Traceva

Hello, I am new to this site so any information would greatly be apprciated. My mom is on traceva as well she started the end of July and the only thing we have noticed it seems that her cough is more presistant, her skin is dry and now we are seeing some breakage on her face like little pimples. Does anyone have any of the systoms above?

Hello - My mother has been taking tarceva for 10 days. She does have a small rash on her nose. She is expiencing a lot of fagtue and hair lose. Has any one else expierencing these symptoms?

I am so thankful that my mom hasn't experinced any of the rash that others talk about. But she is having a little breakage that looks like pimples. One thing that really bothers her is the cough it seems like some days are better than others.

Thanks..

Keep in touch..

Oh! yes my mother is still having hair lost... and lately seems very fatigued

Hello,
My mum is also on Tarceva, and is experiencing major fatigue. Her skin is very dry all over her body. She is also experiencing a major loss of apetite. Is there a way to increase her apetite & are other patient also experiencing this?

I was on Tarceva for 2 months this summer until the CAT scan showed my lung cancer was progressing and I am now on Alimta (IV) instead. Four days after starting the Tarceva, I developed a fine case of facial acne which I was very happy to see - it seems as if Tarceva only works in those who develop a rash (but not everyone who gets the rash is benefited). I used the Brevoxyl-4 Creamy Wash (prescription) which really helped the face. I did get a staph infection of the scalp from the spreading rash which required IV antibiotics. For the dry skin, I took Aveeno oatmeal baths and used the Aveeno lotion. Tarceva also depressed my appetite - you have to work at this to keep that weight up. I keep little pudding cups and yogurt around, and add dry milk powder to milkshakes with ice cream. Some foods just don't taste right - you need to experiment - I have found the taste changes are unique to each type of chemotherapy I take. Didn't realize how fatigued the Tarceva made me until I went off it - but if the drug helps your cancer - it's just something you deal with. Take naps and take it easy. Some people also get diarrhea with Tarceva - mine was controlled okay with Immodium. My cough is better off the Tarceva also - but that's hard to evaluate. Maybe my new chemo is helping - but also I started using an albuterol and a steroid inhaler along with Tessalon Perle and Tussionex syrup for the cough. Hope this info is useful.

Also there are medications to improve appetite. I was prescribed Megace suspension but haven't taken it - preferring to work harder at eating then taking another medication. There are also others that your mother's doctor could prescribe.

If your mother's cough is getting worse or increasing tell your doctor right away. They might do a ct scan to make sure everything is okay. I do not think that is a side effect though it might be. diane

Definitely agree. Always good advice to check in with the doctor if your symptoms get worse or are affecting your quality of life. Also, make sure you take your temperature daily - even if you don't think you have a fever. You want to catch any infections (pneumonia, etc.) early. I haven't read anywhere that cough is a side effect of Tarceva - although interesting that several people on the list serve have mentioned it. Definitely a side effect of lung cancer. Ha!

Here is an interesting article on the Tarceva "rash":
http://theoncologist.alphamedpress.org/cgi/content/full/10/5

I was diagnosed with Stage IV NSCLC on 5/19/05 - I also have the EGFR mutation. I have been on Tarceva for 4 months - I have had 2 scans to check the result - the first scan showed my lung tumor shrank by 15%; the last scan showed that the lung tumor (as well as mets to my rib, spine and brain) stabilized.

I have an acne-like rash that migrates - one week it will be really intense on my face, then it will move to my arms and upper chest, then it will move to my lower legs and toes.... and then back again. My skin is very dry as well. I have tried over 15 different moisturizers and found that Aveeno Daily Moisturizer is the BEST! I also use Aquafor for my nose when it is really dry and flaky, but Aquafor is very greasy... I use Ocean Spray for my nose because my nasal passages are also dried out - so much so that I am getting bloody scabs (yuck!).

I am also experiencing hair loss - not in clumps, just lots of strands at a time. I have noticed that the hair falls out easily from those areas with the rash outbreak - such as my temple area. I have diarreha on occasion - but it usually comes and goes quickly (no pun intended!), so I do not use Immodium.

I am experiencing fatigue - I initially reduced my work schedule to 6 hours a day, 5 days a week. When I was completely exhausted by Thursday and had difficulty staying at work the entire day, I further reduced my work schedule by taking Wednesdays off. The extra rest in the middle of the week helps keep me going....

I did experience a period of loss of appetite, especially at dinner time, for a couple of weeks. I tried to make up the calories at breakfast and lunch. My appetite seems to be back to normal now.

I hope this information helps. Take care! - Kim