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When Barry was diagnosed last Summer we were told to enjoy that summer while we could. We went to all the summer things that we enjoy and I kept thinking each time is this the last. Well we have had this summer as well and did the usual things again. So here is to next spring and summer for all of us. Jennie

Can I please ask a question? Barry continues to do very well on iressa but of course there is always the worry of the drug failing. Several members have said that in these circumstances alimta is the next option. However, I can't seem to recall anyone having real benefit from this drug. The side effects also seem problematic. Our onc says second line chemotherapy with Texotere would,in his opinion, have a significant chance of helping or perhaps a switch to tarceva. Does anyone have any ideas? Jennie

Dear Don and Lucie Just returned from a brief holiday. I am thinking of you both.. Lucie is an inspiration and my thoughts and best wishes go out to you/ Jennie

Jim I have been following your progress and was so so disappointed to hear the news. There is an arsenal of treatments and you must find the right ones. Best wishes Jennie

hello Barry, my hushand, has been on iressa since December last year. So far so good. Little side effects except for a rash which comes and goes. We live in the UK and tarceva is now available but his doctor sees no reason at the moment to change a treatment that has so far been successful. This was backed up by a second opinion. At one of the leading cancer centres here they have had modest success in switching patients to tarceva if iressa fails. Best wishes Jennie

We are thinking of you. You have a good doctor there and he still has ammunition to fight with Jennie

Thanks for keeping those of us in the uk up to date/ Jennie

Dear Leslie Stable is excellent. Think of this a cronic disease that needs to be kept in check. So long as it sits there and does not move then that is fine. So far so good. I think the main indicator is how you feel and if you feel ok then you should try and enjoy life. I know that is sometimes easier said than done. Also as I try and tell myself the longer you can keep stable the more time this allows for new treatments to become available/ Love Jennie

Dear Fay Like everyone I was very unhappy to learn that you were having to confront this awful disease again. There are possibilities now that did now exist even a few years ago. There are new generations of egfr drugs being developed, and some vaccines (one in particular) look promising. You are in the States which seems to be more aggressive in fighting this than in Europe. Thinking of you Jennie

Hello We felt as you do when Barry was first diagnosed. However we are still here and enjoying life. There is hope and things are improving re drugs, treatments etc. Best wishe Jennie

just a note from across the pond to let you know that we are thinking of you both and your family. Jennie

Barry saw the oncologist today and everything is stable. It has been five months since his last scan and there is nothing new. The little that did show up could be the aftermath of the plueradesis. In the meantime Barry feels fine. For this we are very grateful. Next scan in October. There is also the possibility that he might change from iressa to tarceva and the onc. is looking into this although he is doing well on iressa. Best wishes to all of you. Jennie

Leslie We are in a similar situation. My husband so far has been stable on iressa which he started in December04. He is due to be scaned tomorrow and we will get the results in 2 weeks (believe it or not the delay is so he can fit a business meeting in!] He feels fine. The last time we saw the onc. I asked how much cancer is left and he said it was like a bag of glass marbles had been smashed (in other words I don't think they know]. May iressa tarceva hold the thing a bay until a cure is found. Jennie

Something which puzzles me about this is that when Barry was given iressa he felt better within a few days. The rash appeared very quickly and think that there is a correlation between rash etc and efficacy. So why not just try the drug? What is there to lose? I know it is expensive but so is the testing or am I missing something Jennie

My husband never smoked and has lc. I believe it is 10% of smokers who get this disease so there are other factors involved not just smoking. Your mum like everyone else of this board has been very unlucky. Jennie

hello, Like Doughnut I suspect you might be in the uk. If so don't accept the opinion of one oncologist. My husband was told in April last year to go and enjoy the summer as it was implied it would be his last. When we suggest that iressa might be worth a try his response was that it works well in Japan. We got another oncologist plus the iressa and so far Barry is ok. Incidentally I ran into the guy in a hospital corridor and I told him what I thought of the consultation we had with him and suggested that if a patient with similiar symptons presents themselves to him he might like to be more thoughtful. I do not think he enjoyed our encounter. Best wishes Jennie

Wishing you many more years. As we seem to be on a similar course at present you give us hope. Jennie

Hi Janna We live in the UK and it is sometimes behind the States on the availability of new treatments. It is however, sometimes possible to get hold of these drugs from the manufactures on a compassionate basis. This is how we are able to get iressa and I told tarceva is also now available even though they have not officially been approved. Best wishes Jennie

My husband had the talc procedure over a year ago. Yes it did work and he recovered quickly. Best wishes Jennie

Lars As you can see from our profile Barry had a similiar presentation. He too had a plueradesis(sp) He says after the procedure he had flu like symptons for a few days. There remains a small amount of fluid at the base of the lung but since the op he has been ok. Best wishes Jennie

The chemo for Barry (my husband) was not nearly as bad as we anticipated. In fact after round one he felt better (although he never felt too bad in the first place, if that makes sense). Good luck Jennie

My husband worked as senior researcher for a very large drug co. He tells me that storing tarceva in a fridge would not deminish its efficacy. Jenni

Just want to say thank you for your welcome. We have our next appointment next month. We are going to ask if adding avastin to the medication might be a good idea as it stops cancer growth by a different process. May be that by attacking the disease on more than one front would work? It's not available in the uk but where there is a will... Best wishes to all. Jennie

Just a brief adustment to my previous post. My husband has non small cell lc (adenocarcinoma). Only reactin to iressa has been a rash with comes and goes. Jennie

hello my name is jennie and I have been reading this forum for quite some time. My daughter, Sarah (Nadri) has posted in the past. My husband Barry was diagnosed with NON-small cell Lc in May 04. He had surgery but the surgeon found the cancer had spread to the pluera and some additional spread in the left lung where the main tumor was located. The surgeon removed the main tumor and cleaned up what he could.He also performed a plueradesis.[sp] The first onc. we saw told him to go away and do what he wanted as this may be the last summer he would have and come back for chemo when he felt like it. The sugeon was not happy and refered us to another onc. Barry, who is a never smoker, had four round of gemzar and carboplatin with few side effects. The onc said that 90% of what was there on diagnosis was gone. Barry who seems quite sensitive to symptons did however feel some activity. He was then at our suggestion in December 04 given iressa. All symptons have now gone. Barry feels normal. Works part-time, does the garden, etc. etc. I still find the whole thing surreal. I read the net a lot and worry as the infomation seems to be that the ireesa does not last?? I would appreciate any input or comment that anyone may have. Thank you all for being here Jennie P.S we live near London in the uk.