Iressa - Cancer: Lung Message Board

Lucyb · 12-06-2001, 05:16 PM

I am wondering if anyone is on the clinical trial drug "Iressa". I have been on it now for a little over 5 weeks.

12-13-2001, 07:53 PM

I just started Iressa yesterday, 12/12/01. I have non small cell lung cancer. Tried chemo (didn't work), did radiation (started to shrink the tumor), had surgery (removed upper left lobe) that showed the cancer contained in a sac and nothing spread to the lymph nodes. My cancer marker was at 4 after surgery. Oct. 30th it was at 20 and as of last week it is now at 31. How is the Iressa working for you, are you feeling better, has it improved your breathing, and have you had side affects? Good luck, keep the faith, and stay positive. Mary

Lucyb · 12-15-2001, 12:34 PM

Mary: I have been on Iressa since 10/29/01. I found out that I had lung cancer in a routine exam on 8/27/01. I had no signs that I had any serious problem. Since then I learned that I have cancer in both lungs and that it is in a mediastinal node. Because of this, surgery can not be done. I also learned that I have myelofibrosis and therefore chemo is not advisable. Therefore, Iressa hopefully is the solution. I am in a monotherapy program. I have had a mild skin reaction. I have developed a cough and it is not know what it is from. I have had no problem breathing. Just these past couple of days, I have had some pain in my back. I am supposed to have a ct scan again the end of December and am extremely anxious. On my CEA on 11/29 it was 0.9.
My best wishes to you. Please keep in touch.

babs225 · 12-16-2001, 08:22 PM

Mary,

What is cancer marker? I have never heard of that. My dad has small cell and just need to know as much as I can. He has a CT on Tuesday, hopefully it will be gone. He finished his second round of radiation in November.

You are in my thoughts.

WOLCP · 12-17-2001, 10:12 PM

My husband was diagnosed with non small cell lung cancer- in right lung, stage IIIb, with nodal involvement in Jan of this year. No surgery or radiation. He was put in clinical trial of Iressa with chemo (carboplatin and taxol). Seemed to being doing well. Finished chemo in July, but stayed on Iressa. In Sept, CT scan showed tumor had grown. Dr took him off Iressa. Now he's on Taxotere- doing well as far as we know. He seems to be sicker from this chemo drug though. Everything I have read about Iressa says that it shows real promise. Hang in there- I wish you well.