Please Help Withtarceva

My dad suffers from lung cancer with brain and eye metastases.After chemo and radiation treatment he is now on Tarceva. He started three weeks ago, stopped taking it for a few days and has now been taking it continuously for a week. He has lost about 7kilograms as his appetite is non-existent and whenever he takes it  he can't eat more than three bites of something without throwing up. 

Is this normal? Is there some way to tackle this? He is thinking of stopping it again as he says he doesn't want to lose any more weight or feel sick all the time. His doctor says that he shouldn't stop it, as it's so good, and to keep  trying to eat some food. What is the answer?

 

On 5/29/2008 Marje wrote:

My dad suffers from lung cancer with brain and eye metastases.After chemo and radiation treatment he is now on Tarceva. He started three weeks ago, stopped taking it for a few days and has now been taking it continuously for a week. He has lost about 7kilograms as his appetite is non-existent and whenever he takes it  he can't eat more than three bites of something without throwing up. 

Is this normal? Is there some way to tackle this? He is thinking of stopping it again as he says he doesn't want to lose any more weight or feel sick all the time. His doctor says that he shouldn't stop it, as it's so good, and to keep  trying to eat some food. What is the answer?

Hi Marje,

I'm sorry to hear about your dad.  I've been on tarceva for 21 months now.  Tell your dad to hang in there.  It will be worth it in the long run.  When I first started I had a lot of nausea also.  My doctor prescribed Kytril which is supposed to be the best for chemo patients.  But it didn't work very well for me.  So he changed me to Promethazine 25 mg tablets with 1 every 4-6 hours as needed.  That worked really well and I started getting my appetite back and was able to eat and keep it down. 

What dose is your father on?  If he is on 150mg day, you might ask the doctor to lower the dose temporarily to either 100 or 125 until  he gets used to it.  Then go back to the 150.  I did that also.

When I was having trouble with eating, I ate chicken noodle soup and crackers and drank coke to settle my stomach.  I still keep coke around in case I need it.  But fortunately all that has passed and I now eat just about anything I want.  Tell him to stay away from spicy or fried foods for a while and go back to them gradually.  You might also try jello and puddings.  Anything that isn't heavy should help keep him from losing too much weight.  I lost a few pounds in the beginning weeks but once I got past the rough part I gained it all back and then some. 

Tell your Dad there is hope.  And don't give up the fight yet.  He will get his appetite back and then he'll wonder how he's going to lose weight. 

One other thing, tarceva will probably cause diarrhea.  I avoid sugar because that tends to make it worse.  Plus the fact I am one of the believers that sugar feeds the cancer. 

Good luck and God Bless you both.  Let us know how you make out.

 

On 5/29/2008 Marje wrote:

My dad suffers from lung cancer with brain and eye metastases.After chemo and radiation treatment he is now on Tarceva. He started three weeks ago, stopped taking it for a few days and has now been taking it continuously for a week. He has lost about 7kilograms as his appetite is non-existent and whenever he takes it  he can't eat more than three bites of something without throwing up. 

Is this normal? Is there some way to tackle this? He is thinking of stopping it again as he says he doesn't want to lose any more weight or feel sick all the time. His doctor says that he shouldn't stop it, as it's so good, and to keep  trying to eat some food. What is the answer?

 

I am taking 150 mg of Terceva daily and have not had this side effect.  I do have pretty severe diarrhea from time to time, but eventually your body will adjust to this and you learn to adapt.I think this does affect your appetite...but again, would urge him to try to let his body adjust.  I do recommend that he continue this regiment as it is working for me.  My tumors have shrunk to an immeasureable size and I am currently in "remission", as much as I can be in Stage 4.  I haven't had chemo since August and the Terceva is keeping me alive!  Thank God.  Good Luck to you, Donna

Thank you both for replying. I find what you said very useful and will speak to both my father and his doctor about it.

God bless you and hang in there. You are in my prayers. 

Donna,

I was wondering if you could tell me more of the side effects you've experienced with Tarceva. I've been on it since Febuary and I was stage IV lung cancer and now it's about gone! I'm haivng LOTS of hair loss though and wasn't expecting that. I'm wondering how much will Iose and will it grow back soon? I get the rash off and on and upset stomach at times, but not bad.

 

Thanks for any advice you can give me !

 Diana

Could you tell me the side effects you've experienced in the past 21 months? Did you have hair loss? I've been on Tarceva for 4 months and 1/2 of my hair has fallen out. I don't know how to handle this and am wondering how much more will fall out!? Thanks for any advice you can give. Anthing you can tell me about what synptoms you've experienced would be helpful!

Thanks you ~ Diana

 

On 6/2/2008 Diana Y wrote:

Donna,

I was wondering if you could tell me more of the side effects you've experienced with Tarceva. I've been on it since Febuary and I was stage IV lung cancer and now it's about gone! I'm haivng LOTS of hair loss though and wasn't expecting that. I'm wondering how much will Iose and will it grow back soon? I get the rash off and on and upset stomach at times, but not bad.

 

Thanks for any advice you can give me !

 Diana

I have not experienced any additional hair loss.  I had already lost all of mine during the chemo.  However, as my hair has grown back some, it is growing VERY slowly.  Its thick enough now that I'm not wearing a wig, but still pretty short (been growing since August).  I am also experiencing skin rash. Mostly dry skin patches.   I use Aveeno lotion with Oatmeal...seems to work best. Or plain old vaseline, as perfumed products tend to irritate.  Besides that, just the occasional nausea and diarrhea.  The diarrhea is not uncontrollable though.  On cold days, I also chill pretty bad. My internal temperature will drop a  couple of degrees and I have to get under an electric blanket to warm up!

Am so glad to hear that your cancer is about gone.  Mine is too!  The Tarceva seems to be doing the trick, so I can endure any of these side effects to stay alive longer.  Let me know how you are progressing!  Donna