Tarceva Side Effects

Hi out there..I was discovered to have lung cancer after a open lung biopesy in June 04.
Shortly after the doctor put me on irresa 50mg,
after alittle over a year he was not happy and switched me to Tarceva. I'm told all these side effect "are a good thing." They started about one month after starting the 150 mg pill.The rash from Hell started in the "private" area and has traveled just about everywhere. Red, itching, burning, plus itching, watery eyes.
The rash comes and goes, never seems to be as bad the second/third time around, but still no fun. When it hit my face, and skin was sliding off faster that I could grow it, I told my wife I could interview for a freak side show,
flakey skin and going out for lunch or dinner is interesting. A product called LINDI, has several products that are good. Stay positive!
A great suport group of family & friends is great treatment. Jerome

Hello, I feel the same way. I look like a medical book picture! This is my second time of trying it. The first time was 150 mg. It was horrific. Even the onocology nurses kept saying to me "We're so Sorry". My doctor said it was great the rash shows its working. This time I am on 75 mg. It still is terrible the rash. Not quite as severe. No fun to go out. Not fit for the public! Oh, well. I'm alive and grateful.

Try Bepanthol (Roche) for the rash. My mother cleared in one day and never reappeared

Hi, & thanks for the response. I have found that warm/hot bath with semse oil helps the dry skin and relieves some olf the itching.
A new product that was on TV called SARNA is also a good lotion. Hope this helps, hang in there, like I tell people who ask "how are you coping", I say it's alot better than being T-boned by some drunk. All in all, having good friends and family praying for you sure helps also. Stay positive. Jerome

I have been taking 100mg of Tarceva since August 2005. I have had little to no side effects from either chemo or Tarceva. I was 3b and now in 100% remission. My entire routine is below. Each of us is different. I thought that each thing I did added a little to my success. This was all done with the approval of my oncologist. Maybe something here may help you. My chemo cycle was Carboplatin, Taxol, once a week, 3 weeks on 1 week off along with 100mg of Tarceva once a day. Supplements taken during cycle 1 and cycle 2 of chemo: 2 grams AHCC, 3 times a day between meals, 10mg melatonin, before bed, 100mg CoQ10, breakfast and dinner, 1 tab Centrum Silver breakfast, 500mg Calcium breakfast and dinner, 4 tab Citrucel breakfast and dinner, 2 cap Cardio-Edge breakfast and dinner, 1 cap Policosanol breakfast and dinner. Added after first 2 cycles taken with cycle 3 and 4 and still do, but not within 24 hours of chemo. 500mg Green Tea, 100mg Grape seed extract, 320mg Garlic, 30mg zinc, 100mg B-6, all taken with breakfast. Foods I consumed every day, 3-4 egg whites omelet, 1 cup Blueberries, 1 cup, Raspberries, ¼ cup Dry Steal Cut Oatmeal, 4-6 oz Pomegranate Juice, 1-2 oz Noni Juice, 1 cup Soy Milk, 2Tbl Flax seed milled, 1Tbl Wheat Germ. 1 Whole Tomato, 3-4 Tbl Organic Almond Butter, 1 Whole Grain English Muffin, 1 heaping tsp Cinnamon, 1 cup Yogurt, 12-15 8oz glasses of Mountain Valley Water( High Alkaline), Stevia instead of sugar. Other foods but not every day, Fish, heavy on Salmon, Lots of green veg, Chicken, Whole Wheat breads and pasta, sweet potatoes, Nuts, heavy on the Almonds, Soy meat substitutes. Foods excluded, Sweets- sugar, Alcohol, beef, White bread-potatoes-pasta. This got me through the chemo without losing any weight. I actually gained 10 pounds, so I have cut back on the quantity and increase the exercise to try and loose it. Other things that contributed most to managing my cancer. The knowledge that I have a God that has the power to heal me. Strong family support. Support from my Pastor and church. Support from prayer groups all over Florida. The doctors that God led me to. The ability to look forward to each Chemo treatment, I enjoyed every one of them. Being able to maintain my weight. No adverse side effects from chemo. Exercise Program. Exercise 6 Times a week, Weights 3 times a week upper body 40 mins, Aerobic 3 times a week. Tread Mill 47 min including 40 min 12 degree incline @ 4 MPH and 1 min 1.5 degree incline @ 8MPH I have now started to run again. I go 1 mile about 5 times a week. My best time is 10:13. At 68 I am happy with each improvement. Let me know if you have any other questions.