Chemos that depend on oxidative mechanisms and those that don't ? - 1255068

apra
Posts:142

This is a remark that I copied from a discussion

https://www.inspire.com/groups/lung-cancer-survivors/discussion/nutriti…

I would like to know more about this. In which class does Tarceva fall into? Can taking supplements really help or are they harmful?

Thank you.

Apra

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Reply # - March 23, 2013, 09:23 AM

apra
Posts: 142

So sorry, he remark that I meant to copy and paste got lost when I brought the quote icon into the letter. So here is the remark:

In general, those chemos such as antimetabolites, mitotic inhibitors, mitopic inhibitors, and some miscellaneous chemos that that don't depend on oxidative mechanisms for their effect, for chemos of those classifications anti-oxidants can actually potentiate ( make more effective) the chemo, enhance and protect the immune system, and blunt the side-effects of the chemos.'

Sincerely,

Apra

Reply # - March 23, 2013, 09:50 AM

Dr West
Posts: 4735

There isn't enough meaningful information to say anything definitive and make tailored suggestions. There is no evidence that supplements other than premedications like B12 and folate with Alimta (pemetrexed) improve lung cancer survival in any way. I wouldn't say that it's a bad thing necessarily to take them, but there is no evidence to support recommending them.

People can say that doctors are wrong for suggesting against interventions of no proven benefit, but we have seen many cases of harmful effects of vitamins in high doses. People can do what they want to do, but as doctors, we are charged with making evidence based on the evidence and not just based on a desire to do something based on marketing.

Mannatech in particularly is marketed in a way that is completely divorced from good evidence of a beneficial effect.

-Dr. West

Reply # - March 23, 2013, 11:33 AM

apra
Posts: 142

Thank you Dr. West,

Your advice was timely. After reading some posts from some members, i aso went ahead and bought some supplements from Guardian Pharmacy which sells GNC food supplements all imported from the States. I bought Vitamin D 1000, Vit B12, Grapeseed extract and super digestive enzymes and Karela Juice (bitter gourd).

I suppose that the few days when my husband is off Tarceva he may take these supplements. Thank you once gain. We had kept away from supplements these past two years so thought would experiment with a few this time :)

Reply # - March 24, 2013, 12:00 PM

apra
Posts: 142

Hello Judy,

Sorry for coming in late. Yes my husband was off Tarceva because the onc wanted to see whether his stomach problems were caused by the Tarceva. But today is only the third day and his pain increased all over, not only the stomach pain, so he has popped the Tarceva pill again without getting back to the onc and he seems to be feeling better. This morning he was a mess. Thank you for asking.

Janine, thanks for dropping by and answering Judy's query. But as you can see above we have ignored the onc's experimental advice and have gone back to Tarceva. His cough is also better, could be due to the Benadryl also and he is feeling much stronger. So back to Tarcevaland EGFR negative or not :)

He is now on Tramadol 50 mg twice a day and Drotin M twice a day. These were prescribed sometime back but we did not take them except for few days but now these two medicines combined from today seem to be helping him a lot.

Love n hugs to both of you

Apra

Reply # - March 24, 2013, 06:57 PM

apra
Posts: 142

A post nasal drip? Didn't understand that. He did not have nasal drips. I think he caught the cough from me as I was having a bad cough which is still yet to completely vanish.

Was wondering if Gemcitabine can be combined with Tarceva, whether this combo has been tried before.

Though nothing has shown up on scans in his stomach he finds it painful to drink water or eat as the food causes pain when I reaches the stomach. This is all so heartbreaking.

Thanks for your concern and reply. God bless you

Apra

Reply # - March 24, 2013, 07:42 PM

JimC
Posts: 2753

Hi Apra,

I think Janine was just trying to say that at times Tarceva appears to cause post-nasal drip, but not all coughs in Tarceva patients have that as their cause.

In general, Tarceva has not been given in combination with chemo, although more recently there have been studies or more informal attempts by oncologists to combine the two. (For example, in the U.S. both drugs are FDA approved for use with NSCLC, so doctors are free to prescribe the combination, and may do so especially if insurance will pay for it). You can see a few among the trials listed here (although note that some of them use Tarceva or Gemcitabine): http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=gemcitabine+AND+erlotini…

JimC
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