On 7/14/2008
Mike and Carolyn wrote:
On 7/7/2008
Diana Y wrote:
I've been on Tarceva for 5/6 months now. I was in stage IV in January and today it's almost gone! It worked great for me so far. I was very tired at first (the first 2-3 months) and now I'm fine. I get the bad rash and LOTS of my hair has fallen out -- but considering what this pill has done for me, I'm grateful. Let me know if you have any more questions!
Diana
Dear Carolyn,Hi Diana, My husband has been on Tarceva for 2 months. He has IV lung cancer. What kind of test are they doing to check how it is working for you? We were told in Jan. 2008 of his cancer. Will the rash get better after time? He had to stop for a few days and now he is taking 150mg. one day and 100mg. the next. We are praying he can work back up to the 150mg. all the time. The dr. has told us he is holding his own. So my husband is the one that is working to get back to the 150mg. He is 53 years old and still working 5 days a week. Would love to hear from you and anyone else with input or in need of support. God Bless Carolyn
Dear Carolyn,
After 3 months on takingTarceva 150 mg/day they did a scan and it went from stage IV to almost nothing! I get another scan next week to make sure it's still "away". They do a blood test every couple of months to check your liver status (this pill is hard on the liver) and to check blood count, ect. Why couldn't your husband stay on 150 mg? I know it makes you very tired at first. The first 3 months I was pretty tired, but I could still do my daily tasks (I have 2 kids ages 4 and 8) and we own our own business - so I was still busy. I would just go to bed as EARLY as possible! He needs rest at this time - his body needs to let the pill work. I understand not everyone can just "quit working" for 3 months - but tell him to rest as much as possible right now. Make sure he's taking the pill 2 hours after eating or 1 our before eating to it can absorb.
The rash will get better. It came out bad for me in the second week of taking it. I found that Selsin Blue (shampoo) actually works if you wash your face/chest with it. It seems to dry it up pretty good. He can request Clyndamycin gel also - but just use that once in a while (it's a steriod) but it works great on the rash.
My hair started falling out after about 3 months - I didn't lose all of it - but I did lose most of it. That's been the hardest side effect for me to deal with (being a 43 year old woman - who used to have long blonde hair!) They say it will take a long time to grow back. But it's worth it!!
Good luck to you both and please write if you need anymore info! Now that I've been throught htis for about 6 months, I can advise people and I love it!
Diana