Ry Posted February 18, 2005 Share Posted February 18, 2005 Is anyone else having trouble with Tarceva? It just seems to me that it is harder on the digestive system and skin than the Iressa. His rash is worse, his stomach is upset more, and we just spent half the day in the ER because he started coughing up blood. So...it's not Cindi's pub, but can we talk? How is everyone else doing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinsorCat Posted February 18, 2005 Share Posted February 18, 2005 I have been on 150mg tarceva since December 5th, very little rash almost no stomach problems with two exceptions, but am also on alot of pain meds that tend to constipate.....so it kinda evens out. I have also always had dry skin and yes this has become worse but daily lotion seems to at least kill the itch. Had a brain CT today because of just overalll feeling like crap and it was clear according to my onc... radiology will read it tomorrow. Chest Ct is the 25th and I really feel as if this pill is working. Will know for sure on the 7th of March. maybe his dose is too high? just a thought, my prayers and wishes are headed your way.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cindi o'h Posted February 18, 2005 Share Posted February 18, 2005 Rochelle,.... no Tarceva experience here. but looks like it is coming at you from all directions....mom and John??? RESCHEDULE that dental app't!!! Sorry about John's coughing up blood...I hate that! Hope you can get to the bottom of this soon. Cindi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieD Posted February 18, 2005 Share Posted February 18, 2005 Hi Rochelle - Really sorry to hear about John having difficulty with Tarceva and coughing up blood. I was only on Tarceva for about two weeks when I pulled the plug. I don't consider myself a wimp and like to think that I can get thru about anything, but that stuff was brutal. The Doc at RPCI thought that the anti-biotic I was on for a bad cough and chest congestion had as much to do with it as the Tarceva. The possible side effects were identical for both. Is John on anything like that? It took about a month for the rash (more like boils) to go away and my skin is still dry. I know I wasn't on it for a very long time but thought I'd throw it out for whatever it's worth. I pray to God that things work out for him. Take care and God Bless. CharlieD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay A. Posted February 18, 2005 Share Posted February 18, 2005 Hello, Ry, I'm not certain if the gastric upset and onset of increased gastric bleeding is Tarceva alone, Tarceva aggravating the Crohn's Disease, or a bad flare up of the Crohn's alone. But whatever it is I am glad to be seeing a doctor in the morning. I am developing lots of bruises on my legs. I believe that if you are taking blood thinners you're supposed to have an adjustment to either it or the Tarceva dosage. Didn't you mention at one point that John was on blood thinners? I can't read through the whole thing right now (eye problems), but here's a link to info on Tarceva. https://www.tarceva.com/tarceva/product ... indictions I'm also having problems with my eyes. My vision is a little blurry, and I've developed a very strange tic in the left eyelid, along with neuropathic pain on the left side of my face and my left hand and arm. Weird. Keeping you, John and the kids in my prayers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrea Posted February 18, 2005 Share Posted February 18, 2005 Ry, What did the ER say? No experience with my mom b/c she was taken off quickly, but I do know that I was told by my office ma nager that her brother in law's rash is much worse on Tarceva than Iressa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NellW Posted February 18, 2005 Share Posted February 18, 2005 Darn!!!! I was hoping he would do well on Tarceva. Sure hope and pray these things will stop!! Keep us posted. Love Nell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginnyde Posted February 18, 2005 Share Posted February 18, 2005 Rochelle, Is there any reason why they won't put John back on Iressa since he seemed to do so well on that. I hope that it all gets figured out pronto and that John is back to his old self. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyW Posted February 18, 2005 Share Posted February 18, 2005 My Wife is on tarceva now and was on Iressa. Iressa was not as harsh but studies showed that it did not work as well as tarceva and we stopped taking it. Deb takes 150MG a day, has rash but very little nausea, (Immodum AD and Promethazine for that) We will go for a Cat scan next monday to see how the tarceva is working. Good luck in getting things resolved. I Do not know if this info helps but hope so. Always praying RSW1124 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Lamb Posted February 18, 2005 Share Posted February 18, 2005 Ry, I have no experiance with this med.But want to wish you and John a speedy and good resolve to the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimblanchard Posted February 18, 2005 Share Posted February 18, 2005 Ry, I was on Tarceva for 14 months. I have been on Iressa for 15 months. I have not experienced the rash with Iressa just the dry clean. Tarceva was initially hard my skin with the pimply rash. It settled down and I was mostly left with a flush color on my cheeks - saved on blush. After about 4 months (I think) it flared up big time on my back, eventually they gave me oral antibiotics which cleared the rash up. The medicine helped so much that I stayed on them for maintenance because at 46 I was liking living without pimples. I was taking the the antibioitcs every other day. I have found the diarrehea to be worse with Iressa. With Tarceva, I found it to find in cycles. Although John will not have the same problem, it seemed to be worst the week before my period. Since the chemo has stopped my periods, I cannot tie it the flare ups to anything but I do still think that it runs in cycles for me. I never experienced the coughing up blood with with drug. I afraid that this information my not be very helpful but they have been my experiences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAnn Posted February 18, 2005 Share Posted February 18, 2005 Ry, Tarceva is much stronger than Iressa. I did very well on Iressa and have had problems with Tarceva also. I have not experienced coughing up blood, but I can tell you that the diarreah was worse when I first started it. My doctor put me on Previcid for the "sour stomach" that I was experiencing and I think that has counter-acted the diarreah from the Tarceva, so that department is pretty good most days. I really didn't experience a rash with Iressa, but Tarceva is really doing a number on me. I've started using Oil of Olay Shower Conditioner. It's like a hair conditioner for your skin, and you put it on like lotion in the shower and then rinse it off. It really has helped the dry skin. Thankfully, the rash has attacked my body and left my face alone, so I'm not complaining there. Hoping your doctor can give you some relief, or reduce the dosage to 100mg is always an option. TAnn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shineladysue Posted February 18, 2005 Share Posted February 18, 2005 Ry, I just want to send my best to you and John. Mike has no experience with Tarceva, but thank you for sharing your experience and inviting others to share also. Hope they are able to quickly figure out why he is bleeding and to control it . I know you must want him back on Iressa, Like they say "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". Let us know how he is doing . You hang in there. You have a lot on your plate right now. Maybe a little trip to Cindi's will help. Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ry Posted February 18, 2005 Author Share Posted February 18, 2005 Well let's see... First thanks for all your well wishes. John is taking it real easy today. He is still having some bleeding and now his sinuses have decided to get in the act. Cindi...I love your sick sense of humor. Charlie, John has not been on an antibiotic that would be causing the problem. Fay, thanks for the link. Yes John is on a blood thinner but it is a real low dose. They checked all his blood work in the ER and it was ok. Good luck with your issues! Andrea, the ER said he needs to have a bronc next week to go in and take a look. There may be something they can cauterize to stop the bleeding. Ginny, yes he can go back to the Iressa. We asked about that when he was switched over to the Tarceva. I am glad everyone is sharing their experiences, thanks so much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa O Posted February 19, 2005 Share Posted February 19, 2005 John and your whole family are really in my prayers... Keep us posted. Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiny Posted February 19, 2005 Share Posted February 19, 2005 John, Ry and family- Just letting you know that prayers continue for you even when I am MIA for extended periods of time ( and without hall passes ...I know, I know! ). Keep us posted and good luck; keep that man resting as much as possible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadstimeon Posted February 19, 2005 Share Posted February 19, 2005 Prayers for the best Rochelle. Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justakid Posted February 20, 2005 Share Posted February 20, 2005 Hey Ry The Tarceva caused the severe dry skin, rash and nose bleeds. That's it....maybe once a week I had colon issues but that only lasted a couple hours and was over. Those were the only side affects I had, maybe a lower does would help. My Onco did say after my initial respeonse to the 150mg, he started everyone else on 100mg. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tnmynatt Posted February 20, 2005 Share Posted February 20, 2005 Ry, Sorry I am so late posting. Charlie has been on Tarceva at 150 mg. for a month now. He has skin rashes. It is especially annoying for him on his nose. Also, his nose (inside) is very dry. He is now using something to help with that. It does seem like he is responding to the Tarceva. We will know the middle of March. Praying for John and for you. Hope the bleeding is just some irritation that can be dealt with easily. Take care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elnodel Posted February 20, 2005 Share Posted February 20, 2005 I don't have any experience with tarceva but wanted you to know that I'm thinking of John and hoping that the reactions lessen. Maybe it's doing the same thing to the cancer as it is to everything else inside him! Love, Ellen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ry Posted February 20, 2005 Author Share Posted February 20, 2005 John has the dry nose thing too. Today the bleeding has slowed a lot but he is feeling pretty lousy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tnmynatt Posted February 20, 2005 Share Posted February 20, 2005 Ry and others, Charlie's ENT told him to use Bacitracin Ointment for the inside of his nose. It is applied with a Q-tip twice per day and is non-prescription. It has really helped him a lot. Continuing to pray for John. Take care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAnn Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 I also have the really dry nose. Thanks Tina for the advice. I'll have to look for that. TAnn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoBennett Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 I’m way behind on the Tarceva information, but I did found some stuff I thought was interesting and I don’t think I’ve heard it mentioned. The info I found was dated, and this is the one of the links that was speaking of some connections. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/index.php?newsid=6651 I was searching info on bronchioloalveolar cell carcinoma and the Tarceva thing kept coming up. Basically the sources were saying that Tarceva worked well for BAC and for those who never smoked. This was the first I heard of Never smokers having better success. I was surprised by this information, working specifically, ( possibly) for those with BAC and never smokers. One more thing to consider. And I have a question Bo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karen335 Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 Ry, I am sorry to read that John is having this proble. I am not taking Tarceva, but maybe consider this, from reading everyone's post, it sounds like Tarceva had a drying effect, more so than Iressa. Maybe it is drying out John's stomach and Esofagus(Sp?) so much it is causing it to bleed. Almost the same thing that aspirin does to ulcers. As you know, I am not a doctor, just something to consider and maybe ask the doctor about. Maybe he can give John something to coat the stomach (like Crafate) and throat before he takes his pill and before meals.... Just a thought. Prayers, Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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