Iressa/Terceva

Wanted to know if any smokers, metastatic nsclc are taking either of these drugs and have they been effective? I was told either option is only effective in non-smokers.(by the physician). Have already completed carboplatin taxol trial study...well, not completed...after 1st two cycles improvement, after 2nd two...increase of cancer and removed from study. Any responses greatly appreciated.

Hi Kellie,
My husband has nsclc which has spread to his
hip and spine. They now have him on Tarceva which
he has been on for just 2 weeks so I can't tell
you if it's working. He has a cat scan the 28th
to see if it's working so I'll be able to tell
you more then. The only side effect he's had so
far is a rash on his nose and loose bowels which hasn't caused him a problem. He used to be a heavy smoker but quit about 20 years ago. Take
care.

Hi,
My father is just starting Terceva treatment for NSCLC and he is just taking the pill once a day. He was diagnosed about 1 month ago and it seems to have stayed in his lungs? I am not sure, and I don't know if he is sure either. I will let you know with updates how it's working, but I'd like to stay in touch with both of you if you don't mind. I would like it if we could all update eachother with info. My dad battled throat cancer 9 years ago and won. He was a smoker and quit 9 years ago when his esophagis was found to contain cancer. He had surgery and radiation. He now talks with an electro-larynx and breaths through a new hole in his throat. Everything else is pretty much the same, just no swimming, and less talking on the phone. This was a huge shock when we (my family and I) discovered he has advanced stages of NSCLC. We are hoping for the best with this medication. I will keep your families in my mind as well.
- Tom

Hi. I am a survivor. Non small cell, metastised to ribs, spine. No surgery. Been through radiation, chemo with carbo platin, taxol etc. I have been on Iressa since clinical trials with remarkable results. Cat scans, Mris, PET scans, Broncoscopy all reveal scar tissue but no active. Originally diagnosed in 2002. Feel great, putting on weight, work full time-fatigue easy (combination of age etc.) Iressa does not work for everyone-only those that are predisposed with a certain gene factor. My dosage has been cut to 125mg (1/2 pill) daily. The only side effect is dry skin (itching etc in my upper back area) but moisturizers control that. My strongest advice to all concerned is to try it. Whatever works-try it. For a doctor to say it won't work is a shotgun approach. How could they know unless a gene study has been made? If one won't prescribe go to one that will and understands the history and science of Iressa. I continue to smoke also. My doctors cringe a little but one says "the damage has been done" the other "it would probably be more detremental to quit at this stage of your life". I was exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam and I and the VA think that was the cause of the cancer. sincerely, RB Scott

Hi Richard,

I think I may have responded to one of your messages earlier in the week but I can't remember so do forgive me.

Your message has filled me with positivity, something we have all been struggling to find since my father was diagnosed with t4 nsclc with metastases about six weeks ago.

Are you able to tell me where you are being treated and perhaps the name of your doctor? I am trying to speak to as many people as possible.

Many thanks and good luck.

Emily

Hi Diane. My mom has stage IV lung cancer with involvment to her bones too. Recently, she has excruciating pain in her hips at night. Did your husband have a lot of pain too? Any tips for pain management? How was Tarceva - I have been reading up on it.
Thank you.
Chrissy

Hi Chrissy,
My husband had radiation treatments for his spine and hip because of so much pain. The radiation helped but he is also on pain medication every day now(oxyicotin and celebrex). He has his second cat scan to see if the tarceva is still working on the 3rd of March. My e-mail address is dianemcgaha@cox.net if you'd like more information. Hope your mom does better. We'll keep her in our prayers.
Diane

I started the original posting and want to clarify...my Dad had nsclc...mets to liver and hip. He was only on the tarceva for 2 weeks and creatinine spiked to 2.8, BUN 55, all other levels including amonia(30) were within the normal range. Genentec claims no involvement as far as creatine/BUN levels with Tarceva use. I don't know, just posting as a caution. I did much research over the last 5 months and if we could possibly start again, at the beginning, before feeling compelled into making a hasty decision and going on what was "available in this area", and of course, it was the best (because that is what was available here) I personally would have seen to it that we went out East and sought a second opinion, from another cancer center. I will gladly pass on any information that I have. We did not explore any alternative medicine...all conventional, and that would be the limit of information I have. My Dad passed on 1/25 and he was a great man.

My mother (52 'old) has stage IV Non Small lung cancer that has metastases spread to her brain and the lymph nodes, and she has never smoked before. When she first diagnosed, her first symptoms were water in the lungs. She had drained the fluids from both lungs. It has been found 3 big masses in the brain, had radiation to her brain. The tumor shrinked a bit. Taking Iressa since September, 2004, started to feel better. Now the water returned to the lungs again and have shortness of breath and difficulty breathing again. Then I have read the news of Iressa recently dated March 3 that the Iressa treatement is no longer effective and the FDA wants to take it away from the market soon. I heard of Tarceva and would like to get more information of what is the difference between Iressa and tarceva? What is the effect of tarceva? Are there other alternative treatments available to get rid of the water in the lungs?

I am sorry about your Mom. http://www.inpharm.com/External/InpH/1,2580,1-3-128917-0-inp this site provides some good information about your question regarding Tarceva vs. Iressa. Genentechs website has the list of side effects of Tarceva...I would also suggest you read my previous post, only sharing our personal experience. Please let me know if I can help in any way with information.