I read your post. My mom is also on Tarceva now for 4 weeks and is experiencing some of the same symptoms. From what I have read, and have been told by the doctors, the rash is a clinical sign that the medicine is working. Tarceva doesn't work on that many patients, however if it does it can do amazing things for as short as 6 months and as long as 3yrs +!!
My moms doctor said that the rashes would get better over time. An interesting side note. On Tuesday my mom went in for a checkup, we thought that this checkup was to decide when her first round of chemo would begin as she just completed brain radiation to get at a small brain met. The doctor said that he wanted to first take an MRI of her lung, stating that he may forgo Chemo (for now) if it is shown that the drug is shrinking the tumor on its own. He also stated that the doctors at sloan kettering (mom's being treated at Hackensack, but we got our second opinion from sloan) have started to used Tarceva as a primary drug in some patients who show success.
This is truly a revolutionary treatment option, but the idea here is why use chemo if the drug is doing the job on its own. While chemo kills cancer, it also kills other cells in the body needs. No one knows for sure, and we will know on Tuesday if this is going to be my mom's course, but the idea of not needing chemo, is something that we all wouldn't mind.
From the data that is out there, in most cases where tarceva works, it eventually stops working as the cancer becomes ammune to the drug. Don't lose hope if this happens, because researchers are currently in active clinical studies where a drug called HKI-272 may hold the answer to this second mutation. (See post on HKI-272 - I believe the third post has a link to a Massachusetts hospital that is doing research on this...there are about 4 or 5 articles available on the web dealing with this study which is taking place all over the country).
My belief is that if the HKI-272 is successful in fighting Tarceva's secondary mutation, those who are successful, may be able to live with the disease for a long time.
***In another article (see Cancer news) a phase I study announced that administration of a chemo drug called OGX-011 has shown a one year survival rate of better than 67% whereby an average survival rate has not been established because people are living too darn long (I love saying that). The key to this study is that on average the one year survival rate is 67% while the average one year survival rate for more curent chemo treatments ranges from 37-45%.
I caution that this study was only a phase I clinical, however with results like this a phase II cannot be far behind..something patients should actively look for and consider. (and is on my list of things to speak to the doctor about! if chemo is the next step)
Finally I would like to share this with you all. When we visited sloan for a second opinion, I recall the doctor saying something very positive. He said that although at this time they don't have a cure for NSLC, it is the belief that this disease is becoming more and more like diabites where, if there is no cure, it is something that patients will be able to live with for a long long time. - As the saying goes from his lips to g-d's ears!