Benefits Of Tarceva Pill On Lung Cancer In Remission

I was offered to take part in a trial for Tarceva. I responded favorably to a year of chemotherapy and in remission for a year. Feel great. Should I accept this offer? I am aware of all the possible side effects, but am apprehensive about having regressive results. Can anyone tell me if that is a possibility?

My Mom was on it for a few months. She didn't have many side effects but did have tumor growth. The drug hasn't been out long enough for conclusive results. The only way we will ever get new drugs approved and find new drugs is if we take part in clinical trials. It's risky but think of the other lives you might improve if you do well on it. Your results might help someone else. God Bless you and keep you safe.

Darsdaughter, appreciate your reply. Would like to know if your mom was in remission when she was taking Tarceva, after having had chemotherapy. My doctor says that I am out of the statistics, the tumor having shrunk, and having been stable for a year (after a weekly session of chemo for a period of a year). Therefore, it is important for me to know if I will be upsetting the apple cart by starting up with a medication that is still being tested, while chemo (Gemzar) did work for me. Of course, it would be great to help others by participating in a clinical trial and wish I could do so without putting myself in jeopardy. Hope your mom is doing O.K. I wish her many blessings.

My Mom was not in remission. She actually took Iressa in remission, after taking Gemzar, and had growth with that as well. She has been on quite a few chemo's since. Iressa and Tarceva are quite similar in chemical make-up, prolonging life, etc. but Tarceva is newer and has had better results. I think this is why her doctor decided to try Tarceva to see if she could get better results from that. She went through extreme heart tests and blood tests. Sometimes she was there up to 8 hours a day 2 times a week. The Tarceva affects the heart in some patients so that's why she underwent this testing. She is currently on a platinum based chemo, Carboplatin and Nevelbine. She just started this about a month ago. She doesn't get scanned until the end of the month so we won't know if it's working until then. If it isn't agressive enough she may get radiation. The choice is really yours. I hope you continue to do well.