Last july a routine chest xray showed a tumor in my fathers lung. Biopsy ruled cancerous. PET scan and CT scan showed a small growth on adrenal gland but thought it was an adenoma. He was fortunate enough to get into a trial study where he did radiation twice daily and chemo once daily for 5 weeks. It was horrible on him...but we were told it would be (oh sorry...they tried to remove the tumor surgically but it was to close to his aorta to get to). Last week was his follow up PET scan. Tumor in lung has shrunk and dead and shows negative activity. However his adrenal gland has gotten bigger so they did a biopsy and it is cancerous. He is now Stage 4 with adrenal mets. Docors still optimistic, they say with 4 treatments they will ablate the adrenal and start him on Tarceva. I am so confused I don't know what to do. I look at STATS and they are all so scary, and I can't get a grasp on what Tarceva exactly is indicated for. The literature says it's for those unresponsive to chemo. Are they using it on people without present tumors as a "precautionary" therapy. HELP
