My Mum has been on Tarceva since October 2006 having been diagnosed with lung cancer in December 2005. Until May this year Tarceva had been very successful but unfortunately Mum ended up in hospital this month and we discovered that the cancer has spread to the spinal fluid. Mum had had numerous MRI scans and there is no evidence of tumours in the spine or brain. Our onocologist has said that it is not usual for lung cancer to spead to the spinal fluid and so she has bought on board another onocologist to help with Mims ongoing treatment. Mum has now been given three treatments of chemo into the spine. The drug they have been injecting is methotrexate. Unfortunately the last lumbar puncture showed that rather than reducing the cancer cells the cells had actually increased. Currently they intend to continue just in case the sample taken last was not reflective of the whole picture. I am very concerned as Mums general health appears to be worse since these injections. Her legs give way regularly, her headaches are constant and she has constant back pain. I wonder if anyone has tried anything new drugs for cancer that has spread to the spinal fluid I would be so grateful for any suggestions.
Thank you
Donna X