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Anyone taking Tagrisso for Lung Cancer?
Lung Cancer | Last Active: 15 hours ago | Replies (224)Comment receiving replies
I am 71 and NSCLC found incidentally, stage 3B, inoperable. Had chemoradiation complicated by large pulmonary embolism. Radiation ended 6/15. Started on 80 mg Tagrisso on 7/21. Problems started mid August. Chest Xray + CT scan done. Shortness of breath, dry hacking cough and rapid heart rate. Repeat CT scan in mid September very scary with large amount of lung consolidation and aur bronchograms. High dose oral prednisone started with improvement and while tapering off day 10 severe shortness of breath. Prednisone back up to 40 mg. Still getting worse. Doc wanted me hospitalized. I did not go to hospital. Took myself off Tagrisso , 2 days now, and finally improving. Oncology does not think it is tagrisso pneumonitis but I thought that medicine would kill me before the cancer does. I just to be able to talk and breathe, or eat and breathe. Today it is easier.
I don't know if I will go back on Tagrisso. Have a Signatura blood test scheduled for Oct 13 to check for cancer DNA circulation in my blood and another CT scan in a few weeks.
Other side effects: dizziness, severe muscle cramps, mouth sores, slight rash and peeling nails.
I was supposed to take it for 3 years and only got to 2 months.
Replies to "I am 71 and NSCLC found incidentally, stage 3B, inoperable. Had chemoradiation complicated by large pulmonary..."
@sueiamsue I am glad you did what was best for you. sometimes the "targeted" therapies don't feel very targeted. is it possible you picked up a respiratory infection? I've had pneumonia twice since starting Tagrisso and I never had it previously. in both cases, I think they were triggered by seasonal allergies. I hope you're feeling better!
Welcome to Mayo Connect @sueiamsue. It sounds like you've had a rough time with treatments, starting with the pulmonary embolism. We are all different, and not everyone can tolerate these targeted therapies. This sounds scary. I would have gone into the emergency department for a scan and observation. I hope you have weathered the worst of this. It might be interesting to see how your oncologist would suggest trying the Tagrisso again. Do you think they may be able to increment the dose up, to give your body a chance to adjust, while monitoring you closely?
Obviously you need to be able to breathe, but some of the other side-effects (mouth sores, slight rash and peeling nails) may be treatable.
Are you continuing to feel better?
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@sueiamsue i’m on Tagrisso start with 80 mg now I am on 40 mg. I have stage four.EGFR NSCL I hate being on this pill. I’m so exhausted. I have muscle cramps also. I’ve been on the pill now for a year. I really don’t think it’s doing too much because I still have lung nodules that are growing. My oncologist gave me this pill, but my primary is very much against it. I am looking for other alternatives.