The new miracle drug for cancer (no sarcasm!)

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Comments

  • NayPaul said:

    some improvement
    Over the last week, my wife as made slow but steady progress. We cut back on her morphine patch last Saturday, and will likely end its uuse altogother tomorrow. She is now taking no other pain meds. She as also cut back on her nausea meds. She still has trouble eating, bt is drinking ensure and water. She is also awake about half the day. She wants to try walking again by the end of the week. I think ending the morphine will give her much more energy.

    ;)

    Take it one day at a time
    Thats good...
    Your such a great Husband really! Remember take care of yourself and stay well your beautiful wife needs you and so do your kids.
    My Mom always reminds me "One day at a time"
    God Bless
  • NayPaul
    NayPaul Member Posts: 230 Member

    Take it one day at a time
    Thats good...
    Your such a great Husband really! Remember take care of yourself and stay well your beautiful wife needs you and so do your kids.
    My Mom always reminds me "One day at a time"
    God Bless

    I appreciate that
    I've been on the pity pot lately but I'm getting myself together again. And yes.... "One day at a time." :)
  • grannylove
    grannylove Member Posts: 183
    NayPaul said:

    some improvement
    Over the last week, my wife as made slow but steady progress. We cut back on her morphine patch last Saturday, and will likely end its uuse altogother tomorrow. She is now taking no other pain meds. She as also cut back on her nausea meds. She still has trouble eating, bt is drinking ensure and water. She is also awake about half the day. She wants to try walking again by the end of the week. I think ending the morphine will give her much more energy.

    ;)

    Positive healing thoughts!
    NayPaul, Glad to read your post! Sounds so very encouraging for the both of you. I pray that she improves on a daily basis and that this new med is her key. You are a positive force for her and are to be applauded. The love you have for your wife and children is beyond comprehension and fills my heart with awe. May God reach down and touch your family. Stay strong NayPaul and know that our lives have also been touched by you and your wife. Prayers are with you. Cheryl
  • smneider
    smneider Member Posts: 20

    i am on tarceva now did it
    i am on tarceva now did it work pretty good then? the side affects are kicking me.

    Side Effects
    My Mom may start taking Tarceva once Chemo treatments are done. Do you mind sharing the side effects you have experienced?
  • Insom
    Insom Member Posts: 1
    New to this forum
    Hello Everyone,
    I'm new to this forum and I plan on trying it out. My sister and I are getting close to burnout taking care of my mom. It's almost been two years since my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 mesothelioma and as of 3 days ago is now in the Final stages of her cancer. My mom's story is a tragic one as it normally is. Great human being, a labor delivery nurse, great mom, kind and caring to anyone around her, and devoted Christan soldier.
    She found out the week of her bday and mothers day she was at stage 4 and was given 9 months to live. 11 to 12 with treatment. She has almost made it through 2 years after that day. But her torso is covered in tumors and they have filled the inside and outside of her lungs with fluid. It's on her heart,both lungs, ribs, esphogus, and lymph nodes. Then traveled through her lymphatic system and into her brain. She's going through the early stages of Dementia.
    We have tried direct radiation, full brain, chemo, etc. With no luck! Even worse two months ago Dr. Pu an Oncologist in Downtown Sacramento told my mom and sister he cured her brain tumor and never told us about a leztion on her frontal lobe. But he told us he cured her brain completely. A month goes by and my mom is getting confused and lost. My sister and I start to get worried. We talked to her doctors and they tell us it's the medications.
    Well, last Saturday Im watching my mom, so my sister can get a break. I'm sick as a dog atm. I go to check on my mom and she's not making any sense. This is a woman that graduated from collage and has been one of the smartest people I have ever known. So I call my sister to take her to the hospital. She does. Then we find out the next day that her brain tumor's are still there and there's been one that was drastically worse that we never even know about and was never told about.
    4 days have passed since then and my mom isn't even the same person she was when she went in. She doesn't even recognize me anymore. The look in her eye's is a blank stare filled with confusion and fear. It's emotionally disemboweling! We are going to talk to her doctor about that miracle drug ou guys where talking about, but at this point were not holding our breath with all things considering.
    I mainly came on her to vent and find an online chat to help my sister and I to avoid burn out or worse things from happening. The only saviing grace we have right now is a catch 22. The brain tumor's are causing dementia and hopefully.... she will forget this part. Compared to 4 days ago where she was petrified in fear curled up in the fetal position crying saying " I don't want to die yet. " Ever since then I have felt like I have been bleeding out and the wound won't clot.
    The worst part is my step father died this exact same way three years ago. Got lung cancer, got cured, a few months later it turned into full body cancer, and then he passed soon afterwards. Now my mom is going through the same thing except this time I have a front row seat. My step father abused me, so I didn't take his passing as badly as my mom. We don't know what to do. So we are going to try these chats and forums out to see if it helps.
  • stayingcalm
    stayingcalm Member Posts: 650 Member
    smneider said:

    Side Effects
    My Mom may start taking Tarceva once Chemo treatments are done. Do you mind sharing the side effects you have experienced?

    smneider,
    Tarceva affects fast-growing cells, like eyelashes and fingernails & skin - my eyelashes got very long and tangly, enough that I had to trim them regularly to keep them from curling back and poking me in the eye! My fingernails were more brittle than usual. My skin got very dry and flaky, for which I used vitamin E oil and Eucerin (Dry Skin Therapy), and washed with Dove or something similar.

    When I began taking Tarceva I was on 150mg/day, which made me break out like a teenager and made my eyelids swell up in a histamine-type reaction - it wasn't pretty :) The oncologist and I eventually settled on 100mg/day (for a long time I was taking it for 3 days at a time, then a day off, then 3 days, etc). Within this last year it seemed the Tarceva was beginning to fail, so I took a 2 month break without consulting my doc (NOT a recommended behavior!) to try to jump-start it again. Will be re-starting it this weekend...

    You may want to keep imodium on hand for mom, as Tarceva can have diarrhea as a side effect...she shouldn't eat grapefruit because it reacts with Tarceva in some way. Acidic foods (especially tomatoes) and strong spices can cause her stomach distress.

    If I think of anything else I'll post!
    stayingcalm
  • lekkerone
    lekkerone Member Posts: 199 Member
    Insom said:

    New to this forum
    Hello Everyone,
    I'm new to this forum and I plan on trying it out. My sister and I are getting close to burnout taking care of my mom. It's almost been two years since my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 mesothelioma and as of 3 days ago is now in the Final stages of her cancer. My mom's story is a tragic one as it normally is. Great human being, a labor delivery nurse, great mom, kind and caring to anyone around her, and devoted Christan soldier.
    She found out the week of her bday and mothers day she was at stage 4 and was given 9 months to live. 11 to 12 with treatment. She has almost made it through 2 years after that day. But her torso is covered in tumors and they have filled the inside and outside of her lungs with fluid. It's on her heart,both lungs, ribs, esphogus, and lymph nodes. Then traveled through her lymphatic system and into her brain. She's going through the early stages of Dementia.
    We have tried direct radiation, full brain, chemo, etc. With no luck! Even worse two months ago Dr. Pu an Oncologist in Downtown Sacramento told my mom and sister he cured her brain tumor and never told us about a leztion on her frontal lobe. But he told us he cured her brain completely. A month goes by and my mom is getting confused and lost. My sister and I start to get worried. We talked to her doctors and they tell us it's the medications.
    Well, last Saturday Im watching my mom, so my sister can get a break. I'm sick as a dog atm. I go to check on my mom and she's not making any sense. This is a woman that graduated from collage and has been one of the smartest people I have ever known. So I call my sister to take her to the hospital. She does. Then we find out the next day that her brain tumor's are still there and there's been one that was drastically worse that we never even know about and was never told about.
    4 days have passed since then and my mom isn't even the same person she was when she went in. She doesn't even recognize me anymore. The look in her eye's is a blank stare filled with confusion and fear. It's emotionally disemboweling! We are going to talk to her doctor about that miracle drug ou guys where talking about, but at this point were not holding our breath with all things considering.
    I mainly came on her to vent and find an online chat to help my sister and I to avoid burn out or worse things from happening. The only saviing grace we have right now is a catch 22. The brain tumor's are causing dementia and hopefully.... she will forget this part. Compared to 4 days ago where she was petrified in fear curled up in the fetal position crying saying " I don't want to die yet. " Ever since then I have felt like I have been bleeding out and the wound won't clot.
    The worst part is my step father died this exact same way three years ago. Got lung cancer, got cured, a few months later it turned into full body cancer, and then he passed soon afterwards. Now my mom is going through the same thing except this time I have a front row seat. My step father abused me, so I didn't take his passing as badly as my mom. We don't know what to do. So we are going to try these chats and forums out to see if it helps.

    Insom
    Reading your post was heartbreaking. I feel so badly for you and your sister. Have you contacted Hospice?. I have read and heard many wonderful stories about them. Someone in the hospital can direct you to them. Others on this forum will have had experience and tell you what exactly to do.
    God Bless.
  • tjerunner262
    tjerunner262 Member Posts: 6
    pf1066 / tarceva / erbitux/ tykerp / bibw 2992
    Hello stayingcalm,

    Any luck with pf1066 ?

    My wife was on tarceva for 4 years but cancer developed resistance to it. She was diagnosed in June of 07 with lung cancer and has the EFGR mutation.

    We were pursuing a clinical trial using erbitux and BIBW 2992, but the trial was too far to travel. The FDA is of no help for patients running out of hopeful options. (sorry for the editorial)

    My wife Helen is now on erbitux (two sessions) and she seems to be breathing better. However we are now seeking to combine Erbitux with Lapatanib (tykerp). Studies have shown this combination was successful for patients with resistance to tarceva if they have t790 mutation. But the insurance will not cover tykerp since it is for breast cancer.

    So I am going to ask our oncologist about PF1066.

    Let me know how it works out for you.

    Thank you
  • z
    z Member Posts: 1,414 Member

    pf1066 / tarceva / erbitux/ tykerp / bibw 2992
    Hello stayingcalm,

    Any luck with pf1066 ?

    My wife was on tarceva for 4 years but cancer developed resistance to it. She was diagnosed in June of 07 with lung cancer and has the EFGR mutation.

    We were pursuing a clinical trial using erbitux and BIBW 2992, but the trial was too far to travel. The FDA is of no help for patients running out of hopeful options. (sorry for the editorial)

    My wife Helen is now on erbitux (two sessions) and she seems to be breathing better. However we are now seeking to combine Erbitux with Lapatanib (tykerp). Studies have shown this combination was successful for patients with resistance to tarceva if they have t790 mutation. But the insurance will not cover tykerp since it is for breast cancer.

    So I am going to ask our oncologist about PF1066.

    Let me know how it works out for you.

    Thank you

    tjerunner
    I am sorry to tell you that Deb (stayingcalm) has recently passed. Please look at the threads my heart is breaking, and dust in the wind. This was so sudden and my heart just aches. Lori
  • bakcarsol
    bakcarsol Member Posts: 1
    smneider said:

    Side Effects
    My Mom may start taking Tarceva once Chemo treatments are done. Do you mind sharing the side effects you have experienced?

    Tarceva Side Effects
    I have stage IV lung cancer, non smoker, EGRF positive. Started 150mg Tarceva six months ago. The results so far have been incredibly positive but I know at some point I will become resistant.

    My skin and hair are most affected- dryness and cracking, especially on fingers and toes. I have gotten the rash on my face but control it with anti-inflammatory creams. Fatigue is another problem and it varies from week to week. Then there is a slight nausea/aversion to savory foods. It is definitely at least a part-time job managing but I am functioning fairly normally.
  • Hope4Marge
    Hope4Marge Member Posts: 74
    Insom said:

    New to this forum
    Hello Everyone,
    I'm new to this forum and I plan on trying it out. My sister and I are getting close to burnout taking care of my mom. It's almost been two years since my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 mesothelioma and as of 3 days ago is now in the Final stages of her cancer. My mom's story is a tragic one as it normally is. Great human being, a labor delivery nurse, great mom, kind and caring to anyone around her, and devoted Christan soldier.
    She found out the week of her bday and mothers day she was at stage 4 and was given 9 months to live. 11 to 12 with treatment. She has almost made it through 2 years after that day. But her torso is covered in tumors and they have filled the inside and outside of her lungs with fluid. It's on her heart,both lungs, ribs, esphogus, and lymph nodes. Then traveled through her lymphatic system and into her brain. She's going through the early stages of Dementia.
    We have tried direct radiation, full brain, chemo, etc. With no luck! Even worse two months ago Dr. Pu an Oncologist in Downtown Sacramento told my mom and sister he cured her brain tumor and never told us about a leztion on her frontal lobe. But he told us he cured her brain completely. A month goes by and my mom is getting confused and lost. My sister and I start to get worried. We talked to her doctors and they tell us it's the medications.
    Well, last Saturday Im watching my mom, so my sister can get a break. I'm sick as a dog atm. I go to check on my mom and she's not making any sense. This is a woman that graduated from collage and has been one of the smartest people I have ever known. So I call my sister to take her to the hospital. She does. Then we find out the next day that her brain tumor's are still there and there's been one that was drastically worse that we never even know about and was never told about.
    4 days have passed since then and my mom isn't even the same person she was when she went in. She doesn't even recognize me anymore. The look in her eye's is a blank stare filled with confusion and fear. It's emotionally disemboweling! We are going to talk to her doctor about that miracle drug ou guys where talking about, but at this point were not holding our breath with all things considering.
    I mainly came on her to vent and find an online chat to help my sister and I to avoid burn out or worse things from happening. The only saviing grace we have right now is a catch 22. The brain tumor's are causing dementia and hopefully.... she will forget this part. Compared to 4 days ago where she was petrified in fear curled up in the fetal position crying saying " I don't want to die yet. " Ever since then I have felt like I have been bleeding out and the wound won't clot.
    The worst part is my step father died this exact same way three years ago. Got lung cancer, got cured, a few months later it turned into full body cancer, and then he passed soon afterwards. Now my mom is going through the same thing except this time I have a front row seat. My step father abused me, so I didn't take his passing as badly as my mom. We don't know what to do. So we are going to try these chats and forums out to see if it helps.

    Hang in there. You are a
    Hang in there. You are a wonderful daughter (as is your sister). This is heartbreaking to read and I am so sorry you have to go through this with your mom. God bless you all.
  • Hope4Marge
    Hope4Marge Member Posts: 74
    z said:

    tjerunner
    I am sorry to tell you that Deb (stayingcalm) has recently passed. Please look at the threads my heart is breaking, and dust in the wind. This was so sudden and my heart just aches. Lori

    I had no idea Deb was near
    I had no idea Deb was near death. She was always so optomisitc and even up to her last week she was reaching out to help others.