need help!!!!!!!

cbecker
cbecker Member Posts: 88
edited March 2014 in Lung Cancer #1
Has anyone been on the new FDA approved drug Iressa? If so did it help and what type of cancer did it respond too. Just wondering. My husband just started it two weeks ago and so far no bad side effects. Just hope it helps. If anyone can let me know anything about it, I would appreciate it. Thanks, cb

Comments

  • CHANG343
    CHANG343 Member Posts: 3
    #2
    Checker
    I was DX'd with Adenocarcinoma 10/00.
    Chemo,Rad,Chemo and Rad,Chemo.
    7/02 Onco, and Pulmonary Spclst sed there was nothing more they could do, snd turned me over to Hospice.

    I was admitted into IRESSA expanded compassionate
    clinical trial 17 AUG 03.
    Out of wheelchair in SEP.
    Off 24/7 Oxy in OCT.

    NOV 02 CT showed I was "stable".
    CT's,MRI's, PET have ALL been "stable" thrue JUN 03.

    Next CT is sked for late SEP.

    Iressa only works for about 15% of people.
    They have no way of predicting which 15%.
    MD can usually tell if it's working by 2nd Month.

    The median extension of surviorability on Iressa
    is 12 Months.
    My Doc tells me that, there are people who have been on Iressa for FOUR Years, and are still stable.

    My major side effects have been:
    rash/itching, Acne, diarrhea and fatigue.
    My "quality of life" since I got off Chemo and Rad
    has improved by "order of magnitude" I have a life!
    There are Prescriptions that they can give you to
    alleviate itching, diarrhea, and Acne.

    While in "Trials", I received the Iressa from AstraZeneca at NO Cost.
    Since FDA approval I have to pay for it.
    It is FDA approved for:
    "treatment of last resort for lung cancer patients
    to improve their quality of life"
    My insurance pays for it. I understand that it costs "around $1600 a Month". I am charged a Co-Pay of $9.00.

    I am 72, retired US Navy.

    Will answer anything you want to talk about by email.
    I am trying to get an Iressa "users group" together, so we can share our expeiences and knowledge. Any suggestions?

    Bill Gunn
    San Diego CA
    chang343@aol.com
  • cbecker
    cbecker Member Posts: 88
    #3
    CHANG343 said:

    Checker
    I was DX'd with Adenocarcinoma 10/00.
    Chemo,Rad,Chemo and Rad,Chemo.
    7/02 Onco, and Pulmonary Spclst sed there was nothing more they could do, snd turned me over to Hospice.

    I was admitted into IRESSA expanded compassionate
    clinical trial 17 AUG 03.
    Out of wheelchair in SEP.
    Off 24/7 Oxy in OCT.

    NOV 02 CT showed I was "stable".
    CT's,MRI's, PET have ALL been "stable" thrue JUN 03.

    Next CT is sked for late SEP.

    Iressa only works for about 15% of people.
    They have no way of predicting which 15%.
    MD can usually tell if it's working by 2nd Month.

    The median extension of surviorability on Iressa
    is 12 Months.
    My Doc tells me that, there are people who have been on Iressa for FOUR Years, and are still stable.

    My major side effects have been:
    rash/itching, Acne, diarrhea and fatigue.
    My "quality of life" since I got off Chemo and Rad
    has improved by "order of magnitude" I have a life!
    There are Prescriptions that they can give you to
    alleviate itching, diarrhea, and Acne.

    While in "Trials", I received the Iressa from AstraZeneca at NO Cost.
    Since FDA approval I have to pay for it.
    It is FDA approved for:
    "treatment of last resort for lung cancer patients
    to improve their quality of life"
    My insurance pays for it. I understand that it costs "around $1600 a Month". I am charged a Co-Pay of $9.00.

    I am 72, retired US Navy.

    Will answer anything you want to talk about by email.
    I am trying to get an Iressa "users group" together, so we can share our expeiences and knowledge. Any suggestions?

    Bill Gunn
    San Diego CA
    chang343@aol.com

    Bill, I did email you and it came back error in address. I was interested in the medicine you took for the rash since my husband has develope it. Do you have a fax number where I can send you my original email. It is quite lengthy and I really do not want to retype it unless I have too. I used chang343@aol.com Is that correct. When I tried emailing you thru the ACS email it did not show you in the system. Or do you have a phone number (if you would like to share) my cell# 785-221-2149 Thanks Candy Becker (cbecker) not checker
  • cbecker
    cbecker Member Posts: 88
    #4
    CHANG343 said:

    Checker
    I was DX'd with Adenocarcinoma 10/00.
    Chemo,Rad,Chemo and Rad,Chemo.
    7/02 Onco, and Pulmonary Spclst sed there was nothing more they could do, snd turned me over to Hospice.

    I was admitted into IRESSA expanded compassionate
    clinical trial 17 AUG 03.
    Out of wheelchair in SEP.
    Off 24/7 Oxy in OCT.

    NOV 02 CT showed I was "stable".
    CT's,MRI's, PET have ALL been "stable" thrue JUN 03.

    Next CT is sked for late SEP.

    Iressa only works for about 15% of people.
    They have no way of predicting which 15%.
    MD can usually tell if it's working by 2nd Month.

    The median extension of surviorability on Iressa
    is 12 Months.
    My Doc tells me that, there are people who have been on Iressa for FOUR Years, and are still stable.

    My major side effects have been:
    rash/itching, Acne, diarrhea and fatigue.
    My "quality of life" since I got off Chemo and Rad
    has improved by "order of magnitude" I have a life!
    There are Prescriptions that they can give you to
    alleviate itching, diarrhea, and Acne.

    While in "Trials", I received the Iressa from AstraZeneca at NO Cost.
    Since FDA approval I have to pay for it.
    It is FDA approved for:
    "treatment of last resort for lung cancer patients
    to improve their quality of life"
    My insurance pays for it. I understand that it costs "around $1600 a Month". I am charged a Co-Pay of $9.00.

    I am 72, retired US Navy.

    Will answer anything you want to talk about by email.
    I am trying to get an Iressa "users group" together, so we can share our expeiences and knowledge. Any suggestions?

    Bill Gunn
    San Diego CA
    chang343@aol.com

    To: Chang343
    Bill, I did email you and it came back error in address. I was interested in the medicine you took for the rash since my husband has develope it. Do you have a fax number where I can send you my original email. It is quite lengthy and I really do not want to retype it unless I have too. I used chang343@aol.com Is that correct. When I tried emailing you thru the ACS email it did not show you in the system. Or do you have a phone number (if you would like to share) from cbecker not checker....
  • luvmydad
    luvmydad Member Posts: 3
    #5
    CHANG343 said:

    Checker
    I was DX'd with Adenocarcinoma 10/00.
    Chemo,Rad,Chemo and Rad,Chemo.
    7/02 Onco, and Pulmonary Spclst sed there was nothing more they could do, snd turned me over to Hospice.

    I was admitted into IRESSA expanded compassionate
    clinical trial 17 AUG 03.
    Out of wheelchair in SEP.
    Off 24/7 Oxy in OCT.

    NOV 02 CT showed I was "stable".
    CT's,MRI's, PET have ALL been "stable" thrue JUN 03.

    Next CT is sked for late SEP.

    Iressa only works for about 15% of people.
    They have no way of predicting which 15%.
    MD can usually tell if it's working by 2nd Month.

    The median extension of surviorability on Iressa
    is 12 Months.
    My Doc tells me that, there are people who have been on Iressa for FOUR Years, and are still stable.

    My major side effects have been:
    rash/itching, Acne, diarrhea and fatigue.
    My "quality of life" since I got off Chemo and Rad
    has improved by "order of magnitude" I have a life!
    There are Prescriptions that they can give you to
    alleviate itching, diarrhea, and Acne.

    While in "Trials", I received the Iressa from AstraZeneca at NO Cost.
    Since FDA approval I have to pay for it.
    It is FDA approved for:
    "treatment of last resort for lung cancer patients
    to improve their quality of life"
    My insurance pays for it. I understand that it costs "around $1600 a Month". I am charged a Co-Pay of $9.00.

    I am 72, retired US Navy.

    Will answer anything you want to talk about by email.
    I am trying to get an Iressa "users group" together, so we can share our expeiences and knowledge. Any suggestions?

    Bill Gunn
    San Diego CA
    chang343@aol.com

    Hi,
    I am so glad to hear your are doing so great thanks to the Iressa!!!!!!
    My dad is a retired Marine and has stage IIIB lung cancer. He finished chemo/rad over two months ago and is still fatigued, depressed and losing weight though he is improving a bit with each passing week.
    He is scheduled for a PET Scan this Thursday for any tumors/cells and if so will begin the Iressa.
    His Oncologist is a real A$$8#?!! and said he does not think the Iressa will help. His pulmonary doctor who is a God send says otherwise.
    Any other info you may have or feedback would be greatly appreciated!
    I am trying to get him onto this site as a member!
  • Schilke
    Schilke Member Posts: 1
    #6
    CHANG343 said:

    Checker
    I was DX'd with Adenocarcinoma 10/00.
    Chemo,Rad,Chemo and Rad,Chemo.
    7/02 Onco, and Pulmonary Spclst sed there was nothing more they could do, snd turned me over to Hospice.

    I was admitted into IRESSA expanded compassionate
    clinical trial 17 AUG 03.
    Out of wheelchair in SEP.
    Off 24/7 Oxy in OCT.

    NOV 02 CT showed I was "stable".
    CT's,MRI's, PET have ALL been "stable" thrue JUN 03.

    Next CT is sked for late SEP.

    Iressa only works for about 15% of people.
    They have no way of predicting which 15%.
    MD can usually tell if it's working by 2nd Month.

    The median extension of surviorability on Iressa
    is 12 Months.
    My Doc tells me that, there are people who have been on Iressa for FOUR Years, and are still stable.

    My major side effects have been:
    rash/itching, Acne, diarrhea and fatigue.
    My "quality of life" since I got off Chemo and Rad
    has improved by "order of magnitude" I have a life!
    There are Prescriptions that they can give you to
    alleviate itching, diarrhea, and Acne.

    While in "Trials", I received the Iressa from AstraZeneca at NO Cost.
    Since FDA approval I have to pay for it.
    It is FDA approved for:
    "treatment of last resort for lung cancer patients
    to improve their quality of life"
    My insurance pays for it. I understand that it costs "around $1600 a Month". I am charged a Co-Pay of $9.00.

    I am 72, retired US Navy.

    Will answer anything you want to talk about by email.
    I am trying to get an Iressa "users group" together, so we can share our expeiences and knowledge. Any suggestions?

    Bill Gunn
    San Diego CA
    chang343@aol.com

    Bill,
    I just started taking Iressa and have developed acne from it. Did you have this as a reaction and if so what med did you take and was it effective ?

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