[Western Massachusetts]

Chris,

Any experience/knowledge to when Tarceva stops working? The Drs. seem puzzled with this although they all agree that it's not a good thing. Which I could've told anyone without a med degree.... They seem to help with what happens now? It's definitely not "it." I'm sure there are more options out there. I'm just trying to get some and hopefully convince the Drs. to try it or try to find someone that will. Again, they're so "textbook."

Best,

Shirley

[How to overcome Tarceva Resistance?]

Hi All,

We just found out that my father has prob become resistant to Tarceva considering there has been growth in his liver tumor in addition to a brain met.

Anyone who has experience/knowledge of this that can offer me some insight?

What treatment alternatives were you offered? The onc. were not too helpful only stating that they maybe increaseing the dose of Tarceva. Even that isn't set in stone yet.

Thanks,

Shirley

[Western Massachusetts]

Hi Chris,

You are right, the response has been incredible. Before joining this forum I felt pretty alone searching the internet until the wee hours of the night. It's grim, but it's also comforting to know that others are going through similar situations. It's so hard to talk to someone who has not been personally affected. It's like they don't know what to say - and that I understand too but it's still not too comforting.

I do keep a little notebook where I jot down anything that looks interesting whether it be new treatment combos or alternatives that others have been successful on. It's been very helpful considering the wealth of information out there! Now I find myself needing to take a break from searching for new information and to research further what I already have.

As for the original onc that left for Canada - he left before the Tarceva stopped working. He had said that it's his native country anyway.

Ciao,

Shirley

[newbie]

Hi Charlie,

Well, I'm from Massachusetts and my parents are just a train ride to Boston. My father's new onc (his old onc went back to Canada) is the Chief of Onc at New England Medical. When my father was first diagnosed I practically had to drag him to Dana Farber where he saw an onc that focused the most on research. He said that he pretty much agreed with the treatment that NEMC had to offer.

I'm finding it very difficult to persuade the onc to do something besides "textbook." I want an onc that is aggressive in treating my father and who is not afraid to try new combos and new things. I feel like the onc that look at my father's case feels that it is hopeless. I'm trying to do as much as possible to research new drugs/procedures and such.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated,

Shirley

[Hello]

Hi Tracy,

Just wanted to let you know that I'm from your area. My father was diag with stage 4 non small cell lung cancer with met to the liver and now met to the brain. Tarceva had helped him tremendously for awhile.

He has also done some alternative stuff mostly juicing that I believe has had its benefits. If you want more info on this I'll be happy to tell you what we juice and such.

Best,

Shirley

[newbie]

Hi Don,

Thank you so much for responding. My father had two rounds of chemo with Alimta with it. Unfortunately it hasn't helped at all.

He started Tarcevea July 2005 and it was working beautifully. All of a sudden my world fell apart again. He had a clean scan a little before Easter 2006 and he had a last minute scan scheduled b/c he started to not feel well.

I'm not sure what they are going to do with the met in the brain. I heard from the onc fellow that it's about 1 cm and that the neuro onc will need to do a full M.R.I. Now I'm afraid that they'll find more stuff. The onc fellow mentioned that he'll prob receive radiation. I haven't researched much on the cyberknife - but the limited knowledge I have on it strongly suggests that it is a much better option than radiation.

I'm just devastated that the Tarceva has stopped working.

Shirley

[Western Massachusetts]

Chris,

Thank you so much for reaching out to me.... I never thought I would get a response as swiftly as I did.

I think I posted a new to the forum post. The subject was "newbie" It has a more detailed account of my father's illness. Today is my first day on this site and I'm still trying to figure everything out.

Regards,

Shirley

[Western Massachusetts]

My father was diag with stage 4 lung cancer March 2005. It had met to the liver.

2 rounds of chemo worked, then 2 rounds didn't

Tarceva since July 2005. It all of a sudden stopped working. Now he has a met in the brain.

Doctors are really sure what the next treatment protocol will be.

Would love to talk to someone about this.

Thanks,

Shirley

[Western Massachusetts]

Hi,

I'm from the South Shore.

[newbie]

Hi All,

I'm new in this forum. Just trying to figure how everything works.

I guess I can start to explain how cancer is affecting my life.

My father was diag with stage 4 non small cell lung cancer March of 2005. He had 2 rounds of chemo that was successful followed by 2 more rounds that were not. Unfortunately I do not remember which chemo drugs they were

My father was then offered Tarceva around July 2005. He had tolerated it well, but he just had a scan on May 31 b/c he has not been feeling well. Well today the results showed that the tumor in the liver has increased in size, which is an indication that he has become resistant to the drug. He has never had any luck with decreasing the size of his lung tumors, but at least the liver tumor has shrunk a little prior to the latest scan.

The doctor had told my parents that there are no other drugs out there that would be benefical. I guess the next course of treatment for him is to double the dose of the Tarceva and to monitor it through another scan late June.

Just wondering if anyone has become resistant to Tarceva or Iressa for that matter and how it was dealt with.

I am at a total loss. Like many others, this horrible disease had hit my family suddenly for my father has never smoked a day in his life.

Any information will be greatly appreciated.

Best,

Shirley