% of all solid malignant tumors. It is used alone or combination with other therapies for the treatment of colorectal cancer." (http://www.medilexicon.com/drugs/erbitux.php)

Despite Merck's constant push to expand the drug's uses and positive feedback from conventional medical professionals, current research shows that it can result in sickening and even devastating side effects. Many, however, are questioning its safety and effectiveness.

As stated in the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing and Seminars, oncology nursing patients participating in the study experienced many different forms of extremely high skin toxicity including severe acne, puss filled blisters, and severe rashes. Outbreaks were also reported to have exacerbated with each dose/treatment.

According to the conclusions of the study, approximately 90% of all patients receiving this antibody drug will experience side effects with varying severity.

Other complications included in the report include infusion reactions relating to application of the drug as well as pulmonary toxicity (affects the heart in a negative way).

As a result of the extreme skin toxicity and resulting side effects, many cases of depression and social anxiety have been reported. This is understandable as the side effects are unarguably excessive and extreme. Photos posted in the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing depict the side effects in full.

Patients were given tetracycline and steroids to help bring down the inflammation. Certain patients had to stop treatment due to gastrointestinal distress and other ailments. Upon returning to the clinic it seemed that the cancer had grown and many patients considered the drug unsuccessful and decided to discontinue treatment.

References:

Seminars in oncology Nursing
(http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/...)

Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing (Pictures are somewhat graphic)
(https://www.ons.org/publications/journals/CJON/Volum...)

About the author

Kevin Krautsack is a cancer survivor passionate about nutrition and helping people regain their health through diet and a healthy lifestyle.