Anyone used Iressa for treatment??

I am here again.I know how hard it is for you.You try your best.I was searching on the computer long time before my husband start Iressa.
Good luck to your daddy.

I have non small lung cancer, went through the 33 treatments of radiation starting Jan 2, 2002 and chemo at same time. I started Iressa in July and was doing fine but in April the tumor had grown a small amount. I went to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, they found another small spot on my other lung, have recommended Carboplatin and Gemcitabine (both a chemo). So far I am able to take without to many side effects. As I understand it I think Peter Jennings said when they announced the FDA had approved Iressa the chances of it working was 13%. But I did talk to a man in Florida that said it was shinking his tumor.

TxLadyS said:

My husband was diagnosed with NSCLC metastic to the bone in December 2000. He went through radiation and three different kinds of chemo in an 16 month period. They worked for a while but he got a lot sicker with other stuff due to the chemo such as congestive heart failure and acute renal failure. In May 2001 he decided that it wasn't worth it to feel so bad all the time. We had given up when we heard about Iressa. It worked very well for him for a year. He started in June 2002 with a CEA of 89 and was at 16 by November 2002. However, in the last month he has gone way done. The CEA is up to 52 and he is having severe mental changes. We have finally had to call hospice in but atleast we had almost an extra year thanks to the Iressa.

Good luck and prayers to you and yours.

I just talked to Daniel WAlsh of Florida (Stage 4 NSCLC) and he's been on irressa for 27 months with no change in his tumors. I understand that it works well in 10+% of us! That's a pretty good percentage considering the alternatives!

TxLadyS said:

My husband was diagnosed with NSCLC metastic to the bone in December 2000. He went through radiation and three different kinds of chemo in an 16 month period. They worked for a while but he got a lot sicker with other stuff due to the chemo such as congestive heart failure and acute renal failure. In May 2001 he decided that it wasn't worth it to feel so bad all the time. We had given up when we heard about Iressa. It worked very well for him for a year. He started in June 2002 with a CEA of 89 and was at 16 by November 2002. However, in the last month he has gone way done. The CEA is up to 52 and he is having severe mental changes. We have finally had to call hospice in but atleast we had almost an extra year thanks to the Iressa.

Good luck and prayers to you and yours.

I just talked to Daniel Walsh of Florida (Stage 4 NSCLC) and he's been on irressa for 27 months with no change in his tumors. I understand that it works well in 10+% of us! That's a pretty good percentage considering the alternatives!

KyRambler said:

Hi lilsunshine. I'm aorry to hear about your dad. I am on Iressa and have been for about six and a half months. I had NSCLC and half of my left lung was removed. the cancer went to my right femur and I had to have surgery and radiation on it. I had chemotherapy also which I fininhed last Nov. They found lesions on my liver and I went on Iressa the day before Thanksgiving. My last CT scan was 5/28/03 and there was no sign of any cancer. Iressa has so far worked for me. It has sure made me feel better. I go next Tuesday, 6/24/03, for another CT scan. I was told that 26 People at the cancer center that I go to was on Iressa. 5 was helped. I am so gratful that I was one of the 5. The reason you can't find much info on Iressa, is that it was in clinical trials and has just been approved by the FDA for sale by prescription.
Good luck to both you and your dad. I'll keep you in my prayers.
Pat

I am a Stage IV adenocarcenoma Pt.
DX'd OCT 00. Given 3 to 6 Months.
Chemo, Rad, Chemo and Rad, Chemo.
JUL 02 was told "There is nothing more we can do for you". Turned over to Hospice.

Found MD who let me into Iressa Expanded Compassionate Clinical Trial.

Started Iressa 17 AUG 03.
1 Month later - out of wheelchair.
1 Month later off 24/7 O2.
NOV CT evaluated as "stable"
Last (JUN 03) CT still stable.
Sked for CT Late SEP, and expect to be "Stable"

Searching for other Pt's that are on Iressa to compare notes with.
I understand that there are literaly "hundreds of thousands" of Pt's that participated in the Iressa trials.

If we start talking to each other and comparing notes, we can educate each other.

I know that iressa is NOT a "cure".
I know that the "median extended survivorability
time is 12 Months.
I know that the Iressa "survivor population" is only about 15% of those who were put on it.

My MD has told me that there are Iressa Pt's that have been on the drug for FOUR Years and are still stable.

Would like to correspond with anyone with Iressa experience, to share experience and knowledge.

Bill
SDiego, CA

schuyler said:

Can't blame yur Dad for not wanting to repeat treatments. They really deplete your quality of life. You might want to check out IMRT. It's a new approach to radiation. It's targeted directly at the tumors and does not affect surrounding tissue, hence the side effects are minimal and not like traditional radiation. The treatment is done in three sessions rather than 30 or more. I had it done last month on lung tumors. There is a 90% cure rate. I had it done at Cancer Therapy and Treatment Center in San Antonio, TX. I could have had it done locally where I live also, but since it is so new you may not find it in your area. It requires a specially adapted machine and software. Anyway, you might want to ask you Dad's oncologist about this. Best of luck to you both.

Hi, Schulyer

I saw the post that you did IMRT,how many times did you do that ? and how long each time you did it?
when you did that IMRT, is it out-patient? or you have to be admited to hospital?
Thanks
Tao