RAY A Posted November 9, 2003 Posted November 9, 2003 Hello my Brothers and Sisters, I Got some questions on Irissa. Went yesterday to start my 5th cycle of chemo. Before I started I had to see my oncologist. All my blood counts were good so he told me I could start my next cycle of Carbo/Taxel. We also know that 2 more cycles is all he wants me to have. My worry is what after that. I hope I will be in remission but I know inside I wont be. I think there will still be something there. He told me he has a lot of things we can do and one of them is taking Irissa. I told him that when I here about Irissa it's like a last resort. He told me that’s not true. He said they are just learning how to use Irissa, that they feel its good for maintenance between chemos. I told him that I hear there are a lot of side effects from taking it and what are the side effects. He told me he has treated over 200 people and only 1 he had to take off of it due to a rash. He has people who have been on it 1 & 2 years and are doing well. I know a there are brothers and sister here that are taking Irissa or has taken Irissa and i'm wondering what side effect are you experiencing if any. I checked out the web sites and that’s what probably scaring me off. I would like to hear first had from my friends. I pray for everyone here every day Quote
Ry Posted November 9, 2003 Posted November 9, 2003 Hey Ray~ My husband is doing well on Iressa. He has the rash but it's not anything you can't deal with and he has diarhea, also something he can deal with. Our oncologist told us at some point the Iressa would stop working and then we would switch to something else. He stated there was a new drug coming out in January. He also told us he has several patients doing well with the Iressa. I know he'd be happy to answer any questions you have if you want to send me a PM, I'll have him get back with you. Take care Ray Quote
beckyg Posted November 9, 2003 Posted November 9, 2003 Ray, I have been on Iressa since July, and it is holding my cancer stable. The only side effect i have had is the facial rash--like being a teeenager with acne. The doctors have said I should stay on it as long as my tumor holds stable. Becky Quote
lenr8 Posted November 9, 2003 Posted November 9, 2003 Ray I feel the same way that you do. My onc wants to put me on Iressa and I am resistant to that because it feels like a last resort. I finished radiation and now he wants to do Iressa. We are going to get a seconcd opinion because taking iressa qill eliminate you from some clinical trials. But there are many reasons you can be eliminated, but I don't want to possibly miss out on any. Its a tough decision. Quote
Guest Piermarie Posted November 9, 2003 Posted November 9, 2003 Ray, My mom started Iressa at the end of September after 3 different chemos failed to stop the cancer from growing. I, too, thought this was a "last resort drug", but the onc. assured us that if it didn't work for her, we'd go back to other infusion chemos. She is scheduled for the f/u catscan this week to see what has been happening, but since she's been on the Iressa, that is all she takes. She has had no coughing or pain (she has mets to bone too) and had been taking 2-3 Tylenol 3's with codeine per day. She is feeling much better too so we are hoping for good news with her scan. She has been lucky so far as to not have any side effects from the Iressa at all.....we keep our fingers crossed...... Quote
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