Hi there,
i've had multiple oral cancers in the last 2 years. (soft palate, floor of mouth/tounge, one node on right side - with neck disection, only one node, and now epiglotis.)

i've started a Drug trial today and it's called Tarceva/Erlotinib. i'm taking 200mg a day in hopes of a tumor shrinkage. they will take the epiglotis tumor out in a few weeks but the goal is to hopefully shrink the stage T1 tumor prior.

again, just started my drug tonioght. was wondering if anyone has takent his drug and what they learned from it.

Bless you all,
julie

Hi Julie- I haven't heard of this drug but I just wanted to tell you that you are awesome and brave. I hope you recover soon from this dreaded cancer and have a long and happy life. XO Kate

thank you very much miss kate. i didn't have any replies of folks using this drug, so i would like to tell my story. i was on it 17 days. i lost 20 pounds. i took 200 mg per day. i vomited anything i ate after 11am. (i took 200mg every night at 7pm). so i only could eat/keep bkft down. i got an incredible rash all over my back, chest, upper arm and FACE. after 17 days, they took my off b/c my symptoms were so severe. i'm 2 weeks off the drug, adn teh rash will not go awawy. no matter what i take that they prescribed. BUT 1 week after being off, teh doctor coudln't see my tumor any more. but 2 weeks now off, the rash is worse, not better. next week i go for surgery on my epiglotis (back of tongue) but i'm most unerved the rash is worse than better. Lot's of love to anyone who finds this helpful.

julie

Maybe it's just being tested on you and a few more? I hope it works so noone has to go tyhru what a lot of us did. Good luck and prayers to you.