sailboi Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 My dear 59 year old wife is just detected in late December with lung cancer. We immediately left our home of 27 years in Hawaii, for Seattle and the Swedish Cancer Institute. The bronchscopy and PET scan revealed stage IIIB in upper left lung, with lymph node, and vocal nerve involvement. She has never smoked, and we have been using health foods for years. It is a true mystery how this occurred, and her apparent healthfulness threw our GP off track for awhile. She had started having voice issues in late October, and was first treated for acid reflux. We have a great oncologist at Swedish, who specializes in non smoking women's lung cancer. He has started her on Tarceva. She is also taking a full range of natural supplements and Chinese herbals. If anyone knows of a counter-indication on any supplement with regard to Tarceva - please let us know. Our Dr has referred us to a naturopath, who happens to be out of town until 1 Feb. This is a great forum, and a blessing to the newly frightened - thanks for all the effort.......Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pammie Posted January 25, 2007 Share Posted January 25, 2007 This is a great forum and am sorry you found out through your wife's cancer. No one has the answers for why lung cancer hits some of us that do lead healthy life styles. For that matter the docs don't know why other diseases and cancer strike down the people they do.There are all kinds of supplements to research and decide if they are worth taking. What helps one may not help another. Keep your spirits up and always hope. Will be praying for you and your wife. pammie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marym Posted January 25, 2007 Share Posted January 25, 2007 Hi Ken, I'm sorry to hear of your wife's diagnosis. Hope this site can offer some support, information, or whatever it is you need. It sounds as though you have a good plan in place for treatment. The one thing that I do know is that Tarceva can be rendered ineffective if grapefruit or grapefruit juice is taken. Best wishes. Mary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don M Posted January 25, 2007 Share Posted January 25, 2007 Hi Ken, welcome to LCHELP. I hope your wife's treatment is hugely successful. I also go to Swedish. Don M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ry Posted January 25, 2007 Share Posted January 25, 2007 Welcome- I am glad you found us. We have other members that are also being treated at Swedish. Did someone tell you to avoid grapefruit while on Tarceva? Don't ask me why, but when my husband took it they said no grapefruit. I hope the Tarceva works for her-- it can be a miracle drug. Rochelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrWest Posted January 26, 2007 Share Posted January 26, 2007 Grapefruit and grapefruit juice are problematic when taken with tarceva, and with some other medicines as well, because they profoundly alter the rate at which the liver metabolizes them, leading to less predictable tarceva blood levels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pammie Posted February 1, 2007 Share Posted February 1, 2007 Ken, I sent you a message on pm (private message). You may want to set your account up tp receive pm's. Am not sure i am even doing that correctly. pammie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernrol Posted February 1, 2007 Share Posted February 1, 2007 Ken, Welcome to the site. I have been taking Tarceva since August 2005. I take some supplements and herbs. Sloan Kettering has a web site where you can get information on many herbs and supplements: http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/11570.cfm You might want to fill in the profile and post on the Introduction Forum. You will get more response there. If I can answer any questions let me know. Stay positive, Ernie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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