Non-Small Cell Lung Iv Cancer On Tarceva And Doxycycline

Hi, Carolyn - I too have Stg 4 nsclc and have been taking Tarceva for about a year.  The rash finally became so bad that my onc. put me on 100MG of doxycycline, which cleared up the rash to the point that I've had people come up to me in stores, etc and ask how do I keep my skin looking so good, but I was getting nauseous as well, so she prescribed 8 mg a day of Ondansatron ( I think the spelling is right - it's the generic version of Zofran ) and that has taken care of the nausea.

Hope this helps.

God bless all you out there - be strong!

Laura

Hi, Carolyn - I'm an early riser so I usually take my Tarceva at around 5am.  I wait an hour ( or bit over an hour ) and take the doxycycline along with the ondansatron.  Then in about another hour I take my morphines, milk thistle and multi-vitamins.  During the day I use a protein powder called Unjury along with flax seed meal and yogurt ( to replace what the doxycycline kills off ).   I was told to take the Tarceva with water, but that it's OK to take a little food with the antibiotic if it helps with the nausea.

I'm using Eucerin for my skin and I always slather on the sunscreen even if I don't plan to be outside much - I burn much easier than I used to.  And for the really dry skin I use Aquaphor Lotion or Cream.  You can get it at any drugstore OTC.

Hope this helps!

Hi...next week marks my 3yr anniverary on Tarceva.  I was dianosed stage IV NSCLC in 2005 (feb) and started Tarceva July 27, 2005 after a lot of chemo and radiation and surgery to remove a big brain met.  I suppose I'm one of those Tarceva worked for.  At first the rash was awfu ...I'm talking about the acne looking rash on my face, arms, legs, and chest.  Cllindammycin controls that acne kind of rash.  The acne stuff has gotten better with time.  The itchy rash on most of my body remains with me and is a constant irritant, especially as it interfers with my sleep at nite, despite using sleep aids.  I've tried everything I can find....lotions, creams, etc.  Except for the itch, and how it impacts my skin, Tarceva is tolerable.  I went thru split fingers, split hands, tireness, and still have some of this.  All cancer treatments that I have had including two brain operations are harsh.  No getting around that, and Tarceva is right in there with them in the discomfort category.  I think Tarceva plus much Prayer is the reason I"m still here.  Im committed fighting this cancer.  There is a lot of hope regardless of the stage of the disease.  Much hope.  And when the fight is over, we have the WONDERFUL PROMISE OF A NEW HOME where there is no disease or pain.  Thanks goodness for Tarceva.  Wish they'd come out with something new since Tarceva loses it's effectiveness after a time, like other treatments.

Has anyone else  been on Tarceva as long as three years?

Thanks and good luck