CancerCompass message board discussion started by Phil4:10 on 5/31/2007 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,12631,0.htm Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ Just wondering if anyone used Tarceva as their first line treatment?  Any results?  I heard good things about Tarceva. Just have to make a decision...Tarceva or Chemo?? ThanksTammy Phil4:10 Thu, 31 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT I understand that under certain conditions, taking Tarceva (erlotinib) and Chemo at the same time gave more improvement, if the patient is a never-smoker. The study that says this is :  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=PubMed&Cmd=S I sort of got the impression that our doctors were familiar with only part of that study - the part that says that there's no point in taking Tarceva with chemo. However, our doctors didn't seem to remember that the study showed that "Never smokers treated with erlotinib (Tarceva) and chemotherapy seemed to experience an improvement in survival". Maybe you can show this study to your doctor to discuss the possibility of taking Tarceva AND chemo.  Caregiver2 Thu, 31 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT Ditto the above. I wouldn't feel comfortable using Tarceva only as first-line unless you clearly have the EFGR gene mutations. Pbj11 Sat, 02 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT  But the most simple way to determine this is to take Tarceva for a month and then look at CEA and get another CT scan. My wife had an excellent response with Tarceva only, 75% reduction in tumor mass. The CEA decreased from 38 to 3 1/2 over 4 months. We will now hit what is left with image guided radiation which will include a Met in L4 - she is StageIV and a never smoker.On 6/2/2007 Pbj11 wrote:Ditto the above. I wouldn't feel comfortable using Tarceva only as first-line unless you clearly have the EFGR gene mutations.   Sailboi Tue, 17 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT  On 5/31/2007 Phil4:10 wrote:Just wondering if anyone used Tarceva as their first line treatment?  Any results?  I heard good things about Tarceva. Just have to make a decision...Tarceva or Chemo?? ThanksTammyMy mother get TARCEVA for 16 month now as "first Line" with out Cheno and she much better. We are looking how to reduce the cost of It beacuse it is very expensive .  Good LuckKobi kobiho Sat, 11 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT My mother just started a study through Dana Farber, using Tarceva as a first line of treatment.  It's too early to know if she will benefit, but she has started to experience side effects.  We check in with the oncologist tomorrow. Rosalind Tue, 09 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT I got  nslc stage4 2006 Dec. , I used tarceva as first line trement combine with radiation( 30+ times ), my CEA value reduce from 300 to 1.5 ~2 and PET , X-ray show good results.However, I heard  tarceva only maintain its effect 8~10 months , so I would like to hear other's comment ?   do you suggest me to do chemo or Avstin ? Tarcevacc Fri, 19 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT