On 7/20/2009 Gidget45 wrote:
My mother has been on Tarceva for approx 7 mos. Last CT showed 1 tumor unchanged, 1 had grown from 2cm to 2.4 & the other from 1cm to 1.3. So the doctor says the Tarceva is no longer working and has prescribed 'Sunitinib' which is for digestive & kidney cancers Does anyone have any experience with this drug for lung cancer. When the tumors grow a little does that actually mean the Tarceva will not work at all anymore?? I've read on here about people doing Tarceva in conjunction with Altima, can anyone share their experience with this combination?
I was on Tarceva and it has stopped working on at least the major tumor. Dr. put me on Carboplatin + Alimta, a new combination approved last year, supposedly user friendly and it hopefully will attack that tumor. Been on for 2 weeks at present. There is a new clinical trial starting with Tarceva plus something, both pills. It's in Phase 1 which means they're trying to discover the doses to give. I'm hoping to get off chemo and on to the clinical trial in Phase 2 after they ironed out some kinks. I like the targeted therapy and Tarceva has almost no side effects for me. Don't know yet the damage my present chemo might do to other things besides the cancer cells. Felt fine after the first week. You might go for a 2nd opinion on your change. It will either confirm that you are getting a good option, or maybe cause you to consider other options. Experts say to get those second opinions. You wouldn't do many things having looked at only one or reading only one place, or asking only one person. Cancer is a very difficult thing to treat. God bless you and make his face to shine upon you.