PREPARING FOR TARCEVA

FOZ
1 Recommendation

My dad will start Tarceva on Friday. I just recently read that it can cause nausea. I was under the impression its only side effect was a rash and possibly diarrhea. I want Dad to be prepared to combat these side effects. He has Zofran for the nausea. What can be done for the rash? does Immodium work for this kind of diarrhea? How many of you experienced Dizziness? Dads had too much of that . Fallen twice. he is feeling better now I dont want him to get that bad again. Any suggestions would certainly be appreciated.

Dana

15 replies

janasett

Hi- my dad was on Tarceva for a couple of months. There was a little nausea and fatigue, but the rash was the most memorable side effect. I found a product at the local cancer center, Lindi Skin, it was helpful in reducing the redness and itching. You can track down availability in your area online- www.lindiskin.com/ .

Hang in there!

FOZ

Thank you

Dana

lyaeger

My experience so far has been good. The only side-effects worth noting are the rash (pimple-like bumps that for me are not severe), mouth sores (garling with salt water helps) and diarreah, which I can control with Immodium. I take the Tarceva at night and it actually helps me sleep. But everyone is different... so wishing you good luck with the Tarceva.

Linda

goldi

Hi Foz
I'm 56 female on Tarceva since July.I use Algolizin forte when I have stomach ache and it comes almost every day.It's very painful but it takes 20 minutes and the pill helps me.For the rash I use Akne-mycin and it helps me a lot.I wish your father the best.Let me tell you that theTarceva is a miracle for me and I hope for many others.
Goldi from Israel

FOZ

Thank you for the advice . Worried about the nausea.

RobertJ

My mom started Tarceva 4 weeks ago. She got diarreha immediately and then the rash shortly thereafter. She had some nausau, but that went away after about a week. The diarreha was controlled by imodium. The rash is now fading pretty well. Her doctor didn't give her anything too dramatic for the rash; just some moisturizing creams like Aveeno. Her main issue with the Tarceva at this point is fatigue. It does make her tired, but it is not incapacitating. She's been going out shopping and keeping most of her usual routine.

Keep me posted on how your dad is doing. I'd be interested in hearing on how others are responding.

I wish you and your dad all the best,

Robert

Cody

"Thanks Foz for asking questions to which we need answers.

yorkie

Hi, my husband has been on Tarcevia he had very bad pimples on his nose and face. If this happens go to the doctor , there are great meds for this. My husband is experiencing e fratigue. He isn't driving any more and has tough times getting through the day. Hope this helps. Good luck.

FOZ

Thanks for your reply. I will pass this on to my dad

Foz

marthamarie2

Been on Tarceva since Dec 05. Never had nausea. Not once.

FOZ

marthamarie,

Thanks for the reply . Wow this is a long time. would you mind sharing your story with me?

Dana

FOZ

martha,

Thanks for the reply. Long time on Tarceva. would you mind sharing your story with me?

Dana

GypsyGirl

My husband started Tarceva 4 weeks ago. The first week all went well, the second week he started a lack of appetite, then a 'quesy' stomach (never vomited), just felt sick and said that everything tasted like 'dirt'!! He did get diarrhea and took Imodium for that. No problem. Then the second week the rash started on his chest. It moved up to his neck and then his face. It also covered his back from his waist up. It itched and was red, puffy, and many pimples. He is on his 5th week now and finally starting to feel better. The doctor put him on a pill antibiotic for the rash, and Compazine for the nausea. Good luck to your daddy!!

marthamarie2

FOZ: You wanted to hear about my experience with tarceva, which I have been on since DEC 05. Tarceva caused skin rashes and extreme dryness: my fingertips and the soles of my feet split open. My doctor has a great sense of humor and he is always pleased to suggest crazy glue to resolve that issue. Seriously it works but it is awfully funny to be gluing yourself back together. Skin lotion like EUCERIN helps too. Another aspect of dryness occurred in my eyes. There is a gland that controls tear production. Apparently tarceva caused the cells in this gland not to reproduce so the gland started to shrink and become much less effective. This process did not occur overnight and it is treatable with a prescription drug called RESTASIS. I also got a lot of diarhhea, which was totally treatable with immodium. These side effects were intense at first but after the second year, they began to wane. I felt they were a good sign and I welcomed them when they occurred because I felt they were an indicator the tarceva was working well. Sure enough, when they started to wane the tarceva became less effective against my cancer: the original tumors have shrunk almost to disappearance and show no signs of activity, but a new tumor has slowly grown since DEC 07. That tumor is now about the size of a walnut and I am in the process of adding other drugs (AVASTIN didn't work but maybe SNDX 275 will) to tarceva to get it back to its previous level of efficacy.
I never thought the side effects were more unbearable than the cancer: they were irksome more than anything else. I hope this helps.

FOZ

Martha, Thanks so much for this info. I want to be able to prepare my dad for things to come.

dana

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