2nd Scan After Taking Tarceva

Today I go for my second scan since I have been on Tarceva. My blood work is great and no issues with me taking the medication. I still have the rash but it is not as bad as it has been. I never used to get cold but I wear sweatshirts and cover up all the time at home and I have a hard time staying warm outside. I just dress in layers and deal with it because there is nothing else that I can do about it. The Dr’s told me the medicine has a bit of blood thinning properties associated with it. My hair has been very brittle and I am losing hair on my arms and legs because it is mostly cracking and breaking off from rubbing on my pants and shirt sleeves. My hair on my head started to go from grey to dark brown on the top and sides of my head and my mustache is going blonde from grey. The rash is still prominent on my back and upper torso and neck. My face still is red and splotchy and I break out around my cheeks and nose and forehead. I get a few around my ears but hardly any on top of my head anymore. I don’t have to use the itch cream as much and I only use the hydro-cortisone cream in the evening after my shower. The test results are in and no changes with the findings. Everything is staying the same, which is good. The Dr’s said this is great news and we will continue with taking the Tarceva as long as my blood stays good and there are no issues with my kidneys or liver having issues with the medication and I don’t become immune to the medicine.

I am no Dr and as you know by reading my blog that I do not research on the internet, but when the Dr said we will just continue on this path until something changes, I had to stop him and say that was not acceptable. I asked since there were no findings on the scan of any cancer cells in the chest wall or lymph nodes, could they be dead? I was told yes. I also asked since the primary tumor in the left lung is unchanged could it be dead cells that are showing up on the scan? Again I was told yes. It made sense to me to try and radiate the primary tumor in case there were any live cells that were hiding in the mass somewhere and this could possibly eliminate any further metastasizing from the lung mass. The team seemed to be excited and stipulated that this wasn’t normal protocol but they would research into it.

Findings were as follows:

CT INFUSED CHEST - Details

Study Result

Narrative

CT CHEST W 3/8/2017 12:12 PM 
CLINICAL INFORMATION: History of metastatic primary lung adenocarcinoma. Follow-up.
TECHNIQUE: Contrast enhanced chest CT. 120 mL of Omnipaque 350 contrast material were
administered intravenously. Multiplanar reconstructions, including MIP, MINIP and Slab
images were reviewed.
COMPARISON: Chest CT dated 12/28/2016 and 8/8/2016
FINDINGS: 
LUNGS AND PLEURA: The residual spiculated solid pulmonary nodule in the apicoposterior
segment of the left upper lobe demonstrates stable size and morphology when compared to
prior study. Focal anterior retraction of the left major fissure is again noted, without
signs of fissural transgression.
There are no additional stenosis tissues pulmonary nodules or findings to suggest disease
progression.
Right lower lobe calcified granuloma.
The pleural spaces are normal.
MEDIASTINUM AND HILA: No mediastinal or hilar lymphadenopathy. Subcarinal calcified lymph
nodes are noted.
The heart is normal in size. No pericardial effusion.
The central airways are patent. The esophagus is under distended.
CORONARY ARTERY CALCIFICATION: Mild. 
CHEST WALL: No axillary or supraclavicular lymphadenopathy. No osseous lesions are
present.
UPPER ABDOMEN: Absence of enteric contrast material limits sensitivity for abdominal
pathology. 
Right renal cyst is noted. Partially visualized splenic fluid attenuating lesion. Both
adrenal glands are normal.
INDEX LESION MEASUREMENTS (Current exam date/time: 3/8/2017 12:00:00)
LEFT UPPER LOBE LESION: 1.2 x 0.8 cm (Image 92, Series 5); 1.2 x 1.1 cm on prior
(12/28/2016) (Image 45, Series 3).
IMPRESSION: 
1. Findings consistent with stable disease. The size and morphology of the residual
spiculated left upper lobe pulmonary nodule is unchanged. No findings to suggest disease
progression. No regional lymphadenopathy.