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Anyone taking Tagrisso for Lung Cancer?

Lung Cancer | Last Active: 5 days ago | Replies (41)

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@codym

I found this thread helpful seeing what others have been experiencing and some of the longer term success that many have had. I was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma over a year ago. Luckily I have the EGFR mutation and I've been on Tagrisso for a little over a year now. I also have infusions of pemetrexed and initially carboplatin every three weeks. I saw a slight decrease in tumors at my initial scan and now every scan since than has been stable. My first two months or so of treatment was just Tagrisso. I didn't notice any issues initially but the occasional diarrhea, but nothing too bad. Now I'm pretty tired feeling most of the time but I am guessing that is from the pemetrexed and not the Tagrisso. I'm still able to do all of my hobbies and most of the time when I get moving it gets easier. One issue I've been having is high liver enzymes, they are always above normal and have seen them as high as double the max range, has anyone else had liver enzymes above normal? I worry that I might have caused some damage prior to my diagnosis. I spent a year in agony with horrible headaches from the cancer. Weekly ER visits because of the headaches and they finally found something that worked some of the time(indomethacin) but after taking it for a month I was told it was bad for my liver as much as I was on and for how long. They advised I not take any more indomethacin but as my only relief from unbearable pain I continued. Finally I got a second opinion at Mayo about the headaches and within hours they found the cancer causing the pain with an MRI of my brain. Thankfully, I finally got a second opinion at Mayo in Rochester. Anyways, from what I understand Tagrisso will only last into my early 40s before I need to try something new. Trying to stay optimistic that something will be available when things start going the other way, that's probably the hardest part.

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Replies to "I found this thread helpful seeing what others have been experiencing and some of the longer..."

@codym, oncologists are divided on this issue of discontinuing Tagrisso. I've been on it for over four years and have a friend who has been on it for over seven. Our oncologists both feel that as long as it's working, they will keep using it, which makes sense to me. Why stop a treatment that's working?

If you want to stay current on the latest research, join the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer at iaslc.org. It's the world's most extensive collection of thoracic oncologists, radiologists, etc., and is over 50 years old. You qualify for a free membership as a lung cancer survivor. They have hundreds of educational courses, podcasts, and simulations available online. Plus, once you're on their email list, you'll get announcements of the latest studies describing what's working today. Total disclosure: I'm not only a member but also a patient research advocate and advise researchers on the patient/caregiver/community perspective.

My oncologist and my current plan is to switch to Amivantamab and Lazertinib if and when Tagrisso stops working. You should also know that this is our 3rd plan in the last 3 years, as the lung cancer research community is finally getting enough funding to make regular progress and new discoveries.

So there are two good reasons not to worry! Years ago, I decided I would not live as if I knew the expiration date because that's no way to live. For the most part, I'm able to live my life with no thought of lung cancer at all. I highly recommend it!