Dad's diagnosis Dec 2012 Stage IV NSCLC Adeno

[Daddysgirl35]

[New to this site. My 59 year old dad (never_smoker) diagnosed with lc. After biopsy and mutation testing we learn he is EGFR + with L858r and T790m variances. Oncologist started him on 150mg Tarceva on Jan 29 2013. He has started to itch some and had a ringing in one ear the other night. As of diagnosis he has a 1.7 cm nodule in ULL, 5mm in LLL, and a 1.3 cm lesion on 5th rib. appears to be doing good and asymptomatic as of today. Just wanted to join the forum and try to learn as much as I can for my dad whom I love soooo much. This diagnosis is so difficult to accept but ready to fight it!!

[Janet B]

Welcome to the site, I know you wish you didn't have to be here, but I am so glad you found us! This is a wonderful place to come with questions, to vent and to make new friends who understand what you are going through.

I also have the EGFR mutation. I have been on Tarceva since February of 2007, starting with 150mg and going down to 100mg after a couple of years. There have been some ups and downs, but here I am 6 years later!

If your dad has any side effects that are bothersome, let us know, there are enough people here who have been on Tarceva and who will have good suggestions for dealing with the side effects. If your cancer center has a dermatologist be sure to have your dad visit him or her if he is having bad rash issues. I also had ringing in the ear, and even hearing loss. It has been resolved, not really sure how, but I think maybe the antibiotics I was on for the rash did the trick!

Take care of yourself, keep us posted on your dad, peace and strength to you both

Janet

[michellep]

So sorry to hear about your dad but I am happy you found lcsc. Please browse our forms and read about others who have dealt with this awful disease we all hate.

I agree about the tarceva. It does indeed cause rashes that can become very annoying.

Feel free to post away and ask all the questions you want. You can also share your feelings and how you are dealing as well. ((hugs))

[dianew]

Sorry you had reason to find us, but this is a great place for support. No doubt this is an awful disease, but there is much more hope today than many people realize. They have come out with so many new therapies that in many instances have turned this into a chronic disease - Tarceva being one of those. If you have to have this disease, EGFR+ is a good thing to have.

Please come back anytime. As Michelle said, this is a good place for answers, as well as just a place to come and vent when you need to. Everyone here cares and is so supportive.