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joepodolsky

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Posts posted by joepodolsky

  1. I'm sure drips come from all sorts of things. I assume mine came from the Tarceva because it started shortly after I started taking that drug. But that might be a bad assumption. For example, I recently had a pain in my stomach, and both my oncologist and I assumed that it had something to do with my lung cancer. A couple of tests ruled out the most obvious cancer-related causes (and also ruled out gall bladder or pancreas problems), and the pain disappeared by itself in a few days. As the oncologist said, having cancer doesn't give you a pass on stomach flu.

    I'll be interested in seeing how the rash reacts as I sweat. Right now, I have problems exercising hard enough to sweat because I have numb feet, most likely a left over side effect from a long past chemo. In any case, the numbness is gradually fading, and I am now able to try to get back in shape. I'm hoping I'll get to test the sweat idea in a couple of weeks. Thanks for the suggestion.

    Joe

  2. I've been on 150 mg of Tarceva for around three months. I had a CT scan a couple of weeks ago that showed no visible lesions in my lungs or liver where there had been metastases before. Miraculous stuff.

    My nose drip is reasonably controlled by the generic version of Flonase, but the famous Tarceva rash is getting quite severe for me.

    I have severe pimples from scalp to soles, with painful dryness and white heads around my mouth. I use Vasoline around my mouth, and that helps a little.

    The pimples with white heads are especially annoying on my arms and scrotum, of all silly places.

    Early on, Chanwit pointed me toward Cetaphil, and that worked well for a while. Now it actually aggravates the rash. I've just read some of the suggestions of many of you and those of Dr. West, and I'll talk to my oncologist. But any other sugestions are gratefully appreciated.

    Thanks to all of you for the wonderful sharing. I hope you are all having wonderful holidays and will have a happy and really healthy 2007.

    Joe

  3. This forum has been so incredibly helpful with my other issues, I wonder if anyone has experience with this.

    I've been taking Tarceva for almost two months. It seems to have cleared visible metastases that were in my lung and no new problems are occuring.

    But about a week after starting the Tarceva, my nose started to drip. So this has been going on for many weeks. It runs clear fluid, like a nose bleed, out my nostrils and also becomes a post nasal drip that causes significant coughing.

    I've been taking Sudafed as a decongestant, and that helps somewhat. It stops the involuntary dripping and cause the fluid to coagulate into clumps of mucus. Some of those, of course, drip down into my esophagus, causing coughing, but much less frequently than before.

    My doc thinks it's a Tarceva side effect, but we don't really know. Has anyone else experienced this?

    Any suggestions?

    Thanks much,

    Joe

  4. I have two numb feet. Technically, they are a peripheral neuropathy. No pain, just numb. They make walking difficult and tiring, but I'm in far better shape than others with more serious forms of peripheral neuropathies.

    I first got the numbness when I was on Alimta/Avastin. The oncologist said that it was probably a side effect of the Alimta.

    Now I'm on Tarceva; it's working, but the numbness has not gone away.

    Does anyone have experience/advice on this side effect?

    Thanks,

    Joe

  5. I've been on Tarceva for about two months. I had previously been on Carboplatin/Gemzar, which worked for a while; Alimta/Avastin, which didn't work; and Taxotere, which didn't work. I had metastases in my right lung. The Tarceva took care of those in about three weeks. Yippee.

    But the two main side effects I'm experiencing are diarrhea and extremely dry skin. The diarrhea is being well controlled by Imodium, but I haven't been able to find a lotion that helps the skin. It neither hurts nor itches badly, so I'm not inclined to take some of the drugs that many of you have mentioned, but I have not found a lotion that helps. I tell people that I have body dandruff; that's what it feels like.

    Any suggestions for lotions that might help?

    Take care,

    Joe

  6. It's great hearing from everyone. We're all on a separate journey, but we're all going through similar experiences. For example, in my introduction, I didn't mention that I also had an encounter with a two liter pleural effusion and pneumonia that took me five weeks to recover from. And I'm having it easy compared to what you all are "enjoying."

    Take really good care of yourselves and hug your loved ones, a lot.

    Joe

  7. I was diagnosed last Thanksgiving with Stage 4 nonsmall cell adenocarinoma lung cancer. I've had four rounds of chemo, plus one of radiation. I'm currently taking Tarceva pills, and, aside from some nasty side effects, I'm doing reasonably well.

    I'm 68 years old and live in Palo Alto, CA. I'm happy to share experiences.

    Joe

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