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Hello Sara. We were told that the tumor sometimes grows before it shrinks and that it takes about a month before one knows. My husband's feet also swelled up, but we were blaming it on the appetite (steroid) pills he is taking. He was put on Lasix (water pill) for it and is getting relief. He has vena cava syndrome where the tumor presses against the vena cava nerve, and this causes fluid retention for him, in the 'bags' under his eyes. He has been on Iressa for a week and a half and so far is doing very well. He even drove our truck for the first time in a long time today. So keep the faith - each day is a new day and one never knows what miracles will happen! C.H.

This is only my second post, but I check this forum daily and learn much from the wonderful members. My hubby will start Iressa tomorrow and we're concerned if any side effects will set him back to the 'awful place' he just came out of. We have been having some very good days and it seems scary to think he may go back to the sad state he was in only a few weeks ago- that of a non thriving person. Anyone out there who has taken this tablet without bad side effects? Thanks, C.H.

Phyllis, I doubt if you have vena cava syndrome. For my husband, it was found that a tumor was near his bronchial tube causing pressure on a central nerve that runs down the front of us called the vena cava. As soon as they shrunk his tumor with radiation, the puffiness under his eyes went away and he now looks normal. I wish you the best- you have certainly come a long long ways. C.H.

Am coming aboard now as I'm feeling so bad for my hubby who has had his hiccup/spasm bouts return after they went away for awhile. And we just got him eating more too. He's good all day and then evening comes and it starts up again. He's on chlorpromazine 25 mg which he can take three times a day and which make him really sleepy when taken with his cough medicine. Anyone relate to these hiccups, and how to handle them? (such as what to eat and not eat?) Diagnosed with squamous cell nsclc and told it was most easily treated of all of them. First symptoms were fluid retention under eyes which turned out to be vena cava syndrome last September. Treated for allergy for 5 months before it was figured out (we live in a very small community). Has had five weeks radiation and three treatment of chemo. Dr. won't finish up his chemo until his body gets more stable again. So…that brings us back to those darn hiccups which are slowing us way down. Reading all your posts has been encouraging to me. Thanks so much!!