Tarceva

Hi,

When did you start using Tarceva?  Have you noticed any changes since starting, either positive or negative?    Roz

My mother was on Tarceva for almost two years with relatively few side effects. The medicine itself is quite costly but there are sources to help if that is needed.

 The medicine itself can cause rash and upset stomach it can mess with your schedule because you won't be able to eat for a time both before and after.

 When it works is seems to work well. good luck

Hi there,

I read that your mother was on Tarceva for 2 years. Is she ok? Did she have non small cell lung cancer?

Thanks,

Diana (I had non small lung cancer in January and it's about gone now thanks to Tarceva - but I have to take it always now and am curious about the different stages of Tarceva)

Hi there,

I also have (had) stage IV non small cell lung cancer. I was diagnosed in January 2008 at stage IV and now (July 2008) it's almost gone! Thanks to Tarceva. I got the bad rash 8 days after taking it and Clyndamycine worked wonderfully for me. I get tired off and on, and the rash comes and goes. I've lost alot of my hair now (they say I won't loose all of it though) and I'm coping with that side effect. Let me know if you have questions about Tarceva - I've only been using it 5/6 months now - but I'll be happy to help if I can! (Also - Selsin Blue shampoo works to wash your face with for the rash!)

Diana

Hi,

I also have Stage IV non small cell lung cancer and was on Tarceva for about a year.  The rash is the worst part - I had it bad at first but the Clindamycin lotion helped.  Aveeno products worked well as did the Lindi Skin face serum; sometimes it would break out on my legs or my scalp too.  I had a bad outbreak a few months ago and had to take an antibiotic for 10 days - minocycline - but it worked great.  I had a little problem with diarrhea too but found it wasn't bad if I watched my diet.  Hair growth was a little weird - all of a sudden I had "killer eyelashes" - I even had to trim some of them!

Good luck with your treatment.  My doctor told me that it was usually a good sign if you developed the rash - and it did work well for me! 

I have stage IV NSCLC and have done chemo, radiation and now on Tarceva since August 2007. (diagnosed 4/07). Got very little response from the chemo,but the Tarceva is a miracle for me.  My tumors, many, have all but disappeared, many are unmeasureable.  I am not in complete remission, but have no current growth of any kind.  Feeling better every day.  Like the others, have problems with skin (I use Aveeno oatmeal lotion and Dry Scalp Head and Shoulders), and pretty frequent diarrhea. It is very controllable though...more of a nuisance!  Well worth the trade.  Like Petunia said...my eyelashes are crazy long...but my head hair that I lost from the chemo is very slow coming back.  Since August, I only have about 1 1/2 inches...but at least I put the wig away in March!  It's crazy.

Good Luck to you and many prayers your way!  Donna

Hi,

My husband has been on Tarceva since Feb 08. He has stable disease right now. He has had the "normal" skin problems, etc. The doctor did have to reduce his dosage to 100 vs 150 mg.and he seems to tolerate that quite well.

BUT the big thing is this is the only treatment that hasn't put him in the hospital with complications.

For the first time since dx in 06 we are leading a fairly normal life.

He too has grown some LONG eyelashes. Pretty interesting.

Best wishes and God's blessings

On 7/13/2008 Caregiver44 wrote:

Hi,

My husband has been on Tarceva since Feb 08. He has stable disease right now. He has had the "normal" skin problems, etc. The doctor did have to reduce his dosage to 100 vs 150 mg.and he seems to tolerate that quite well.

BUT the big thing is this is the only treatment that hasn't put him in the hospital with complications.

For the first time since dx in 06 we are leading a fairly normal life.

He too has grown some LONG eyelashes. Pretty interesting.

Best wishes and God's blessings

Hi My husband has stage  IV lung cancer. He is on Tarceva. He has had a bad rash for a long time. He is now taking 100 mg. one day and 150 mg. the next. Do you know or has anyone been able to get the rash under control? He has been on tarceva for 2 months. Can the rash get better over time?  Take Care

My Tarceva rash was really bad in the beginning - it was probably about 2 mo before it was under control.  The rash does get better over time but there are some thing you can do to help it.  Has your doctor given you any thing to use?  I had Clindamycin lotion that I used on the spots which helped to dry them us.  When I had some really sore pustules, I took an antibiotic, Minocycline which worked wonders.  I used the Aveeno products - the body wash for sensitive skin and the lotion as well.  I found the Lindi Skin products worked great too - especially the face serum - although they are expensive.  I found the most important thing was to keep my skin moisturized - it was always so dry.  I had lost my hair when I was on chemo - Taxol; it is growing back but I think the Tarceva has slowed the growth but it doesn't look bad now.  

Hang in there!  I know how tough it can be - my face really hurt at times - but it was worth it since I did respond to Tarceva and once the rash cleared, I really did feel much better.