CancerCompass message board discussion started by sanja on 7/1/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,25603,0.htm Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ I have stage IIIb lung cancer. It comes with a lot of pain. ten days ago they removed two litters of fluid from my right lung. Four days ago my Dr. put me on Terceva. He also gave me Vicodine and Morphine for pain. The pain lessened on the second day of my Terceva treatment and I only take Vicodine at night. So far, I have no side effects from Terceva. I still cough and am unable to bend down without loosing my breath, but overall am felleng better.Anyone out there with similar situation. Sanja sanja Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT with Tarceva you will see some good effects after couple months. You will cough less but it may not go away for sure. ermissavasci Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Dear Sanja,My mother was also diagnosed with 3B lung cancer. A week before her Tarceva and Sorafenib treatment she also had approximately the same amount of Pleura fluid removed from one lung.  The docter didn't have the lung "glued". 4 weeks ago she started the treatment. After approx. 3 weeks of treatment she had the first testresults which were very positive:-pleura fluid was gone-lung had expanded back into the cavity which had the pleura fluid-the primary lung tumor is hollowed out -the growth that grew from the lung through her breastbone had shrunk from 4x9cm to 2 cm diameter-the pain for which she used Fentanyl and Diclovenac had almost dissapeared. So she only had to take paracetamol 3x a day. (Now a week later she doesn't use any pain medication at all)Here is a list of the side-effects and the products she uses to prevent and treat them. Hope this list can help you too!-Hand-foot syndrome (she has foot/hand baths 2-3x a day with  a teaspoon of baking soda) (uses Eureum cream for feet and hands )-Has now (only) 6 pimpels on het face and dry skin (uses Cetaphil moisturising lotion for face and body and Cetaphil skin cleanser for removing make-up- The brand works great!)-Itchy and sensitive scalp, uses Psorinol active shampoo 2-3 times a week- works very good, leaves scalp clean and releaves the itch.-Dry mouth, uses special gel to keep mouth lubricated. -Gurgles with water-salt solution to prevent mouth sores.-Tiredness (has her off and on days)-Taste has changed (everything turns bitter after the third bite) Only likes the neutral-cappuchino-strawberry-banana energy nutriant drinks.Do you recognize any of the symptoms and what do you use to treat them?Looking forward to hear how you are coping now with the Tarceva medication.Hope it is working as good and hope your symptoms are mild.Kind regards,Steph GingerK Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT I am a caregiver and my dad has been on tarceva for almost6 months.  He has stage3b adneocarcinoma also.  The tarceva has helped.. he is also on morphine and lortab for breathru..and neuronontin for pain.  He has had trigger point shots also.  the docs have also prescribed tussinex for cough and antinausea meds.  Hope this helps.  Hang in there.  Hope you have someone to care for you and help track your meds, med changes, and side effects.  The most important thing I think I have learned is that you have to stay on the meds for atleast 2 weeks as prescribed to wait out side effects.  Immodium also worked well for the tarceva ... and Head and Shoulders for the rash on face and body.   happyschatz Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT