tarceva

Hmmm, I wonder what's the reason for the reticience in answering your questions as other people are on Tarceva. Perhaps, your answers are in other threads.

You might want to search for possible answers by looking up Tarceva in the Search tool.

Good luck in your information gathering.

Hello,
I am currently taking Tarceva. I do use moisturizers for the dry skin. I use Avena Moisturizing Cream. It can be purchased at any drug store. Also it does seem to make my throat dry. I drink lots of water when I take my pill. This seems to help alot. Also I take my pill right before bed because it makes me a little nausea and I guess I sleep it off because I awake feeling fine. I took it in AM when I first started but PM seems to work so much better for me
Jaree

itrustgod said:

jaree,

thank you for the reply. I was just wondering, did you take Tarceva after doing chemo? or was Tarceva your first line treatment? I haven't encountered anyone that used Tarceva as a firstline treatment, and that sort of worried me. thanks for your input.

I had both surgery and chemo prior to taking the Tarceva. However, it was prior to either treatment failing so it was kinda first line. My oncologist felt like why not go ahead, not wait for treatment failure. My last scan did show a couple of "HOT SPOTS" They cannot do a biopsy because of the location. One of my nieces is married to a biochemist who works for Merck. He said if he or his wife was diagnosed with lung cancer he would take the Tarceva . Merck is currently working on a drug similiar to Tarceva. I hope this is somewhat helpful.
Jaree

I took Tarceva as a first line treatment along with chemo; Carboplatin and Taxol. I have been on Tarceva for over a year. I have had no adverse side effects from the Tarceva or any of the other chemo. One of the supplements that I was taking AHCC 6grams a day; after I stopped chemo I reduced it to a maintenance dose of 3 grams a day. I got a sore throat every morning. I went back to 6 grams a day and the sore throat went away. AHCC is supposed to help with side effects of chemo and Tarceva. I also drink 12-15 8oz glasses of water a day. I try to drink a glass for every hour that I am awake. The water helps a lot. If I slack off on the water, my throat is a little soar in the morning.

I had stage IV lung cancer, for now I am cancer free. I was told that this would not happen, but they did not know my chief physician I was not a candidate for surgery or radiation. . You can type ernrol in the search box at top of screen, then click on any place you see ernrol to the right of screen. This will take you to my web page. If you would like more info about the things I did let me know, and I will post them.

Ernie

My Mom just started Tarceva as a first line treatment just two days ago. There was also a trial she could have enrolled in where you would either get Tarceva alone, or Tarceva with chemo. I guess Tarceva as a first line treatment is gaining acceptance. She's being treated at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. They told us for non-smokers and esp. for women, they are using this much more frequently.