#37881 09-24-2004 05:49 PM | Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 12 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 12 | My mom had a recurrence in 6/04 w/ a tumor on her carotid artery. She started Iressa( 250 mg. 1x/ day) 7/26/04 after the Dr. gave her 2-6 months to live. The latest CT scan shows the tumor has not grown , so her Dr. recommends continuing the Iressa. She has had diarreah, peeling fingers, acne on her face and irritation of her eyes, as well as fatigue.We are hopeful that the Iressa will actually shrink the tumor.
Also, we sent her records to People Against Cancer- they have a website. For $450 they looked at her records and send a 200+ pg. booklet outlining a treatment plan called the Stockholm Protocol- all organic veggies, fruits, oills, vitamin supplements. Has anyone heard of it? Thanks!Linda | | |
#37882 09-25-2004 03:52 PM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 372 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 372 | Hey Linda,
Welcome! Hope the Iressa continues to shrink the tumor. Where in Maryland are you? I recently moved from Columbia, MD to Birmingham, Alabama. We still go back once a month for Dan to have his oncology checkups at the University of Maryland. We have been very happy with this facility...where is your mom being treated? I will pray for you and your mom.
God bless,
Debbie
Debbie - Caregiver for husband, Dan, diagnosed with tongue cancer 7/03. Partial gloss., mod. neck dissections, graft. Recurrence neck tumor 12/03. Radical left neck dissection 12/24/03-unable to get all the tumor. 8 weeks chemo/rad beginning 1/12/04.
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#37883 09-25-2004 04:35 PM | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,918 Likes: 66 OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,918 Likes: 66 | People Against Cancer rates being on the "Quackwatch list" and there is much to say against this organization that provides people, for exhorbitant fees, alternative treatments, useless booklets and over priced water filters, that have no documented help for cancer patients. Rather than list everything negative about them here, I suggest that you go to the resources page on the main OCF website and scan down until you find the link for Quack Watch. Go to their site and read it all. Too many people fall prey to these kinds of organizations who sell unproven ideas and products to those in need, despirate for an answer. I wish I had something more positive to say to you about this.
Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.
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#37884 09-25-2004 04:39 PM | Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 | I checked out this website and it made me uncomfortable.
I wish your mother well and that the tumor stays under control.
Minnie
SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.
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#37885 09-26-2004 05:16 PM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | Actually Brian they are listed in quackwatch - here's the link: http://www.quackwatch.org/04ConsumerEducation/Nonrecorg/pac.html Sorry Linda they ripped you off.
Gary Allsebrook
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Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
________________________________________________________
"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
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#37886 09-27-2004 03:48 PM | Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 188 Likes: 1 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 188 Likes: 1 | Linda, I've been on Iressa now for 10 months, and can tell you at least from my experience that the side effects subsided significantly in a relatively short period of time. The skin rash cleared up in about two months, as did the diarhea. I still get an occasional bout of diarhea, but it's controllable with Imodium.
I didn't experience eye irritation, but remember a warning to not ever wear contacts while taking Iressa, so I guess it's normal.
I hope it will be beneficial in her battle. you will both be in my prayers.
Chuck
SCC Stage IV right tonsil T3N3M0. Dx 08/03. Clinical Trial:8 weeks Taxol, Carboplatin then Hydrea, 5FU, IMRT x's 48, SND, Iressa x 2yrs. Now 20 years out and thriving. Dealing with a Prostate cancer diagnosis now. Add a Bladder cancer diagnosis to all the fun.
It's always something
"Adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it."
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#37887 09-28-2004 07:12 AM | Joined: May 2004 Posts: 218 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: May 2004 Posts: 218 | Linda,
I was on Iressa as well. I had all the symptoms you described but mine did not go away it got worse. I had to go off the trial.
I hope that your moms tumor continues to shrink. Iressa is great stuff. I wish I could continue with the trial if only for piece of mind.
Good luck.
Robert
SCC 1.6cm Right Tonsil 10/3/03, 1 Node 3cm, T1N2AM0, Tonsil Removed, Selective Neck Disection, 4 Wks Induction Chemo (Taxol,Cisplatin), 8 Weeks Chemo/Radiation (5FU,Hydroxyurea,Iressa), IMRT x 40, Treatment Complete 2/13/04.
41 Years Old At Diagnosis
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#37888 07-14-2005 11:36 AM | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 4 Member | | Member
Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 4 | This is Lindap-I now go by Lindag-long story. My mom took Iressa every day from 7/04-3/05 and the tumor went away completely. Unfortunately, her doc-Dr. Cullen at univ. Of Md. - a great Dr.- said she could take it every other day b/c of the side effects, and the tumor has returned. She's now back to taking it every day but next week we'll see Dr. Cullen and he may want to put her on different chemo.She was originally told by a doc at Hopkins that she'd be dead by 9/4 , so she's happy that Iressa gave her that much more time. Thanks for your info. Linda
linda gordon
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#37889 07-14-2005 01:34 PM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | Maybe she can get on Erbitux.
Gary Allsebrook
***********************************
Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
________________________________________________________
"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
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#37890 07-17-2005 03:37 PM | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 4 Member | | Member
Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 4 | Thanks Gary-we see the oncologist Friday so I'll ask about it.
linda gordon
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