Sunday, October 12, 2008

New Treatment

I talked to my doctor at the end of last week. We both agreed to move past Tarceva. On Tuesday, I'll be starting Avastin / Taxotere combo. It's traditional chemotherapy in the sense that it is given in iv form. I'll go once every three weeks. We may eventually switch to a Friday schedule, but we just wanted to get started for now.

As they say in sports, Tarceva just had my number. I don't regret my decision to try Tarceva twice because at the time it was the right thing to do. When we first went through the decisions to switch once we realized Alimta was no longer effective, my doctor had recommended Avastin and Taxotere combo. Both of these drugs I've never been on before. Even though they are new to me, they are commonly used therapies in the lung cancer world. Their toxicities or side effects shouldn't be too bad. I'm optimisitic about being able to tolerate it without too many complications. Let's just pray it's effective!

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Dan,
Just wanted you to know I've been following your blog and am thinking about you all the time!!!!
Much love,
Stacia

Anonymous said...

Good luck to you today Dan! We are also praying that this treatment works for you!
Love,
Allison & all the Weiners in NY

Unknown said...

Thinking of you today and sending you healing positive energy!!

HN Cancer said...

Hi,

I've been on 7 chemo regimens. My most recent was Avastin and Tarceva. I had Taxotere in the past. I had 11 rounds of Avastin over a 9 month period which ended in mid August. The combination of Avastin and Tarceva seems to have worked for me in keeping my cancer away. Prior to this regimen, I had 4 recurrences in 16 months. I get a full set of tests tomorrow. If they come back clean, I'll be NED for a year. Avastin and Tarceva attack cancer cells using two different cell pathways. What would you doctor think of your continued use of the Tarceva during the Avastin/Taxotere treatment? In some ways this drug combination simulates a new Astrazeneca drug in phase I, II, and III trials for lung (and other) cancer, Zactima (ZD6474). What's the harm in asking him? There is no way that I am encouraging you to do this without your doctor's okay, but it is worth exploring with your oncologist.

Regards,

www.hncancer.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

praying things goes well with the oncologist today!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Dan,
Good luck today. Let us know how you're feeling. -Lisa

Anonymous said...

I'm praying that your new treatment will be effective! Katie

Anonymous said...

Good luck buddy

-Tyler