Taking Tarceva when having high fever? - 1258522

mqtboca
Posts:3

My Tarceva came this afternoon but I have been having fever off and on for the past 3 days. Highest was 102.6 F but felt chill. I take 2 Tylenol and the temperature went down to 99.8 F in about an hour. My onc told me to wait until I rid of the fever but this could be few more days... all my friends tell me to take the Tareva as soon as possible. It has been 5 weeks since I was dx with stage IV nsclc.
Please advise if you can. Thanks.

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Reply # - August 8, 2013, 08:43 AM

catdander
Posts:

Welcome to Grace and thank you for such detailed information. I'm very sorry about your diagnosis and hope treatment stops the cancer for a very long time. I'm sorry but we can't give you advice about you should do, our doctors are legally forbidden but also there are too many variables in one person's case to make it possible in a forum type situation.

However, it's not at all unusual to give or take a few days to let the body settle/take care of itself before moving forward with treatment.

Unless your friends are lung cancer specialists I would gently let them know that you appreciate their concern and continued support but will go with the oncologist on this one. Don't get me wrong I'm moderating this forum because I spent so much time on Grace to understand as much as I can about my husband's cancer.

On another personal note, my husband was given results from his CT on June 29 and started treatment on Sept 14, 2009. That is a long time between suspicion and treatment but there were other circumstances. The point is it there are times when a break is as or more important than the treatment. I'll look around for similar forum discussions to link you to, there are many.
BTW, our search feature is very good but you may need to log off to get results, depending on your browser.

Hoping for the best,
Janine
forum moderator

Reply # - August 8, 2013, 10:41 AM

mqtboca
Posts: 3

Hi Janine,

Thank you so much for replying and I understand the legal implications totally. I'm taking a chest xray to rule out pneumonia and will follow directions from my onc only. After all, he is treating me, not other people.
On another note, what your husband went through since 2009 is abolutely amazing. It is a miracle! please send him my best wishes, stay strong to fight this nasty disease. I'll keep him in my prayers.

Reply # - August 8, 2013, 06:42 PM

mqtboca
Posts: 3

Thanks for the link Janine. I read the article and it is very informative.
My onc ordered a chest xray for me to make sure that I don't have pneumonia and he agreed to let me take my Tarceva this evening. Instead of starting with just 25 mg as originally planned, he wanted me to take 50 mg and the same for tomorrow then 100mg for Sat and Sun. If I am still doing OK then increase it to 125 mg for Mon & Tues then 150mg for Wed & Thurs. Wish me luck :)

Reply # - August 8, 2013, 09:14 PM

Dr West
Posts: 4735

I would only make the point that Tarceva (erlotinib) doesn't tend to drop the blood counts like standard chemotherapy, so it shouldn't significant increase infectious complications. Of course, it's something that should be carefully discussed with your doctor, but I wouldn't consider Tarceva to be precluded or unsafe because of a fever.

-Dr. West

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