Hi...next week marks my 3yr anniverary on Tarceva. I was dianosed stage IV NSCLC in 2005 (feb) and started Tarceva July 27, 2005 after a lot of chemo and radiation and surgery to remove a big brain met. I suppose I'm one of those Tarceva worked for. At first the rash was awfu ...I'm talking about the acne looking rash on my face, arms, legs, and chest. Cllindammycin controls that acne kind of rash. The acne stuff has gotten better with time. The itchy rash on most of my body remains with me and is a constant irritant, especially as it interfers with my sleep at nite, despite using sleep aids. I've tried everything I can find....lotions, creams, etc. Except for the itch, and how it impacts my skin, Tarceva is tolerable. I went thru split fingers, split hands, tireness, and still have some of this. All cancer treatments that I have had including two brain operations are harsh. No getting around that, and Tarceva is right in there with them in the discomfort category. I think Tarceva plus much Prayer is the reason I"m still here. Im committed fighting this cancer. There is a lot of hope regardless of the stage of the disease. Much hope. And when the fight is over, we have the WONDERFUL PROMISE OF A NEW HOME where there is no disease or pain. Thanks goodness for Tarceva. Wish they'd come out with something new since Tarceva loses it's effectiveness after a time, like other treatments.
Has anyone else been on Tarceva as long as three years?
Thanks and good luck