Hi! I will try to summarise my mum's history. We live in South Africa. Diagnosed July 2012 with stage 3a nsclc (adeno and large cell). 4xCisplatin and alimta, then upper right lobectomy, followed by 3xcarboplatin and alimta. In Feb 2014 she had some inflamed lymph nodes and a 3x3cm nodule that showed up on CT scan so they started her on Tarceva. NED until last month where a small tumour (1.5x1.5cm) showed up on her right lung on a CT scan - close to the site where her last surgery was. They performed a wedge resection of the right lung to remove it and said margins were clear. She is EGFR positive but she is negative for the T790m mutation. The oncologist said she should continue with Tarceva as the progression was limited and small. In December he said she just needs to do a normal chest X-ray. I find that strange as I would imagine that progression means the Tarceva has stopped working. What are your opinions on this?
Continuation of Tarceva after limited progression - 1289194
poppy
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Reply # - November 16, 2016, 06:25 AM
Hi poppy,
Hi poppy,
Welcome to GRACE. Our faculty have frequently stated that it can be a good idea to continue a targeted therapy in the face of limited progression, to try to get the maximum benefit from that therapy. There is even some thought that if the disease appears in only one location, local therapy such as radiation might be utilized in an effort to eliminate the one active area of disease.
A chest x-ray is not the preferred follow-up choice, as the resolution of a CT is much greater and is more likely to provide an accurate assessment of the pace of progression.
JimC
Forum moderator
Reply # - November 16, 2016, 06:51 AM
And they also can't compare
And they also can't compare an xray to a CT scan. It has to be the same medium. I would insist on the CT scan to compare to this last CT. Take care, Judy