Iressa - Please HELP

zekzek · 12-03-2003, 02:54 AM

dear all,
I'm 32 yrs old female with NSCLC stage IV. I was diagnosed October 2002 and had completed 6 cycles of chemo and a course of radiation. Exactly 2 months after the treatments I started to feel back pain. Upon a bone scan. it was confirmed the tumors have mets to the bones. It has been 1 month since the bone scan and I have yet to do anything. My oncologist did offer the use of Iressa and bishophonates. The later is fine with me, but iressa??? I have read few articles on it and is seems to be frightening... A lot of patients on it develops sides effects and many of them died resulting from it, only after 2-3 weeks. I seek you all to help me share some experience on the drugs for me to decide to go on with it or not. My dr advice me not to delay on the treatments. Please.. Please...

mephoto · 12-04-2003, 10:36 AM

Your story seems similar to my dads. He had NSCLC Stage IV, with mets to the bone. Once the bone mets showed his oncologist put him on Iressa. Dad had a 30 day supply, he had some minor side effects, nothing too severe. After being on the Iressa for 3 weeks the docs found the lung cancer to come back in both lungs. He had tumors all throughout his lungs. They gave him 2 months. He lasted 6 weeks and he just passed peacefully on Thanksgiving morning. Iressa did not work for my dad but I have heard many many stories of it working and clearing up and shrinking tumors. I have a friend who is the cancer program director where I work, she too says that if Iressa is going to work you would know in a week or so of taking it, I would try it, I'm glad my dad did, at least he was able to say that he tried everything.

I wish you luck, you will get through this, and my thoughts and prayers are with you. If you ever need to talk, you know where to come. This forum has helped me out tremendoulsy with my dad's sickness. There are a lot of knowledgable people on here.
K.

zekzek · 12-07-2003, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by medphoto

Your story seems similar to my dads. He had NSCLC Stage IV, with mets to the bone. Once the bone mets showed his oncologist put him on Iressa. Dad had a 30 day supply, he had some minor side effects, nothing too severe. After being on the Iressa for 3 weeks the docs found the lung cancer to come back in both lungs. He had tumors all throughout his lungs. They gave him 2 months. He lasted 6 weeks and he just passed peacefully on Thanksgiving morning. Iressa did not work for my dad but I have heard many many stories of it working and clearing up and shrinking tumors. I have a friend who is the cancer program director where I work, she too says that if Iressa is going to work you would know in a week or so of taking it, I would try it, I'm glad my dad did, at least he was able to say that he tried everything.

I wish you luck, you will get through this, and my thoughts and prayers are with you. If you ever need to talk, you know where to come. This forum has helped me out tremendoulsy with my dad's sickness. There are a lot of knowledgable people on here.
K.

Thanks medphoto for your story and I'm truly sorry about your father. I have to see my doc this afternoon with the answer. Actually. I'm very worried to use it coz right now I'm having some coughing ( which come back after my trip to Mecca.) I'm afraid this will lead to ILD ( some kind of lung infection) which thru my readings most of patients using iressa developed it. Can I ask about your dad condition prior to using iressa? I mean his cough, pain at bones and other places like liver? Because I'm having all those right now...

rainbowgrl · 12-08-2003, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zekzek

Thanks medphoto for your story and I'm truly sorry about your father. I have to see my doc this afternoon with the answer. Actually. I'm very worried to use it coz right now I'm having some coughing ( which come back after my trip to Mecca.) I'm afraid this will lead to ILD ( some kind of lung infection) which thru my readings most of patients using iressa developed it. Can I ask about your dad condition prior to using iressa? I mean his cough, pain at bones and other places like liver? Because I'm having all those right now...

My father has never had any problem during his treatment with Iressa. In fact he is in a complete remission at the present time. The ILD you speak of is reported in less than 1% of patients taking Iressa in the US. Radiation and/or chemo treatments are by far more dangerous than Iressa and they in fact have higher rates of ILD than Iressa.

Kristi

mephoto · 12-08-2003, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zekzek

Thanks medphoto for your story and I'm truly sorry about your father. I have to see my doc this afternoon with the answer. Actually. I'm very worried to use it coz right now I'm having some coughing ( which come back after my trip to Mecca.) I'm afraid this will lead to ILD ( some kind of lung infection) which thru my readings most of patients using iressa developed it. Can I ask about your dad condition prior to using iressa? I mean his cough, pain at bones and other places like liver? Because I'm having all those right now...

My dad's condition prior to using Iressa was not so good. He had mets to the bone from the lung cancer for a few months, then they did an x-ray of his lungs and found another spot on the lung, immediately after they found the spot on the lung he started Iressa for 3 weeks, then he went back and they did another x-ray of the lungs to see if the Iressa was working and his lungs were covered in tumors. I don't think the Iressa contributed to this, I just think the cancer took its natural course and unfortunately the Iressa didn't work for him. But I have heard some great stories of Iressa working for some people. Dad had severe pain in his hip while taking the Iressa, he never had pain in his abdomen and he never did have a bad cough. I wish you luck, please keep us posted on how you make out. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
K.