Has Anyone Been On Tarceva 2+ Years??

I started Tarceva in February this year and I have not spoken to anyone that has been on it for any long length of time. I'm wondering about the "side effects" later on? Does the hair grow back in a year?? Does the rash always come and go? Does Tarceva usually keep on "working" or does the body get used to the pill and stop "holiding off" the cancer at some point?

Thanks!

Diana

Hi Diana

My father has been on Tarceva for about 2.5 years. His hair looks great  and he is only bothered by a rash every once in a while and only very slight. I do remember  his doctor telling him in the beginning that the rash is sometimes a sign that it is in your body working. I see a big difference in my dad as far as stamina and general well being. This medication for him has been terrific.

On 7/14/2008 Sterling wrote:

Hi Diana

My father has been on Tarceva for about 2.5 years. His hair looks great  and he is only bothered by a rash every once in a while and only very slight. I do remember  his doctor telling him in the beginning that the rash is sometimes a sign that it is in your body working. I see a big difference in my dad as far as stamina and general well being. This medication for him has been terrific.

Sterling,

Thank you SO much for the reply. That DOES make me feel better! Did he lose a lot of hair in the beginning? Thank you again, I appreciate it!

Diana

He takes150. He said he can see a difference in his condition when he's walking. He used to get out of breath at times and is not finding this to be a  problem so much anymore. He said his hair did grow in slowly so don't get discouraged. I have to say it did grow in beautifully though.

My boyfriend has been on Tarceva since December 2006 (so over 1 1/2 years).  He takes 150 mg/day.  He did not lose any hair.  He developed sores (like really bad, deep pimples) on his shins and forearms about a year into his treatment.  It is extraordinarily important to keep the sores clean and drained.  Once he let them go and they got real deep.  A month long anti-biodic treatment worked to heal them up.  But be careful not to touch your eyes as he did get several eye infections until he learned how to manage the sores.

What he found was that the sores travelled along his hair follicle, something the doctor's didn't figure out. So he started plucking his hair around / in the sores.  This has helped and the sores are so small now, he can wear shorts and short sleeves and not feel like "a very sick person/leper."

His Stage IV Metastatic lung cancer is gone.  Well, that's what the onoclogist believes.  He has had no reoccurance of the cancer and he is able to do all the biking, walking, and sailing he wants to.  

So that's our experience!  Wish you well.  All I know is that Tarceva is a miracle drug and worth every penny. 

Thank you for your message! That's great news and very encouraging! I'm glad to hear he's doing so well on the medication. I'm still a little unclear on "why" I have to take Tarceva all my life now (there is only a very small spot on my left lung and it may be scar tissue). But it is a miracle drug.

Thanks again for your response and I wish you both well!

Diana

My mother, now 82 years old started taking Tarceva  in 11/2005, 2 1/2 years ago.  Before that she did radiation and chemo for her stage IIIB lung cancer.  Last month in June, the doctor decided to do another pet scan because her tumors never seem to change.  She gets x-rays and ct scans every 3 months.  The pet scan indicated that there was no active cancer in her body and what shows on the x-rays is scar tissue.  Her doctor decided to take her off the Tarceva.  She is taking no treatment at all.  She will still have to regular ct scans to make sure the cancer does not return, and if it does she will have to start taking it again.  She lost her hair in the beginning from the chemo, but it all grew back just as thick as ever.  Good luck and I hope you get to the point where you can take a treatment holiday too.

Rosey

On 7/16/2008 Rosey wrote:

My mother, now 82 years old started taking Tarceva  in 11/2005, 2 1/2 years ago.  Before that she did radiation and chemo for her stage IIIB lung cancer.  Last month in June, the doctor decided to do another pet scan because her tumors never seem to change.  She gets x-rays and ct scans every 3 months.  The pet scan indicated that there was no active cancer in her body and what shows on the x-rays is scar tissue.  Her doctor decided to take her off the Tarceva.  She is taking no treatment at all.  She will still have to regular ct scans to make sure the cancer does not return, and if it does she will have to start taking it again.  She lost her hair in the beginning from the chemo, but it all grew back just as thick as ever.  Good luck and I hope you get to the point where you can take a treatment holiday too.

Rosey

Thank you SO much for your information. It gives me hope that maybe one day I will not have to be on Tarceva. My doctor tells me he wants me ALWAYS on it, but I don't quite understand why.

Good luck to your mom and I am so happy tohear she is doing so well!!

Diana