how can i get doctor to prescribe tarceva for inoperable lung cancer with secondary brain cancer has recieved one chemo session for lung then 5 radiotherapy for brain...help??????
4 rounds of chemo of taxotere and cisplatin seem to have not worked as now he has mets in his liver, bones and adrenal glands. His doctor is aftraid that Tarceva is not recommended to someone with mets to the bone. That is not what I read. Can you please let me know if Tarceva is for him and whether that can hep stop or slow down the disease?
Thanks.
since then the diesies showed improvment and shrinkage in tumor. . HE has been under maintance treatment with Tarceva since 2009 upto now. the previous PET-CT ON JULY 2011 WAS NEGATIVE AND CONCLUSION was that no evidence of residual hypermetabolic disease seen in lung.. but the recent CT showed smal new lesion 1,8 *2 cm. in comparison to previous.and his new PET -CT in TURKEY hospital FN shows new FDG(+)SUV max:5) pulmonary nodule in the lower lobe of the lung.
If the node is positive for cancer metastases, this may imply disease progression in spite of Tarceva intake. Tarceva may have to be replaced with another more effective chemotherapy drug. Radiation therapy to shrink the node and relieve the swelling may also have to be done. Consult with your oncologist as soon as possible so you can be properly assessed.
Thanks for your response. To clarify: his treatment was adjunctive. At the time they saw no sign of cancer outside the lung. Now, however, after 4 rounds of chemotherapy the disease seems to have spread during treatment with taxotere and cisplatin: it's now in the liver, bones and adrenal glands. His original tumor was EGFR positive that is why Tarceva came up as a viable second step.
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.
m doing research as quickly as I can to help she and her husband make an informed decision about what to do...if anything. The local drs are recommending 4 weeks of full brain radiation followed by tarceva. Prior to the finding the mets, they were planning 6 weeks of radiation to the right lung in combination with etoposide and cisplatin.
I'd appreciate any feedback. My thanks in advance to all responses....
She has done very well with chemo and radiation until recently. She was started on Tarceva about 3 weeks ago. Recently, she has been experiencing a lot of confusion. I cannot find anywhere that this is a side effect of Tarceva (it is the only drug she is on at this time). Is it possible that she has a brain metastases? If not, what are the likely causes.
My husband was diagnosed with a Pancoast tumor on his lung. He went thru chemo/ radiation and finally had surgery to remove the tumor. It was successful. He had more chemo for precaution. After one year, the cancer came back into his Adrenal Gland. It is also in his Lymph Nodes. They put him on Tarceva( a pill he took everyday) And after 6-7 weeks, he had tests done which showed it didn't do anything.. the tumor has grown. They said there is no other options..
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. We have tried ultra sound guided needle biopsy...didn't work.
Now the docs say they want to try a Core Biopsy?
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.
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....
Oh my God! Thank you Lord for letting me hear from someone with darn near my situation!
I had lower left lobectomy May 29, 2009. Stage 1A BAC (nodule 1.3 cm)...no chemo (there seems to be only one that "might" work, Tarceva) and no radiation (what will they burn out? the lobe's gone already).
90 % "chance" of making 5 years is what they tell me. Mucho NO info on BAC. Only bad prognosis.
I have already survived breast cancer (BRCA 2 Mutation) for 6 YEARS!
He started Tarceva this January but it seems it did not work as the cancer spread to brain…. 9 mets were identified in the initial MRI 2 weeks ago but the subsequent MRI right before yesterday’s gamma knife procedure (which removed 7 mets) evidenced numerous other tiny/small tumors spread all over the brain….He has been in relatively good condition (eating well, no weight loss) until these new mets emerged (which affected his walking and reading ability)….
I want to become a mother again. I have a 19 y/o. I am a newly wed. My husband has no children we are considering IVF but it is so costly. Not sure if I am able d/t high FSH. didn't get result for AMH as of yet. But if its not possible for me to have one biologically we are considering using DE. My question. Is it cheaper using a family or friend as a donor in comparison using an anonymous donor. Where I am living, it cost $16,500 for DE...IVF cost almost $20,000.
Oh my goodness! That is so expensive. Here in new zealand all medical care is absolutely free. It seems unethical to charge someone to give birth!
Can anyone give me a ballpark of the cost for the suppressant drugs after a transplant. Just want to get an idea, know no one can give me exacts but any info would help. Thanks.
umm in the usa without insurance, n im chronic.
hello again, thanks to all the people that responded. was wondering about the cost of meds. interferon and ribavirin, im checking with my ins. to see what they will cover. i may have misspoke about this thing on hepititusccure.net i dont think it is herbal? it deals with fatty liver tissue. but its only 50 bucks to read about it so i dont really have anything to lose. going back to doc in 3 mo. not sure why till i decide on tx. if tx takes care of virus, do people go back to normal lifestyle?
The difference between the full cost of a treatment (which the uninsured often are charged), and the amount the insurance company tells them they will pay is often quite a bit. If you have cash and offer to pay up front (for a discount) you may get charged less than what they can get out of the insurance company, because it's less hassle and instant money for them.
Just a thought, even if you had to borrow the money.
Will your Endo accept results from another facility?
In what country are you? In the USA, it is anywhere from $18,000 to $30,000.
Anyways, the rep told me that ribavarin only comes in 200mg and a 3 months supply would cost me $10.00 co-pay. The peg/interferon would be a 30.00 co-pay for a month. This was the pharmacy and member service that said that. Does this seem right? I always thought tx was expensive like in the thousand of dollars. I have Kaiser but I don't have the deluxe plan or anything just the basic.
The pain i get daily is from my chemo medicine, Tarceva. Along with some other side effects. Losing my hair was bad enough but putting on 20lbs killed me! not really :-\ Anyway, its nice to know i have people out there who really care. I wish there was one of these sites for cancer patients. There probably is but im rarely on the computer. If any of you all are interested, my sister put up a website for me called Gina's Angels. It talks about how im doing and shows pictures and stuff.
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