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.
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.
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 general, this would represent the recommended treatment options for lung cancer. There are no clear guides as what drug is best after 3 lines of therapy, hence the reluctance to recommend any treatment.
I am also guessing that the adrenal involvement cannot be removed with surgery, hence, this is not given as an option. You are right, that there are some people who even have brain involvement and undergo surgery, but these cases are really the exceptions more than the rule.
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....
My father who is now 83 yres old is diagnosed with non small cell cancer with a large 3 inch mass in his upper right side. They state it is somewhere between a stage 2 and 3 due to the size. He is schedules to start radiation treatment in a week. However, they did state he is fit enough to have sugery but there is not guarantee he would not have complications from this. We are struggling to determine what is the better path to take. Will the surgery give him a better chance vs the radiation.
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....
For how long had the pancreatic cancer been delveloping at the head of the pancreas? Can anybody give an estimation of how long it took for the stage 3 pancreatic tumour to develop at the head of the pancreas?
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....
//www.webmd.com/cancer/pancreatic-cancer/causes-pancreatic-cancer
Symptoms of pancreatic cancer are found at this link. https://www.webmd.com/cancer/pancreatic-cancer/pancreatic-cancer-symptoms#1 When they speak of light stools they are speaking in terms of jaundice which usually has other symptoms such as yellow skin or eyes. Do you have that as well? If not, I'd not necessarily associate light stools with pancreatic cancer. GERD is likely to cause yellow stools.
What is the best exam to rule out Pancreatic Cancer?
I´ve been expericieng some problems in the last month: my stools are different, vague low abdominal pain and vague back pains. I am very anxious. After read about Cancer Pancreatic I can´t put my mind at rest and started feeling minor itches.
My doctor asked a ultrasound and some blood tests. After the results he said it is fine for Pancreas. But I have other problems: 2 stones in my gallblader and minor hepatic steatosis.
I have a friend that is sick with pancreatic cancer I don't know what kind he has. I don't know if it's exocrine or endocrine but what I would like to know is what is the survival rate for individuals with this type of cancer. However age, race, gender all of that play a part.
I have been diagnosed with gastritis. I just had a colonoscopy done last week. Found 1 polyp and removed it. i haven't received the results yet. The pain in my back still persists, although it hasn't been as bad the last few days. Unlike some people's posts I have read, my pain isn't made worse by laying down. It hurts in the area where my bra strap goes and at times I can hardly stand for my strap to be touching my back.
H Pylori thrives in low stomach acid and lowers stomach acid further. Low levels of stomach acid (stomach acid stimulates the pancreas to release enzymes to help with digestion just to add) can also cause malabsorption and floating stools. There are many possible symptoms from not enough stomach acid. My mother takes betaine HCL with pepsin supplements to increase stomach acid and digestive enzyme supplements to help with digestion. I'll send you a few article with more info.
with all of these tests wouldnt they have seen if something serious was causing my symptoms? I worry about pancreatic cancer , but if cancer was causing symptoms wouldnt one of these many test have seen it? Is the ct scan reliable for ruleing out pancreatic cancer I feel like I've exhaysted all my options and dont know what else to do.
We are grasping for awnsers anywhere we can. We did receive a phone call from a friend that suggested pancreatic cancer. Please, if you have any suggestions in what sort of direction to go in I would appreciate it.
Went to emergency room and had CT of ABD/Pelvis with contrast. Normal. I am terrified I have Pancreatic Cancer. Is this possible I am 53 year old female. Told by 1 MD I have psoriatic arthritis I think I have Fibromyalgia.
Also had a spot come up on my ankle that looked like blood pooled under skin after umerious trips to the ER thinking I had blood clots they said maybe superficial blood clot. I read that that can go along with pancreatic cancer. had abdominal ultrasound a year ago that was fine. blood work has been fine. any ideas?
can you get pancreatic cancer from breast cancer. My friend of 40 years first had her breast removed at one year later she was found to have pancreatic cancer, no operation because it had mets to the liver. Since them she has managed to hang on. It is now her 4th year and thngs keep happening.
Hi I went to the doctor 3 days ago because my testicle hurt he examined it and said it was normal and didn't feel any cancer. But I was worried that it had spread and read about pancreatic cancer and I am freaking out scared. I know you don't survive if you get it and its really hard to detect it untill its too late. I am 30 my last blood test f was 6 too 7 months ago for a cbc and urine test and the other blood test that checks Cholesterol and Triglycerides my sugar levels I think.
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