TAnn Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 I saw the doctor yesterday to get the results of the brain MRI. The tumors are stable and some "appear to be slightly smaller" according to the report. Keeping in mind that mine are very small to begin with, I don't read alot into that. So basically the news is stable. I can live with stable.... We also discussed Tarceva. He went into the big explanation of the Iressa news, not knowing that we were armed with info, thanks to everyone here, and we were finishing his sentences before he could ... Anyway, we decided to switch to Tarceva. I am on 150mg. and am really scared about the side effects. Here is what he said about what he and the other doctors at MD Anderson are doing about Iressa: If a patient has received substantial benefit from Iressa, meaning substantial tumor shrinkage and stabilization of disease, then Iressa has benefitted them and they should stay with Iressa. If a patient has received minimum benefit from Iressa, meaning very little, if any, tumor shrinkage but has remained stable it would be beneficial to switch to Tarceva as it has "proven" extended survival rate. Therefore, we agreed and made the switch. He said that Iressa and Tarceva are exactly the same drug, they target the tumor in exactly the same way. The only difference is that Iressa is formulated in different dosages than Tarceva. ie: Iressa's 250mg dosage is lower than Tarceva's 150mg dosage. The medication dosage is stronger in Tarceva and therefore the benefit is better. If I have bad side effects, he will switch me to the 100mg dose. After reading the Tarceva website, I see that it is available all the way up to 1000mg. Can you imagine????? Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. I will keep you updated on my side effects. TAnn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shelliemacs Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 i wish my weight was as stable as you are right now. this is good news!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shineladysue Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 TAnn, The news sounds really good!!! Stable , we can all live with. Sure hope the Tarceva is good to you. Will keep you in my prayers. Think positive... sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadstimeon Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 TAnn, so glad for you! Stable is good! Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy P Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 TAnn - Great to hear stable and thank you for the breakdown in the Iressa vs Tarceva this will give us good information when we go see Mom's oncologist next week. I am curious to see what, if any, side effects you have with the Tarceva especially since a couple of others have had such severe reactions - hoping you have none! Thinking of You!!! Much Love, Amy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Wood Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 Stable is good, TAnn. Congrats. Am anxious to hear how you do on Tarceva because that is an option for Lucie. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haylee_38 Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 TAnn, like to hear stable. That is good news. Haylee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chloesmom Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 TAnn, Did you get a batch of good news or what? That all sounds just great. Here's hoping for many many more dr appts with news like that. Cindy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cindi o'h Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 Thanks TAnn, You know I always look for the update on how you are doing. This sounds like it is good news. And, yes, this is a good place for information and helps at the doctor's office. Glad that you were armed with information and brought some back. Great, TAnn. Cindi o'h Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Cheryl- Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 TAnn, I am relieved for you by your news. "Stable with some shrinkage!" YEAH!!!!! Cheryl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBeth Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 TAnn, I have been checking and waiting for your update and I cannot tell you how happy I am to hear that things are stable. I wish you well with the switch to Tarceva and will continue to keep you (and all others) in my prayers. Thank you so much for updating! Love and prayers, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Lamb Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 TAnn, stable works for me.I think that is good news for right now.I also think you should have a celebration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginny Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 Boy, Tann, stable and shrinkage - certainly sounds to me like you are moving in the right direction. Keep it up sweetie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debi Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 TAnn, So glad to hear of your news and sending wishes, along with everybody, that you will have little or no side effects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAnn Posted January 6, 2005 Author Share Posted January 6, 2005 Another quick note: (I meant to put this in my original post, but that short term memory loss is creeping up on me! ) Thought you all might like to know that Tarceva is much more expensive than Iressa. The pharmacist says "they're new, they're hot and they can pretty much charge whatever they want!" For Iressa my copay was $25.00 for Tarceva it is $125.00 But if I didn't have insurance it would cost $3,200.00/month! FYI TAnn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindseysmom Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 Good words to hear, stable and shrinkage, know matter how small the shrinkage. Very good news indeed. Best wishes, Dee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharyn Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 TANN- STABLE!!! STABLE!!! and some SHRINKAGE!!!! I am so happy for you!!! I am jumping for joy - This is a wonderful thing. Love, Sharon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mayos Posted January 7, 2005 Share Posted January 7, 2005 I also watch for news from you TAnn. I've got another Rah Rah for stable coming your way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carrie Posted January 7, 2005 Share Posted January 7, 2005 Hi TAnn, So glad to hear you are stable. Hope the Tarveca works for you, great that they are making such strides with the new medication too bad, given the price they charge for it they are not as interested in saving lives, it is sad. I also want to ask you, since you had wbr how you are feeling as far as your side effects. When you finished your wbr, if your hair has started growing back etc. Did your dr have you on steroids during the radiation and if so did you have any side effects and what were they, are you still having them if so? Has the brain tumors effected your eyesight any? Any answers to any of these questions would be greatly appreciated. Again, I am so happy to hear you are stable. Carrie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAnn Posted January 7, 2005 Author Share Posted January 7, 2005 Carrie, Thank you for your good wishes. I have a few side effects still from the wbr. The main one is fatigue. I also still have some headaches and my ears ring all the time. I don't know if wbr had anything to do with it, but I can't read anything without my glasses anymore, before it may have been a little out of focus, but now, I can't see it at all. I had my last radiation treatment on Oct. 15 and my hair STILL hasn't even started to grow back, nothing, not even a sprig! I did have steroids during radiation and was weaned off when I was done. I ate alot, couldn't sleep, wasn't too nice and couldn't turn my brain off. That is all much better now without the steroids. How about you, has your hair grown back yet? Hope this helps. TAnn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieD Posted January 7, 2005 Share Posted January 7, 2005 TAnn - Great news, stable. Beautiful word. Sure hope the Tarceva is good for you. Can't wait to hear the good news on it. These insurance companies and drug outlets are all different in how they charge. My Iressa was $2236 a month and Tarceva was $2659, both with a $9 co-pay. That was with Rite-Aid. Anyway, great news and congrats. I love it when anybody gets good news. Take care and God Bless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandyS Posted January 7, 2005 Share Posted January 7, 2005 Wonderful news TAnn - both the results and the options open for you! Stable. What a funny word. Before I was diagnosed, the only time I heard the word "stable" was when my daughters were putting horses away after riding! Hugs and prayers, SandyS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellakc2 Posted January 7, 2005 Share Posted January 7, 2005 TAnn, Stable sounds good to me. Will keep you in my prayers. Take care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NellW Posted January 7, 2005 Share Posted January 7, 2005 TAnn.. Stable, whew.. what a lovely word, and some shrinkage, no matter how small seems good too! I will keep right on sending prayers your way. Love Nell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nushka Posted January 7, 2005 Share Posted January 7, 2005 Tann, It sounds like good news to me as well. Stable and shrinkage seems like something you want to maintain. As for the Tarceva, I really hope this will be just the ticket for you. I haven't had WBR but when my hair fell out from chemo it took from August 7th to the end of November for mine to begin to grow back. Now it is still curly and very thick. I sure hope yours does the same thing. Praying for you and everyone else. Nina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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