CancerCompass message board discussion started by Lorric on 3/25/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,22326,0.htm Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ Hello,Our dad was just diagnosed with lung cancer, stage 4 and given 3-6 months to live. We have asked to meet with his oncologist next week to discuss the possibility of Tarceva as an alternative treatment. His doctor has already told us he would not recommend chemotherapy because he has other conditions which could, combined with the chemo, make his final days unbearable if he experienced side-effects. Can anyone tell about Tarceva? Does insurance cover it? Is it more tolerable than chemo? We are wondering why the doctor never mentioned it to us during our initial meeting.Thanks so much!Lorri Lorric Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sorry to hear about your dad.  My 80 year old mom just passed away 2 weeks ago from bac -- a type of nonsmoker's lung cancer.  She was diagnosed 1/07 at stage 4 also and was given 4-6 months to live.  Like your dad, her doctor felt she was too weak for chemo, but prescribed Tarceva because it had been found to be effective in her demographic and she would probably be able to tolerate it better than chemo. .She took maximum dosage daily (150 mg) and tolerated the side effects really well after the first couple months (diarrhea and rash).  Her insurance covered part of it, but thankfully, the drug company -- Genentech -- fed-exed her the meds every month at no charge.  Our oncologist's office assisted us with this information.  My mom had a great initial response to Tarceva, which gave us more precious time with her.  When the cancer stopped responding to Tarceva, we added Avastin last month, but it was too late.  Have you been to onctalk.com? This site was extremely informative for our family.  Take care. cinday Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 3/25/2008 Lorric wrote:Hello,Our dad was just diagnosed with lung cancer, stage 4 and given 3-6 months to live. We have asked to meet with his oncologist next week to discuss the possibility of Tarceva as an alternative treatment. His doctor has already told us he would not recommend chemotherapy because he has other conditions which could, combined with the chemo, make his final days unbearable if he experienced side-effects. Can anyone tell about Tarceva? Does insurance cover it? Is it more tolerable than chemo? We are wondering why the doctor never mentioned it to us during our initial meeting.Thanks so much!LorriHi Lorri,  I'm sorry to hear about your Dad.  I would not go by the 3-6 months prediction.  Only God knows for  sure.  I was given 6-12 months 17 months ago and I'm still going strong.  All because of a lot of prayers from a lot of people and a tiny pill called Tarceva.  Although it does have some side effects, they are nothing like standard chemo side effects.  To me it is a miracle drug.  I am age 60 with stage IV lung cancer, both lungs.  You might want to do a search on Tarceva on this site.  There are numerous threads and loads of info.  Good luck to you and your Dad and may he have the same good fortune as I have had with this drug.  When you meet with your doctor, ask to see the blood work that provides the EGFR blood results.  If the number is greater than 60, he has an excellent chance that it will work for him.  Quality of life with Tarceva is much, much better than standard chemo/radiaiton.  God Bless.  Nancy  Chessie Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 3/25/2008 Lorric wrote:Hello,Our dad was just diagnosed with lung cancer, stage 4 and given 3-6 months to live. We have asked to meet with his oncologist next week to discuss the possibility of Tarceva as an alternative treatment. His doctor has already told us he would not recommend chemotherapy because he has other conditions which could, combined with the chemo, make his final days unbearable if he experienced side-effects. Can anyone tell about Tarceva? Does insurance cover it? Is it more tolerable than chemo? We are wondering why the doctor never mentioned it to us during our initial meeting.Thanks so much!LorriYou probably already have answers to your questions.  Just wanted you to know that my mother was diagnosed wtih lung cancer. She took radiation and chemotherapy. Both have helped, but I think it was the raditation that caused more damage to her lungs. Both helped to reduce the size of the tumor. Sometimes the tumor got smaller, other times it was a little larger and so on.  She went into remission after taking Tarceva.  That was about 2 years ago and she has been in remission ever since.  She does have a small growth on her adrenal gland area, but that has shrunk considerably.  For that, she is doing a treatment that is not chemo, but similar to it.  She doesn't have any regrets about Tarceva, even with the side effects.  Her insurance pays most of the cost.  Her deductible for the medicine is outside of her ability to pay. For that, there is a non-profit organization that pays for her deductible monthly and would assist her with the cost of the medication further if needed.  Their name is The Healthwell Foundation.  I pray your dad has a quick recovery. Felicia Felicia125 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 4/23/2008 Felicia125 wrote: On 3/25/2008 Lorric wrote:Hello,Ourdad was just diagnosed with lung cancer, stage 4 and given 3-6 monthsto live. We have asked to meet with his oncologist next week to discussthe possibility of Tarceva as an alternative treatment. His doctor hasalready told us he would not recommend chemotherapy because he hasother conditions which could, combined with the chemo, make his finaldays unbearable if he experienced side-effects. Can anyone tell aboutTarceva? Does insurance cover it? Is it more tolerable thanchemo? We are wondering why the doctor never mentioned it tous during our initial meeting.Thanks so much!LorriYouprobably already have answers to your questions.  Justwanted you to know that my mother was diagnosed wtih lung cancer.She took radiation and chemotherapy. Both have helped, but I think itwas the raditation that caused more damage to herlungs. Both helped to reduce the size of the tumor. Sometimes thetumor got smaller, other times it was a little larger and soon.  She went into remission after taking Tarceva.  Thatwas about 2 years ago and she has been in remission ever since. She does have a small growth on her adrenal gland area, but that hasshrunk considerably.  For that, she is doing a treatment thatis not chemo, but similar to it.  She doesn't have anyregrets about Tarceva, even with the side effects.  Her insurancepays most of the cost.  Her deductible for the medicine isoutside of her ability to pay. For that, there is a non-profitorganization that pays for her deductible monthly and would assist herwith the cost of the medication further if needed.  Their nameis The Healthwell Foundation.  I pray your dad has aquick recovery. FeliciaHiFelicia..I am glad to see your note about your mother as I have usedTarceva with great results in clearing my lung and lymph cancer.. goinginto my 4th month. I have some fears about  going backwards, so ithelps to know your moms success and the possibility of actual remission.Thecost of Tarceva and the deductible for insurance was  high, and Ihad  to pay  a lot the first couple of months , but afterthat I got assistance from chronic disease fund, upon the oncologistsapplication for these funds.. I wondered if your mom was taken off of Tarceva when she went into remission.Did she then have a period without using pills?I'mso glad that your mom has done so well and also that Lorri's dad doeswell with his treatments.There is so much progress now in treatmentpossibilities. Best, Jane  Jane M Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 4/23/2008 Jane M wrote: On 4/23/2008 Felicia125 wrote: On 3/25/2008 Lorric wrote:Hello,Ourdad was just diagnosed with lung cancer, stage 4 and given 3-6 monthsto live. We have asked to meet with his oncologist next week to discussthe possibility of Tarceva as an alternative treatment. His doctor hasalready told us he would not recommend chemotherapy because he hasother conditions which could, combined with the chemo, make his finaldays unbearable if he experienced side-effects. Can anyone tell aboutTarceva? Does insurance cover it? Is it more tolerable thanchemo? We are wondering why the doctor never mentioned it tous during our initial meeting.Thanks so much!LorriYouprobably already have answers to your questions.  Justwanted you to know that my mother was diagnosed wtih lung cancer.She took radiation and chemotherapy. Both have helped, but I think itwas the raditation that caused more damage to herlungs. Both helped to reduce the size of the tumor. Sometimes thetumor got smaller, other times it was a little larger and soon.  She went into remission after taking Tarceva.  Thatwas about 2 years ago and she has been in remission ever since. She does have a small growth on her adrenal gland area, but that hasshrunk considerably.  For that, she is doing a treatment thatis not chemo, but similar to it.  She doesn't have anyregrets about Tarceva, even with the side effects.  Her insurancepays most of the cost.  Her deductible for the medicine isoutside of her ability to pay. For that, there is a non-profitorganization that pays for her deductible monthly and would assist herwith the cost of the medication further if needed.  Their nameis The Healthwell Foundation.  I pray your dad has aquick recovery. FeliciaHiFelicia..I am glad to see your note about your mother as I have usedTarceva with great results in clearing my lung and lymph cancer.. goinginto my 4th month. I have some fears about  going backwards, so ithelps to know your moms success and the possibility of actual remission.Thecost of Tarceva and the deductible for insurance was  high, and Ihad  to pay  a lot the first couple of months , but afterthat I got assistance from chronic disease fund, upon the oncologistsapplication for these funds..I wondered if your mom was taken off of Tarceva when she went into remission.Did she then have a period without using pills?I'mso glad that your mom has done so well and also that Lorri's dad doeswell with his treatments.There is so much progress now in treatmentpossibilities. Best, Jane Hi Jane, I am glad you got some assistance with the cost of the medicine.  MMy mother is still on Tarceva and has been taking it now for about 2 years.  She has not been taken off of it at this point, but he did cut her back from taking it everyday to taking it Monday through Friday.  He cut her back when she went into remission.  He hasn't mentioned taking her off of it at this point.   Felicia.  Felicia125 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT