CharlieD Posted January 5, 2005 Share Posted January 5, 2005 As I had posted before, I began Tarceva Dec 24. The rash showed up in a couple days, rather mild at first and then, BANG. As Beth so vividly described all hell broke loose. Huge throbbing sores on my head, face and chest. Severe stomach cramps with diahhrea and the straw that broke the camels back, a horrific cough, almost to the point of convulsions. Took my last one Sat, Jan 1. Called the ONC Monday and he gave me meds for the rash etc and wants to wait a couple weeks to clear this up and continue on a lower dosage. Started on 150, probably go to 100. That will work out since I have angioplasty sked for Jan 14 to fix a partially clogged artery. Wow, what a weekend that was. I was surprised since I handled the other chemo so well. I guess we handle each one differently. Oh well, onwards and upwards. Thought I'd share this in hopes that it may be of some benefit to someone. CharlieD 4/07/04 dxd stage III/IV B NSCLC Adeno Carcinoma with malignant pleural effusion. 3.5cm mass on right lung with psbl mets to left lung. 5/07/04 began chemo gemzar/carbo. 6/11/04 CT some shrinkage 7/23/04 CT Stable 8/27/04 Last Chemo. Three month break 9/03/04 CT Stable 12/02/04 CT Suspicious 12/14/04 Started Iressa 12/22/04 Off Iressa, started Tarceva (Resulting from manufacturer ltr) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stand4hope Posted January 5, 2005 Share Posted January 5, 2005 Wow, Charlie! I'm sorry to hear that it hit you that bad. It does sound like a repeat of Beth's experience. I hope the meds kick in soon and get rid of all those side effects, and that the 100 mg. will be more tolerable. Peggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Wood Posted January 5, 2005 Share Posted January 5, 2005 Thanks for the warning, Charlie. I hope the lower dose works for you. Also, good luck on the angioplasty. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shineladysue Posted January 5, 2005 Share Posted January 5, 2005 Wow Charlie, I know that must have been upsetting... Sure hope the next dosage goes better for you.. Keep us informed.. You are one of our guinea pigs.. lol My hubby is taking Alimta and had the rash this last treatment... not a severe rash, but it makes us nervous. sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Lamb Posted January 5, 2005 Share Posted January 5, 2005 Charlie,I hope the rash etc. goes away quickly and the lower dosage works well for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rlrose Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 I hate to hear about those horrible side effects from Tarceva. Wayne started on Tarceva 3 weeks ago and only a little rash on his face which is clearing up. However, he is still has extreme fatigue and is in bed much of the day. His last chemo and radiation treatments were about 4 weeks ago and I was hoping he would get some strength back. I see that Tarceva also causes fatigue. He's taking 150mg. I just read some info on Tarceva and see that it should be taken on an empty stomach which is something we have not been doing. Wayne is on a feeding tube almost continuously so it's difficult to have his stomach totally emply. Roanna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieD Posted January 6, 2005 Author Share Posted January 6, 2005 Hi TAnn - Great news on being stable, the magic word. Hope and pray Tarceva treats you better than it has me, but I am a long way from giving up on it. My ONC said it appeared to have worked for me but the rash and cough were too much. Taking a few weeks off from it and then back with a lower dosage. Hang tough and God Bless. CharlieD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 I am not a Dr, but one thing you might want to ask the Dr about is Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD). I read Tarceva has an incidence rate of about 0.6% (1 in 200) Hope the cough and rash get better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.C. Posted January 7, 2005 Share Posted January 7, 2005 Charlie, Hope the rash goes away for good and the lower dose works well. You will remember the holidays of 2004/2005 as rash holidays. J.C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justakid Posted January 10, 2005 Share Posted January 10, 2005 Hi Charlie- Just wanted you to know I was thinking about you as each little bump grows on my face. Luckily it is closer then last time. Crossing my fingers for all us Tarceve users. Good luck on Friday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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