Tarceva

• By Gweena
• Posted June 3, 2008 at 10:50 am
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Hi, very sorry to hear about your Dad and his dilema of 2 conflicting health issues. Have the kidney doctor and oncologist communicated and can they work out something as a team? Has he gotten 2nd opinions? Are you, or could you, dealing with a major Cancer Center in your region? It seems shameful that neither doctor can figure out a way to treat him based on the other problem, especially when your Dad wants and has the will to fight this. You/he may have already tried these paths, but if not, please do so. As long as a has the will to fight, you have to keep on digging until you can find doctors who will work as a team and fight for your Dad. Please keep us posted.
Hugs from Gweena

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• By Ed1
• Posted June 3, 2008 at 12:05 pm
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janofc..........I do not understand. There is NO such thing as wait and see with lung cancer. You say, "Your father has had to much surgery to get rid of the stones?" Are you sure the Kidney stones are not the Adrenial glands full of tumors??? It is not uncommon for that diagnosis.......Have you had 2nd opinions??...He must get back on a med that works for his lung cancer...Avastin is good IF it works for you. Have they done a EGFR testing yet? Most LC drugs only work on a few or small %. of patients..If it works for me there is a good chance it will not work for him. if it did we would have a very high survival rate and we DO NOT we only have a 5 yr 15% of people and 84% die within the 1st yr. FACT....Please help your father by being VERY AGGRESSIVE NOW..otherwise there may not be a tomorrow while waiting for something to happen with his stones..

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• By hermanade
• Posted June 3, 2008 at 3:06 pm
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Please don't wait on the lung cancer--get your father, or, at least, his records, to a world-class cancer center. I don't know where your father is, geographically, so I can't make a recommendation, but the assessment of things sounds naive.

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• By chessie-too
• Posted June 3, 2008 at 7:17 pm
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I don't understand either. Based on the literature that comes with Tarceva, it says that less than 9% of a single dose is excreted in the urine. It also goes on to say that no clinical studies have been conducted in patients with compromised renal function. Sounds like your doc is just afraid to chance it.

If you haven't gotten a second opinion, I agree with the others. Lung cancer doesn't wait. Speak to someone at one of the large cancer centers and get their opinion.

I hope you can get this resolved quickly. Half of the battle is the will to fight and live, and your dad alread has that part done. Now you need a doc that will take him the rest of the way.

God Bless you both. Please let us know what you find out.

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• By janofc
• Posted June 3, 2008 at 7:34 pm
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He has had a second opinion from a cancer doctor. Both of those doctors are located in Columbia, South Carolina. I haven't been to the doctor with him, my older sister has taken care of that because it is easier for her to get off work. You have given me some wonderful questions to call the doctors with. I haven't thought about tumors instead of stones. I'll call that doctor tomorrow. I guess the caution is because he got so sick about 6 weeks ago. Kidney stones had blocked the kidney and he was toxic. They said he got so sick because of the Tarceva had make him so weak. He was in ICU for 3 days. We haven't given any thought about a cancer center either.

One of the cancer doctors told my Dad not to worry about the lung cancer killing him because it was so slow moving, but him to worry that the kidney stones will kill him.

I want to do something now because last summer they wanted to look closer at the spot but couldn't because of location. But the doctor assured my Dad it wasn't cancer. Now almost a year later-it's stage 4, and new spots have been found. Something was said about it was in the nodes in the lung, but this type stayed self contained. Thanks for all the help.

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• By janofc
• Posted June 3, 2008 at 7:35 pm
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Would this be standard treatment if he had already had lung cancer on the other side?

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• By hermanade
• Posted June 4, 2008 at 2:00 am
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It's time to get a new doctor. First, the doctor said that "it wasn't cancer," and then the doctor described lung cancer as slow-moving?! Please.

Get your father to a world class cancer center (can you get to Duke in No. Carolina?); as well, they will provide him with an excellent renal specialist for the kidney stones.

You are losing precious time, trafficking with knucklehead docs.

Sorry, if I seem less than gracious, but my concern, here, is your father.

Good luck!

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• By janofc
• Posted June 4, 2008 at 6:52 am
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I forgot to mention one thing. The doctors that said it wasn't cancer last year, are not the doctors that are saying all of this. When it was discovered that it was cancer the doctor prescribed Tarceva. Dad (nor us) could afford the medicine. He was able to get the medicine at no cost at the Veterans Hospital in Columbia. I asked my sister last night why Dad didn't go to Duke when it was discovered this was cancer and it was because of the expense. I did find out that the doctor at the VA said he would resume treatment if Dad started having symptoms, such as shortness of breath and fatigue. He has been having those so I am going to call today. I am also going to contact Duke today. One of the hold ups is medicare. I know my Dad is not the first that has not had the treatment that they need because of money. It is a shame that happens to our old, young and especially the middle class working people. We tried to get him into a study at McClouds but was unable to do so. My family has tried to keep me protected from the truths because of divorce and dealing with teenagers, but I am the one that lives down the street and see him daily. I should have known to look for things so the doctor could have been notified. I think we have that problem solved. Thanks for all of your help. I'll keep you posted.

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• By amymaura
• Posted June 4, 2008 at 9:29 am
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If insurance doesn't cover Tarceva, Genentech (the pharma that produces it) has a pretty generous financing program, from what I understand. Call 1-888-249-4918.

Also, for anyone else who is having financing issues with your drugs, Avastin is also included in Genentech's program. Lilly Oncology has a program for Alimta and Gemzar - Call 1-888-443-6927.

And if you need Zometa for bone mets, call Novartis - 1-800-282-7630.

Amy

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• By janofc
• Posted June 7, 2008 at 8:39 am
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Thanks for that information. We go to the VA on Tuesday. If they won't restart it I will call the company and then talk my Dad into a new doctor. I'll keep you posted.

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