i started tarceva 3 weeks ago. this is my 2nd go around with lung cancer. i react poorly to traditional chemo. i have read many of your replys but the problem i am having is sores at the corners of my mouth,tongue and edges of lips. also, i have macular degeneration and i have been told i now have an allergy after 18 months of avastin. now i am on lucentis. has anyone had any of these problems? I sure would like to chat with you.
I can identify with the mouth soars, corners of the mouth and edges of lips, but not the macular degeneration.
The corner of my eyes were very bad. They would shrink up and then I would have a lot of pain there along with the lips corner of nose and mouth. It was a horrible drug to take. I was on it for 3 months and it was terrible. I went off it because it didn't work for me. I was pissed because all that suffering and it made all my tumors grow but one.
So now I'm on Alimta. So far it's okay except for bad diarrhea from time to time
Good luck with all you side effects. If it gets really bad tell you oncologist you want another drug.
Love
linda
I was placed on Alimta in January, minimal soide effects, mainly fatigue, constipation and the runs. In March we added Avastin and I have the terricle mouht sores making it difficulat to eat. I use a prescription 2 part mouth wash that seems to help some - but then I also swab my mouth with lidocaine and an over the counter oral analgegic. It stings like hell for 10 - 15 seconds but it does the trick. I take a lo-dose vicodin and I'm good for 4 to 6 hours. Food doesn't taste the same but thee are a few favorites I have like applesauce with a cheese tortilla cook in the microware, tund salad sandwich on fresh bread w/chocolate milk. cottage cheese and pears/peaches, scrambled eggs with cheese, and anything else that is soft in my mouth.
Hope this helps. Oh, I also force myself to eat even when I am not hungrt - I weight the same today as I did last year in February 2007 when I was diagnosed. I also have Anzemet pills for neausea.
My email is kosby@hotmail.com if you have any questions for me.
Take care and mircles & blessings . . .
kathy
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