Tarceva: Be Careful!!!

I want to warn anyone who is considering taking Tarceva about a dangerous side effect...pulmonary toxicity.

My mother was diagnosed with lung cancer - adenocarcinoma in Oct. 2004. Her cancerous lypmh node shrunk with radiation and a round of Carboplatin chemo. She did not respond to her second of chemo of Taxotere so her oncologist said she was a good candidate for Tarceva. He only mentioned the side effects of the rash and diarhhea which she did experience. However, after being on it for 2 weeks she started having extreme shortness of breath which wasn't a problem prior to taking Tarceva. She was admitted to the hospital and the doctors said it was pneumonia causing the shortness of breath. Her oncologist continued giving her Tarceva while in the hospital. She was discharged after a week of receiving antibiotics, but she still had shortness of breath which they assured us would subside. They said she should use her oxygen 24/7. Well 5 days later, her breathing (with the oxygen!) was so bad that she could not sit up to eat, bathe herself, or hold a conversation. I called an ambulance to take her the hospital because she couldn't handle walking down the stairs. Tests showed no signs of pneumonia or infection and mentioned that it could have been caused by Tarceva. Her oncologist says studies of Tarceva showed a 1% chance of a patient experiencing shortness of breath (pulmonary toxicity). Of course, he is protecting himself and saying that the onset of her breathing problems conciding with taking Tarceva may be coincidental since the drug is too new to say for sure.

All this to say, if your doctor is considering this drug for you or your loved one, please make sure to monitor closely for oxygen saturation, heart rate and breathing. Tarceva has been on the market for less than a year, only time will tell how helpful or harmful this drug is. New drugs can be dangerous.

My mom just started Tarceva 7 days ago. I question whether she is a good candidate for the drug since she didn't have a round of chemo or radiation first. However, I was concerned about the ILD as a side effect because of my mom's fragile condition. What was the outcome with your mother and did she try a different course of treatment after recovering from the lung toxicity? I am always looking for the next treatment when this one quits working. I wish the best for your family. Thank you.

My mother has a similar history. She just started on Tarceva. It is supposed to slow or halt the tumor growth and we don't have any other options. She is down to 86 pounds so I understand the weight problem. She has been on it for seven days and is tolerating it well. She loves life and I want her to fight for as long as she can. I hope things go as well for you. Keep in touch and God bless you.

No, my mom has not recovered as yet. She's been in the hospital as a result for the past week and a half and got an infection while in the hospital. She's been on a respirator and consequently her cancer can't be treated. Fortunatley, we have wonderful doctor there who has agreed to let us administer an herbal regimen through her feeding tube in an attempt to fight the cancer. After her what she suffered with radiation and the Tarceva, I wish we had pursued alternative natural therapies sooner. If your mom shows ANY signs of shortness of breath, get her off Tarceva ASAP!!!
Good luck and God speed.

My mother was given Tarceva and although it wasn't supposed to cause problems with the kidneys and liver, it did. She went into kidney failure (almost total) but the doctors were able to get her out of it. They put her back on the Tarceva and it happened again.

She was nauseated almost all the time and she also developed heartburn with constant belching. We don't really know for certain that the drug caused all of this but her doctors were so sure that they took her off of it.

She is no longer receiving any chemo treatments and the doctors have taken her off all her meds including high blood pressure meds and her diabetes meds.

They say she might have a month or so but she doesn't look that bad to me.

My husband had been on Tarceva for almost 2 years. He is in the original clinical trial. He has stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer. He is now 46. He never smoked and has always been healthy. The drug has been a lifesaver for him. His primary tumor is about 1/3 of what it was in the beginning and the other site is no longer active. In fact the doctors are going to do a new procedure called RFA. He has had the rash and he always has a low-grade diarrhea about the end of the cycle of pills. But that has been about the worst of the side affects. We were so scared and no one seemed very hopeful. But the doctors and new drugs have come so far; I truly believe that my husband is going to beat the cancer. For all of you out there trying to cope with hearing the words for the first time, don't loose hope. Because believing you can beat cancer is a big part of the cure.

I just started Tarceva on the 2nd of May, 2005. I am having the rash on my face and body. I am using Silver Sulfadiazine cream. It has really helped my rash. I have had diarhea with the Tarceva. I am doing okay on the medicine.

At the age of 40 and I lost my left lung to broncho-alveolar cancer. At 42, I was told I had the same cancer in the right lung. I am stage 4 due to the re-occurrance. I took the Iressa for 2 months. My tumors remained the same. We are now trying the Tarceva.

I would like to hear from anyone that has Broncho-alveolar cancer also known as BAC.

Just read your message regarding BAC. I was diagnosed with BAC in 12/03, had carbo/taxol chemo, Iressa, now Tarceva. Stage 4, been on Tarceva appx. 5 months, diarrhea biggest problem. How are your scans? Mine is multi-focal, I guess there's uni-focal. I'm interested in your treatment plans.

I found out in Jan. 2005 that my cancer was back. It was a shock because once they took out the left lung, we thought that was it. I took no treatment after having my left lung removed (Jan. 2003). I was placed on Iressa in Feb. 2005, and took it until May 1. I had a scan in April which showed no changes in the tumors (no growth but no shrinkage either). I started Tarceva on May 2 and had the rash by May 4. Yes, the diarrhea is something else. I have the rash and the tips of my finger are cracking. I am using utter cream which you can get a Walmart for my skin. It really helps. I am tired at the end of the day. I see the Dr on July 21. I am guessing he will do a scan in Aug. My original Dr. left so I will be seeing a new Dr. I am glad to hear from you. I have been wanting to talk to someone with BAC.

Good luck with your appt. in July, also scans in Aug. Sorry to hear its back-BAC acts that way apparently. It rarely moves outside lungs, but grows in clusters, right? Best to you- keep in touch with latest info from your doc., ok?