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Want to learn more about Immunotherapy for lung cancer

Lung Cancer | Last Active: Nov 3 12:18pm | Replies (44)

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@flusshund

@troubletwo, I'm curious why your doctor would stop Tagrisso after 3 years. When I went to MD Anderson for a second opinion for my metastatic (to the brain) lung cancer, their oncologist told me two things:
1. No need to come back. Your doctors are doing everything I would have done. Do what they tell you.
2. His plan at the time was Tag for 3 years, followed by 3 more years of 3-month monitoring. If there was no recurrence, he would declare me "cured." (The only time I've ever heard that word.)
Ahh, the heady days of early discovery. A year later, my current oncologist told me he had no plan to stop Tagrisso until "the side effects become unbearable." (For me, those side effects include heart problems, but I'm being monitored by a cardiologist for a leaky valve anyway. Also, financial toxicity because I'm too young for Medicare.) I'll be on it 4 years in December, and I know another lung cancer advocate who has been on it for 9.

I know you haven't asked, but my recommendation is to ask your husband's oncologist why he would stop a successful treatment.

I still get 3-month brain MRIs, and probably will forever, which is how long I plan to live or die trying. 🙂 After 3 1/2 years, my CT scans are being reduced to every 6 months because my chest and abdomen have been clear all this time.

Your husband's doctor considers your husband's age, medical history, overall health, etc., which I don't know. But I am curious about the persistence of this 3-year "rule" for Tagrisso that I thought was over.

I wish you and your husband all the best!

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Replies to "@troubletwo, I'm curious why your doctor would stop Tagrisso after 3 years. When I went to..."

My hubby had double lung cancer with different cancers in each lung. The left lung had one lobe removed and the thoracic surgeon saw a bit of uncertainty in two lobes so cleaned them out and others in the vicinity and said that this tumor was a tumor that could metastasize. Believe a Stage 2. I asked if there were any study's for this EGFR type and there was a 3 year one, so we went with it as the cost of the Tagrisso is beyond anyones means of being able to afford. The oncologist did say that one's body gets immune to the drug and it isn't effective after 3 years??????? We don't know if the Tagarisso targeted any tumors as his three years are up now, and from a year ago they are watching an exterior lung node at 4mm that is now 7 mm so another enhanced ct scan in January will tell them where they are going with this?? Presently my hubby is on no treatments for his lungs. Everything seemed to be stable over the past 3 years except for the 4 mm exterior one??? They chose not to go the Chemotherapy route due to him being 79 years at the time.