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Tammy
Experienced user
Joined: 27 Nov 2007
Posts: 71
Location: New Brunswick, Canada
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 Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 9:29 am Post subject: My Gram |
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Hi There,
My gram was diagnosed with non-small cell carcinoma and mesothelioma in both her lungs with lung cancer a few months ago. She was doing very well, she didn't have any symptoms just found out when she went to have her heart surgery the doctor sent her back home telling her they couldn't operate on her heart because of the cancer they have found. Ever since she has started chemo pill by the name of Tarceva she has been getting some really bad sores and one that makes me wonder is where she had her surgery on her ovaries about 40 years ago, it seems like the scar is opening up. She has only been on this medication for 2 1/2 weeks. Any scar she has is opening and her body it developing a lot of sores and she is all red. The doctor told her to bath with certain products with no perfumes and will be only seeing her in April. To me it sounds a bit far away and why are they not doing anything or is it something they are not telling us? I was wondering if anyone knows anything about this drug and any information at all.
Tam~ |
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pbj11
Site Admin
Joined: 12 May 2007
Posts: 1293
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| Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 3:16 pm Post subject: Re: My Gram |
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Hi Tammy,
Sorry about this diagnosis. Tarceva is well-know for causing skin rashes and sores, sometimes very extreme at about 2-3 weeks after starting. Typically the rash is on the upper torso, neck, head and face, but everyone is different and it can pop up in other places. There is some indication that a strong reaction can be a sign that the drug is working.
The doctor can lower her dose and see how that works or prescribe some medications to help counter the effects.
There is a lot of discussion on this issue at Onctalk.com, a site run by an oncologist with a lung cancer specialty. Put Tarceva in the search box and you'll get tons of info.
Good luck and stay on top of this. The oncologist sounds a little too laid back with an April date. Our oncologist saw my husband every 3-4 weeks regardless of what medication he was on. Maybe another doctor should be investigated.
PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.
Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 |
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Tammy
Experienced user
Joined: 27 Nov 2007
Posts: 71
Location: New Brunswick, Canada
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| Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:54 am Post subject: my gram |
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Hi PBJ,
How are you? Thank you for the response. Means alot!
Its hard to deal with my gram at times, she is a wonderful person and I am really close to her. When something goes wrong with her its really scary. But Thank you for the site and just the bit of info you gave is comforting as well.
Hope you have a great day!! Thanks again *hugz*
Tam~
"Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Last edited by Tammy on Wed Feb 20, 2008 12:10 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 4279
Location: Tennessee
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| Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 11:36 am Post subject: Re: My Gram |
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Tam, my mother died of cancer in 1998. I help my father care for her during her last months. Because her cancer was in her brain, it affected her vision. If she used both eyes, she could not see anything to her left. As an independent person, she did not want our help. But at times, she really needed it for her safety... especially when she tried to cook (she burned herself on a hot pot that she did not see because it was on her left  ).
You and your grandmother continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/ |
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petersimon
New User
Joined: 18 Feb 2008
Posts: 3
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
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| Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:42 pm Post subject: Re: My Gram |
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| It definitely sounds like your gram's doctor is too laid back. By all means, get a second opinion from another cancer specialist to ensure that she is getting the best treatment. |
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