Hi franciekid,
I am taking a study drug which is targeted therapy for nsc IV. I also have the diarrhea occasionally, dry skin and some other minor side effects. It’s a small price to pay. Glad to read you are doing well. B W, Diane
Hi @scared2. Treatment options can be overwhelming and are evolving quickly. This is why we all need good doctors that can recommend specific treatments for our types of cancer.
Targeted Therapies are oral medications that are specific to certain drivers of lung cancers. The meds edit the mutations for the genes to return them to 'normal', thus stopping the cancer growth. Your husband's doctors should run biomarker tests to determine if you qualify for a targeted therapy. The cancer types that do qualify are things like EGFR, KRAS, ALK, MEK, etc.
Chemo is hitting all the calls in the body in hopes of killing cancer cells. Targeted therapy is 'targeting' the DNA of the cells that are mutating out of control. It's amazing science, but it does not apply to all types of lung cancer.
When people refer to 'mets', they are talking about cancer that has metastasized to another part of the body. IE, my primary cancer and tumor is in my lung, but that cancer metastasized to my liver and lymph nodes. I have/had liver mets.
Try to get some sleep, it's important for the patient and caregiver too. I know that's easier said than done in some cases. Have you received information on what treatment he'll be having?
I’ve been on it since end of November 2023. My side effects are mild. Random diarrhea, fatigue, dry hair and nails, rash that antibiotic cream cleared up. The first month, I also had a dull, constant headache until I figured out I needed to up my water intake. I also had mild nausea but that’s gone too.
I’ve been on it since end of November 2023. My side effects are mild. Random diarrhea, fatigue, dry hair and nails, rash that antibiotic cream cleared up. The first month, I also had a dull, constant headache until I figured out I needed to up my water intake. I also had mild nausea but that’s gone too.
Anyone on Tagrisso for non-small cell lung cancer?I was diagnosed with advanced stage lung cancer that was found by a fluke and I’m being told I have a mutation so they have put me on Tagrisso along with the chemo at some point, if these two things work radiation as well hopefully cure it. I could never imagined that I would’ve been diagnosed with lung cancer definitely not a candidate for that.
Anyone on Tagrisso for non-small cell lung cancer?I was diagnosed with advanced stage lung cancer that was found by a fluke and I’m being told I have a mutation so they have put me on Tagrisso along with the chemo at some point, if these two things work radiation as well hopefully cure it. I could never imagined that I would’ve been diagnosed with lung cancer definitely not a candidate for that.
Hello, @tinae. Welcome to the Lung Cancer support group - a group I know you weren't eager to join. I'm glad you found us though to support you on this new journey.
I moved your question about the targeted therapy Tagrisso (osimertinib) for non-small cell lung cancer to this existing discussion:
- Has anyone taken the targeted therapy osimertinib (Tagrisso)? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/chemo-tab/
Similarly, you can use the search for other questions you may have or topics you may be looking for in the future, such as NSCLC or stage IV, radiation, etc.
I can certainly imagine this diagnosis came as a surprise and shock. How are you doing with this news? Do you know what mutation you have?
@nursed2075 I’ve been taking Tagrisso nice 11/30/23. My side effects are very minimal and I live life pretty much as I did before with the exception of the mental part of having this disease. I started having side effects about 2 weeks in. I had light nausea, rash in my face that looked like acne but in tins of places, diarrhea, and fatigue. The fatigue may have been from radiation more so than the Tag. My rash was cleared up by some prescription cream from my oncologist. The diarrhea wasn’t terrible. The nausea was also not too bad. I just sucked on mints a lot. All went away within 3-4 weeks. The diarrhea still returns occasionally but only lasts a day or so then goes away. I also experience some cracking of my skin on my finger tips and toes some. Aquafor and biotin really help that. I take biotin everyday. I feel lucky that I have this drug and pray daily that it works did me for a very long time. I have my second scan since surgery and taking Tag on May 9. 😊
Thanks for sharing. I had two girlfriends that had a low-dose CT scan to check their hearts. I thought I’m gonna do that. Heart was great, but it showed lung malignancy which freaked me out totally fast tracted it with my doctor had the scan it’s considered advanced stage, but it ended up not being in my brain or any other organs. It’s just in the lymph nodes in my supra clavicular and my mediastinum, so they are doing chemo and looking to see if it will shrink everything get my body a little bit back and check and then maybe a low-dose radiation. I told my oncologist the other day that I don’t feel like I have cancer other than when he gives me stuff that makes me feel like shit. 😂😂😂
Obviously, we both have the mutation which I’m being told is a good thing so keep me posted on how things go. I appreciate you sharing you pretty much have the side effects that I heard. How long did it take for them to show up? Do you remember?
Sorry II see you said about two weeks and I’m on my third day. Second round of chemo next week and then they’re not really gonna do a scan until the third chemo. I hope your scan comes back with some progress!!
Connect
Connect
Like
Helpful
Hug
Thanks, Diane. You too - BW. Hope you stay well.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionThe last couple of weeks he's been really tired. Is this normal after radiation finished in Nov.
Scared2
I’ve been on it since end of November 2023. My side effects are mild. Random diarrhea, fatigue, dry hair and nails, rash that antibiotic cream cleared up. The first month, I also had a dull, constant headache until I figured out I needed to up my water intake. I also had mild nausea but that’s gone too.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsAntibiotic cream, I'm going to try that.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionYes, I was on it for a year and a half until it got too toxic for me and I had to go off. I was on only 40 mg.
You?
Anyone on Tagrisso for non-small cell lung cancer?I was diagnosed with advanced stage lung cancer that was found by a fluke and I’m being told I have a mutation so they have put me on Tagrisso along with the chemo at some point, if these two things work radiation as well hopefully cure it. I could never imagined that I would’ve been diagnosed with lung cancer definitely not a candidate for that.
Hello, @tinae. Welcome to the Lung Cancer support group - a group I know you weren't eager to join. I'm glad you found us though to support you on this new journey.
I moved your question about the targeted therapy Tagrisso (osimertinib) for non-small cell lung cancer to this existing discussion:
- Has anyone taken the targeted therapy osimertinib (Tagrisso)?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/chemo-tab/
I did this so you can read previous posts and connect with other members easily who have experience with Tagrisso, like @dragonspark @scared2 @mikee2all @jannam @56899t52 @franciekid @thieschafer @dik27 @jwittig1955 and many more.
If you search for Tagrisso in the Lung Cancer group, you'll find additional discussions on different aspects of this therapy as well. See here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/lung-cancer/?search=tagrisso&index=discussions
Similarly, you can use the search for other questions you may have or topics you may be looking for in the future, such as NSCLC or stage IV, radiation, etc.
I can certainly imagine this diagnosis came as a surprise and shock. How are you doing with this news? Do you know what mutation you have?
@nursed2075 I’ve been taking Tagrisso nice 11/30/23. My side effects are very minimal and I live life pretty much as I did before with the exception of the mental part of having this disease. I started having side effects about 2 weeks in. I had light nausea, rash in my face that looked like acne but in tins of places, diarrhea, and fatigue. The fatigue may have been from radiation more so than the Tag. My rash was cleared up by some prescription cream from my oncologist. The diarrhea wasn’t terrible. The nausea was also not too bad. I just sucked on mints a lot. All went away within 3-4 weeks. The diarrhea still returns occasionally but only lasts a day or so then goes away. I also experience some cracking of my skin on my finger tips and toes some. Aquafor and biotin really help that. I take biotin everyday. I feel lucky that I have this drug and pray daily that it works did me for a very long time. I have my second scan since surgery and taking Tag on May 9. 😊
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionThanks for sharing. I had two girlfriends that had a low-dose CT scan to check their hearts. I thought I’m gonna do that. Heart was great, but it showed lung malignancy which freaked me out totally fast tracted it with my doctor had the scan it’s considered advanced stage, but it ended up not being in my brain or any other organs. It’s just in the lymph nodes in my supra clavicular and my mediastinum, so they are doing chemo and looking to see if it will shrink everything get my body a little bit back and check and then maybe a low-dose radiation. I told my oncologist the other day that I don’t feel like I have cancer other than when he gives me stuff that makes me feel like shit. 😂😂😂
Obviously, we both have the mutation which I’m being told is a good thing so keep me posted on how things go. I appreciate you sharing you pretty much have the side effects that I heard. How long did it take for them to show up? Do you remember?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionSorry II see you said about two weeks and I’m on my third day. Second round of chemo next week and then they’re not really gonna do a scan until the third chemo. I hope your scan comes back with some progress!!