Tarceva After Surgery, Radiation/Chemo

I had a primary tongue cancer that spread to neck lymph glands.....two operations, a neck dissection, and painful radiation/chemo, and the cancer has returned to my tongue.

Doctor has just given me Tarceva as drug of last resort.....one week and no side effects yet. Has anyone else had a similar recurrance of head and neck or been given Tarceva to treat their cancer?

My mom was recently diagnosised with tonsil cancer that went to the lymph nodes and saliva gland. She has had a radical neck disection, tonsilectomy and her right saliva gland removed. She is now doing radiation and will start chemo next week. They were going to give her Cisplatin but have now changed there mind. They are going to try Herbatux or Tarceva. I was just wondering how the Tarceva is for you and why you say its a last resort?
Thanks in advance

Hello....

First and foremost, I wish the best for your Mom.

Her situation and mine seem quite parallel....I was given cisplatnim (sp?) for chemo along with radiation.

According to the Tarceva label, it is usually given only after a primary treatment fails.....in my case, the cancer returned 3 months after chemo/radiation.

Perhaps they have now changed the guidelines for Tarceva. It is a directed agent going straight to the tumor and from the literature, would seem to be a very promising drug.

Your mom is embarking on quite a journey.....please feel free to write with any questions or if I can be of aid in any way.

Les Harrison

Les,

Thanks for the quick responce. Have you heard of a drug called Herbatux? That is another that they are considering. My mother is cash paying so they are going thru the drug company's for some assistance. Did you or do you have a feeding tube? My mom is refusing to have one. She feels she can afford to lose 30 or so pounds. I feel differntly. She has had about 3 radiation so far and is already feeling some side effects. From what i've read this is going to be a very rough road ahead for her. She was just diagnosed with this just before Christmas 2005. I'm hoping that she gets fighting mad. Right now she barely going through the motions.
I wish the best in your recovery and i'm sure i'll have plenty more questions.
Thanks again,
Kim

Les

My oncologist is suggesting a Tarceva treatment for me. How are you coming along on your Tarceva treatment? Have you had any results after 3+ months? Have you had any side effects?

Jim

My oncologist is suggesting a Tarceva treatment for me. How is your mother coming along on her Tarceva treatment? Has she had any results after 3+ months? Has she had any side effects?

Jim

Jim,
My mom actually never had the Tarceva. They gave her Herbatux. She was suppose to have 5 or 7 treatments but she only did 2(unfortunatly). Hopefully that was enough. The rash was so bad and it intensified the radiation so much she just couldn't do anymore. She did complete her course of radiation. Which they increase from 33 to 37 treatments. She goes in for her first MRI and chest x-ray on Monday. So we'll keep our fingers crossed!!!!!! Good luck with you treatment. By the way are you opting for the feeding tube? I strongly recomend it.

Kim