Last October my husband, age 67, was diagnosed with stage IV NSCLC. He had no symptoms and had not smoked in 42 years so this hit us both like a ton of bricks. He was having arthroscopic surgery on his knee and went for a routine pre op chest x ray. When they found the spots on his lung he went for CT scan and MRI. They found lesions that "lit up" in his left lung, ribs, 2 lymph nodes, and sacrum.
After having a biopsy they found that he tested positive for the EGFR mutation. This was good news because it meant he could take Tarceva, a drug indicated for those with this marker.
After weeks of waiting for appointments, test results, and drug delivery he finally took his first dose of Tarceva on December 5. After about 5 or 6 days he broke out with a severe rash on his face, chest, back, neck and scalp. Although the rash is still there, it is controlled with antibiotic daily.
As his wife and caregiver, I am going on this journey with him. It took weeks to adjust to the reality of the nightmare. We try to live each day to the fullest. Each one is a gift. I look forward to the support and suggestions that I will receive from my fellow caregivers on this website.