Tarceva and lung cancer
Common Questions and Answers about Tarceva and lung cancer
tarceva
We asked about radiation/chemo/surgery and she said this was not a option. But I read on here about others who had Lung cancer that went to the Adrenal Gland and brain etc. and they had surgery or radiation? Also do you know of a Doctor up here near Buffalo New York other than Roswell Hospital that we could go for a second opinion.? Thanks for your help!
Asians, women, non-smokers, and those with adenocarcinoma histology. This drug still has been found to benefit males, smokers, and those with squamous cell histology, but to a lesser extent.
Edema (fluid accumulation in any body part, resulting in swelling) has been reported as an adverse event in 37% of pancreatic cancer patients taking Tarceva, although this side effect has not been reported in lung cancer cases.
However, the type of edema associated with Tarceva use is either generalized or involves a swelling of both legs. Swelling in only one leg may not be due to this drug. Unilateral leg swelling may be due to a local infection (cellulitis) in that area.
I was then diagnoised with NSCC of the other lung, they found a tumor on the Junction of the upper and lower lobe of the left lung. At the time of the procedure it messured 1.3 cm at the time of being placed on Tarceva the measurment 1.9 cm with in three wks after surgery in April.
Placed on Tarceva the first of May and No incress in growth...Doctors say Stable Remission...Now I have been told that I have a Mass on the back side of my thyroid gland on the left side.
Hello I am a caretaker. My client was diagnose with lung cancer stage IV. It has already spread to the spine, both lungs and the lymph system. Doctors triede Tarceva for 3 weeks but her body had a very bad reaction. For the spine they did radiotherapy. But since she was diagnose 3 months ago she has lost aalmost her voice. she is using oxygen for the major part of the day but doctors don't wan't to talk about time. no more medes will be given and she was reffer to hospice....
If the patient improves with the radiation, or maintains adequate strength or performance status(sufficient strength is usually defined as able to remain up and about at least half of the waking hours), you may wish to discuss other options aside from tarceva - such as the original plan of cisplatin and etoposide. This is because there is a known benefit for these drugs in terms of survival when used as first option among good performance status patients.
He has been through several chemo and radiation treatments and is now starting on Tarceva. It has been a long road so far and he has his good days and bad days. I don't think there's any way even the doctors can tell us how much time they have left specifically. His doctor said it could be a year, 5 or even 10, but of course we are all hoping and praying for at least 20 more with him.
Hi There...
I have had a upper right lobectomy on Sept 14 2001.Stage 1A BAC lung cancer...no chemo or no radiation..clear margins and no lymph node involvement.. ..it's been a little over five years now. cancer free. PRAISE GOD...and thou I realize that 5 yrs is maybe the magic number for most lung cancer survivor's...is it also meant for BAC Lung Cancer...I have heard not so....
Thank you for any information you can give me....
In lung cancer, there are assays for quantitative testing of epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR), which confers sensitivity to some drugs used in lung cancer like Iressa or Tarceva. The cost of testing can range from a few hundred dollars (e.g. ER/ PR assays) to around 3800 dollars for the Oncotype DX test.
In 2005, he had Tarceva. In 2008 they discovered metastasis to the liver (3 lesions) and he underwent chemo again (I think Avastin) and he finished the treatment in March. The doctor said the tumors in both the lungs and liver were smaller.
For the past 3 weeks he´s been vomiting, but sporadically. There is no pattern. It doesn´t matter if he eats lightly or heavily. Some days he vomits once, some days nothing.
He went to see a Gastroenterologist. They did a sonogram...
inoperable; no relevant mutations. He had undergone radiation to lung and several rounds of chemo (Carboplatin, Taxotere, Cisplatin, Gemzar). He also had surgery to remove one brain met (January 2014) and one kidney (May 2014)… CT scan in December showed no mets outside lung and lymph nodes….
He started Tarceva this January but it seems it did not work as the cancer spread to brain….
Hi,
Your concerns are valid. Lung cancer is afterall, the biggest cause of cancer mortality. For this post, I can only work with the stage information, your doctor likely has better estimates.
Much of the answer here depends on how much the disease is affecting her daily living. If she stays in bed most of her waking hours, then treatment may only make an impact on symptom improvement. If she is able to maintain a fairly active lifestyle – then treatment may help extend survival .
She is not a candidate for treatment and is refusing even palliative tx such as Tarceva. PET Scan showed no evidence of cancer in brain, liver or bone. Because she is experiencing no symptoms she is hesistant to participate in a home hospice program. What symptoms are generally experienced and if possible a general timeline for disease progression.
When present, this gene variant increases the risk of lung cancer, especially the risk for small cell lung cancer. Your mother may or may not have this gene variant but that doesn’t mean that you have it. And, if you do have it, the increased risk, in no way, means that you will get lung cancer, small cell or other, especially now that you have quit smoking.
The role of lung cancer screening tests is still not clear.
However, in this case, there is no mass in the lung at all, only something in the bone. It would be pretty unlikely for cancer in the lung to present in this manner.
The question would be if the finding in the bone appears malignant. If this was the case, it would likely have been discussed with you. An abnormal bone island or cyst is not cancer, but due to its presence, it may produce pain.
Discuss the nature of the shoulder finding with the doctor and make a plan as to what's next.
Hi, My 69 year old Dad has stage 4 Lung nsc cancer that he has been battling for over 2 years with good results from first Tarceva, then Chemo and prior to that radiation to mets to his brain. He is an otherwise healthy, robust, nonsmoking person. Last month he started experiencing problems walking, nausea and headaches. He was referred to a Neurologist who recommended a Shunt to help regulate the fluid in his brain. It has been a nightmare ever since.
While the risk of developing lung cancer at the age of 41 is small, that risk is real. And, for early detection and peace of mind, you should definitely have a chest X-ray now and, assuming that you will be able to stick with the decision to engage in smoking cessation and never smoke again, it would be prudent for you to have a chest X-ray on an annual basis over the next 3-5 years.
Thanks doc for the reassurance.
FY, there are over 50 studies so far. You can check hear to see overviews: http://www.smokershistory.com/hpvlungc.htm, It's a terrible site but he does mange to showcase all HPV and lung cancer studies. I see most of the are for HPV 16, 18 and only a few for 6,11 in non smokers.
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