My wife had 3 monthes of Alimta that put her stage iv nsclc in remission for 2 monthes and then when we were off it her cancer started up, we are now on tarceva going on 5 monthes now,as for side effects there was no hair loss, or anything real bad, some limited vomiting, but nothing like we had with the taxol/ carboplatin ( horrible stff) we just entered the 2nd year of her treatment, I have 3 children all hs students and it has drained us all emotionally physically and even to some point financailly.. sorry to rant, bottom line alimta is well tolerated by most..God bless and prays