Non Small Cell and Tarceva

Hi my name is Julius and my mom was diagnosed in April 28, 2009 with adenocarcinoma non small cell stage 3b cancer. Originally one of the Kaiser Permanente doctors already knew that she had cancer a year ago in June 2008 but neglected to tell her that it was cancer. He told her that it wasn't cancer and that it was good news. Recently after my mom changed doctors she was referred to a surgeon at Kaiser and undergone lung surgery. The surgeon did not know what stage of lung cancer she had until he opened her up. She had 2 wedge resections in the left lung - on upper and lower lobe of left lung and also removed a bunch of lymph nodes of which 6 lymph nodes were positive for metastasis cancer. Surgery was done on June 2nd, 2009. I spent a week in the hospital overnight and during the daytime with my mom after her surgery and despite surgery she is recovering quite well and has very strong will power. She lost some weight as she was close to 100 lbs and now is 84 lbs. The oncologist opted to give her Tarceva because she is so underweight and she was prescribed that today - June 11, 2009. She hasn't taken it yet as she wants to wait until after dinner towards the time she has bedtime. I hope that the Tarceva works although I guess there is no way of knowing until a followup CT scan a month later since the surgeon removed the 2 tumors via wedge resection and the 6 lymph nodes. My mom is an asian woman of 59 years of age and I'm hoping for the best.

-Julius

take the Tarceva at the same time every day, and wait 1 hour until you eat...love & peace!

-Hi Julius I am on Tarceva, as far as I have read about Tarceva it works best on Asian woman with adenocarcinoma. She will get a rash in the first 2 weeks which is a good sign - the other side affects are diarrhea(Use Bepanthen cream for rash- tell her to add it to her daily moisturiser)-and an over all dryness of the body. The best time I have found to Take the Tarceva is 11am 2hrs after eating breakfast this stops any nausea that might occur. Keep her diet as simple as possible and up the carbohydrates and give her a a shake (like ensure ) which has all the essential vitamens and will help her keep her weight up ( I am also tiny) I have been fighting cancer for 8 years and Im still going strong- never give up. She will be fine XC-quote------ On 6/11/2009 yangjc048 wrote: Hi my name is Julius and my mom was diagnosed in April 28, 2009 with adenocarcinoma non small cell stage 3b cancer. Originally one of the Kaiser Permanente doctors already knew that she had cancer a year ago in June 2008 but neglected to tell her that it was cancer. He told her that it wasn't cancer and that it was good news. Recently after my mom changed doctors she was referred to a surgeon at Kaiser and undergone lung surgery. The surgeon did not know what stage of lung cancer she had until he opened her up. She had 2 wedge resections in the left lung - on upper and lower lobe of left lung and also removed a bunch of lymph nodes of which 6 lymph nodes were positive for metastasis cancer. Surgery was done on June 2nd, 2009. I spent a week in the hospital overnight and during the daytime with my mom after her surgery and despite surgery she is recovering quite well and has very strong will power. She lost some weight as she was close to 100 lbs and now is 84 lbs. The oncologist opted to give her Tarceva because she is so underweight and she was prescribed that today - June 11, 2009. She hasn't taken it yet as she wants to wait until after dinner towards the time she has bedtime. I hope that the Tarceva works although I guess there is no way of knowing until a followup CT scan a month later since the surgeon removed the 2 tumors via wedge resection and the 6 lymph nodes. My mom is an asian woman of 59 years of age and I'm hoping for the best.-Julius -----end quote------

My wife has diagnised with this in June 2009 and taking Tarceva as well as radiation to her brain from metastatic. The reuslts from CT scan shows good results with tumor at her lungs and spots. How is your mom? My wife has been taking Tarceva since June 2009 and have new side effects as lost appetite and feel to throw up when smel foods. Do your mom have same symtom and how do your mom deal with this?

It is a good idea to take Tarceva at night.  Remember it has to be\

2 hours after you have eaten anything.  I found that when I took Tarceva during the day, it made me sleepy.  Taking it at night is the best thing. It is a great drug,  Good luck  It does have a lot of side effects, dry skin, dry mouth, and diarrhea..  Use a mouth wash with no alcohol, Biotene for example.  Keep positive   Enjoy each day, Vette

Hi Julius,

My mom was diagnosed with the same type of cancer & went thru exactly what your mom had gone thru. my mom is also asian & was diagnosed back in march 2008, she had done numerous rounds of chemotherapy before she even went for surgery. she is also stage 3b. they were only able to remove some of the lymph nodes. She was put on Tarceva since june 2008 & still is on it along with chemotherapy. we just got good news from her PET scan last Sept 2009, her tumor had shrunked. taking tarceva has alot of weird side effects. I've been hearing alot of feedbacks on the more side effects the better it works. my mom takes her tarceva in the morning which ever time fits for every individual. she is also experiencing bad rashes & toenails falling off with severe dry skin. Doctors been prescribing her creams & lotions to treat the side effect skin. Lately she's been feeling pain in her throat & were not sure if that is from the tarceva side effect. she is due for her CT scan sometime mid December. hope this will help you. keep positive..

Tracy