tarceva

my husband starts this medication on monday reading things luck hopefull to slow it down he has lung and adrenal gland cancer hes been told hes terminal this is to slow it down the side affects look worrying but we will try anything if this dosent work then they will try in arm with other kemo i just hope it gives him a better quality of life without the pain hes going through

 

On 10/3/2009 samsan wrote:

my husband starts this medication on monday reading things luck hopefull to slow it down he has lung and adrenal gland cancer hes been told hes terminal this is to slow it down the side affects look worrying but we will try anything if this dosent work then they will try in arm with other kemo i just hope it gives him a better quality of life without the pain hes going through

Be very hopeful.  Many people have minimal side effects.  I would stay on Tarceva forever if possible.    Just a bit of hair thinning and a bit of rash on face.  It kept my tumors down to about nothing for 8 months.   Then one tumor started to grow and we had to stop it with some other chemo.  May go back on Tarceva when finished with 4 rounds of chemo.    

Please check your email.  I have sent you a private reply.

 

On 10/3/2009 samsan wrote:

my husband starts this medication on monday reading things luck hopefull to slow it down he has lung and adrenal gland cancer hes been told hes terminal this is to slow it down the side affects look worrying but we will try anything if this dosent work then they will try in arm with other kemo i just hope it gives him a better quality of life without the pain hes going through

I was diagnosed with lung cancer in August of 2008 in both lungs and told that it had also spread to my rib cage. Tarceva was perscribed and I have been taking it ever since. My left lung is now clear and the cancer has not grown in the right lung or rib cage. The only side effects I have experienced is the rash on my chest and face as well as dry skin. My cancer is of the type that chem will not work so Tarceva or some other targeted type of treatment is all that is available to me. I am well pleased with the results in that I have been able to live a good life and am in no pain. Good luck, and I will pray for you. Gene

 

 

 

On 10/3/2009 samsan wrote:

my husband starts this medication on monday reading things luck hopefull to slow it down he has lung and adrenal gland cancer hes been told hes terminal this is to slow it down the side affects look worrying but we will try anything if this dosent work then they will try in arm with other kemo i just hope it gives him a better quality of life without the pain hes going through

This being told that the condition is "terminal":   That is something to be explained.   Life is terminal.   We never know when it is time to get to go to heaven.    But, most cancers should be considered "chronic" and managed.    I don't think that using the term "terminal" is good medicine because it can ruin a positive attitude needed to do well.    We cancer patients just trying to live a quality of life while managing those tumors.   Sometimes we must take our bitter medicine for awhile to enable quality of life for a long awhile, but thinking we're just going to die so what is the use is not helpful and depression is not helpful.   A merry heart worketh like medicine.    God loves us, He loved us enough to send Jesus to pay the penalty for our sins.   We can trust God to make us lie down in green pastures, lead us beside the still waters, fear no evil, even in the valley of the shadow of death.   I'm sort of quoting from Psalm 23. 

 

On 10/19/2009 nevah wrote:

 

On 10/3/2009 samsan wrote:

my husband starts this medication on monday reading things luck hopefull to slow it down he has lung and adrenal gland cancer hes been told hes terminal this is to slow it down the side affects look worrying but we will try anything if this dosent work then they will try in arm with other kemo i just hope it gives him a better quality of life without the pain hes going through

This being told that the condition is "terminal":   That is something to be explained.   Life is terminal.   We never know when it is time to get to go to heaven.    But, most cancers should be considered "chronic" and managed.    I don't think that using the term "terminal" is good medicine because it can ruin a positive attitude needed to do well.    We cancer patients just trying to live a quality of life while managing those tumors.   Sometimes we must take our bitter medicine for awhile to enable quality of life for a long awhile, but thinking we're just going to die so what is the use is not helpful and depression is not helpful.   A merry heart worketh like medicine.    God loves us, He loved us enough to send Jesus to pay the penalty for our sins.   We can trust God to make us lie down in green pastures, lead us beside the still waters, fear no evil, even in the valley of the shadow of death.   I'm sort of quoting from Psalm 23. 

thank you for your e-mail but sorry to say god has not done anything for my family i lost my mother father uncles and aunts all to cancer and i dont need psalm 23 saying to me i know the words and we do think positive you cant do any other

 

 

On 10/3/2009 samsan wrote:

my husband starts this medication on monday reading things luck hopefull to slow it down he has lung and adrenal gland cancer hes been told hes terminal this is to slow it down the side affects look worrying but we will try anything if this dosent work then they will try in arm with other kemo i just hope it gives him a better quality of life without the pain hes going through

 

Dear all Lung Cancer Friends,

I just wanted to share with you my experience on Tarceva.

I was diagnosed with Non Small Cell Lung Cancer stage IV in Feb 2009.  It spreaded out to the spine, bones in pelvic region and lymph nodes. In March 2009 I had surgery to remove the secondary tumor on my back. the tumor was so bad that the surgeon had to infuse a titanium bone at level L2 and supported it with a cage. Because of the location of the tumor  and the intensity of the surgery, I was unable to walk for months before and after surgery.

Three weeks after surgery, the Oncologist wanted me to start the cancer treatment plan and I was on 150mg Tarceva, once a day. On top of the side effects from Tarceva, I had to deal with pain killers, depression and the constant pains from my back. My body was loaded with drugs and all I could remember is everyday was a nightmare...

After 4 weeks on that high dose (with 2 visits to the ER for chest pains and tightness plus shortage of breath), I came back to see my oncologist. She ordered an Xray to see what was going on. The results came out was like a miracle and the tumor in my lung was like invisible. She then put me on 100mg Tarceva, once a day. Two months later  I had PET/CT scan, and again, I smiled with the happy tears rolling off my cheeks. The cancer activities were at the undetectable  level and the bones showed signs of healing.

I have been on 50mg Tarceva since and I am due for another scan in Nov. Lately I started physical therapy program and able to be independent, mostly.

Dear friends,

I have gone through what I call the lowest point of my life and I survived. I have been constantly asking friends and family to pray for me and for others who share similarities on this journey, and in my case God answered my prayers and I hope yours too. We are all facing a big challenge ahead of us, and please do not give up hope. May God grant us a chance.

My heartful thanks to God and all medical staff at COH. 

Lam

 

 

 

On 10/19/2009 samsan wrote:

 

On 10/19/2009 nevah wrote:

 

On 10/3/2009 samsan wrote:

my husband starts this medication on monday reading things luck hopefull to slow it down he has lung and adrenal gland cancer hes been told hes terminal this is to slow it down the side affects look worrying but we will try anything if this dosent work then they will try in arm with other kemo i just hope it gives him a better quality of life without the pain hes going through

This being told that the condition is "terminal":   That is something to be explained.   Life is terminal.   We never know when it is time to get to go to heaven.    But, most cancers should be considered "chronic" and managed.    I don't think that using the term "terminal" is good medicine because it can ruin a positive attitude needed to do well.    We cancer patients just trying to live a quality of life while managing those tumors.   Sometimes we must take our bitter medicine for awhile to enable quality of life for a long awhile, but thinking we're just going to die so what is the use is not helpful and depression is not helpful.   A merry heart worketh like medicine.    God loves us, He loved us enough to send Jesus to pay the penalty for our sins.   We can trust God to make us lie down in green pastures, lead us beside the still waters, fear no evil, even in the valley of the shadow of death.   I'm sort of quoting from Psalm 23. 

thank you for your e-mail but sorry to say god has not done anything for my family i lost my mother father uncles and aunts all to cancer and i dont need psalm 23 saying to me i know the words and we do think positive you cant do any other

 

Glad for the positive outlook.   Psalm 23 has been a great help to me.   That's amazing that your family has such a history of cancer.   Sorry to hear that.   

 

 

On 10/19/2009 thanhlam wrote:

 

On 10/3/2009 samsan wrote:

my husband starts this medication on monday reading things luck hopefull to slow it down he has lung and adrenal gland cancer hes been told hes terminal this is to slow it down the side affects look worrying but we will try anything if this dosent work then they will try in arm with other kemo i just hope it gives him a better quality of life without the pain hes going through

its nice to hear possitive things thank you all

Dear all Lung Cancer Friends,

I just wanted to share with you my experience on Tarceva.

I was diagnosed with Non Small Cell Lung Cancer stage IV in Feb 2009.  It spreaded out to the spine, bones in pelvic region and lymph nodes. In March 2009 I had surgery to remove the secondary tumor on my back. the tumor was so bad that the surgeon had to infuse a titanium bone at level L2 and supported it with a cage. Because of the location of the tumor  and the intensity of the surgery, I was unable to walk for months before and after surgery.

Three weeks after surgery, the Oncologist wanted me to start the cancer treatment plan and I was on 150mg Tarceva, once a day. On top of the side effects from Tarceva, I had to deal with pain killers, depression and the constant pains from my back. My body was loaded with drugs and all I could remember is everyday was a nightmare...

After 4 weeks on that high dose (with 2 visits to the ER for chest pains and tightness plus shortage of breath), I came back to see my oncologist. She ordered an Xray to see what was going on. The results came out was like a miracle and the tumor in my lung was like invisible. She then put me on 100mg Tarceva, once a day. Two months later  I had PET/CT scan, and again, I smiled with the happy tears rolling off my cheeks. The cancer activities were at the undetectable  level and the bones showed signs of healing.

I have been on 50mg Tarceva since and I am due for another scan in Nov. Lately I started physical therapy program and able to be independent, mostly.

Dear friends,

I have gone through what I call the lowest point of my life and I survived. I have been constantly asking friends and family to pray for me and for others who share similarities on this journey, and in my case God answered my prayers and I hope yours too. We are all facing a big challenge ahead of us, and please do not give up hope. May God grant us a chance.

My heartful thanks to God and all medical staff at COH. 

Lam

 

 

 

This is very encouraging.  My dad and I are praying he is a candidate for wonderful treatment.  We are trying to get into MD Anderson but he is in alot of pain.  If we start radiation to relieve pain it will slow his entry into MD Anderson or stop it completely.  Any suggestions? 

Thank you so much