Gefitinib Health Feed

After taking 2 months of gefitinib 250 mg tablet, the next treatment is based on the condition for which treatment is started and the progress

I presume she is lung cancer patient, although you have not mentioned the same (as you wrote she is EGFR positive, ALK4 and ROS1 and PDL1 are done in lung) Geftinib is an EGFR inhibitor given in lung cancer EGFR +ve, with good response rates. It does cause diarrhoea and rash in a few patients though.
If she has other symptoms, treat her symptomatically. We try to prolong their life by giving palliative treatment, which may be months to few years in exceptional cases. But cure is not a target...more

Post studying the complete medical history , we'll be able to figure out the best possible solution. Let's have a detailed discussion for better advice and healthy lifestyle.

Sorry to know about your son. Geftinib is prescribed if there is active cancer. But since you have reported that this has been continuing since 4.5 years is quite surprising. It is prescribed in patients of active cancer. Please discuss in detail with treating oncologist for further guidance.

Hi Lybrate user, he must be EGFR positive. Tablet is prescribed for EGFR positive patients .yes its helpful.
Many other tablets are launched which can b taken in your case. Kindly contact your treating physician.

Sorry to know about your father. Weakness might be due to difficulty in breathing or lack of proper nutrition or due to spread to brain. I was wondering if he has recieved Radiotherapy to Brain.

Geftinib (Osimertinib is newer drug preferred) is usually started in Non Small cell cancer (Adeno carcinoma) if Patient is EGFR +ve, it usually responds well to the drug initially. The usual side effects are rash on the palms and soles and loose motions in some patients. The drug is continued till the disease is responding, stable or progressing only minimally (which may be a few months to a few years) If the disease shows rapid progression, 2nd line chemotherapy may be considered depending upon...more

The life expectancy in a metastatic lung cancer has conventionally been dismal, maybe 6 months. But with newer generation medicines like gefitinib, even metastatic cases can live upto 2-3 years. In any case, I am curious that if the disease has spread to just lymph node, why are you calling it metastatic, it may be addressed with curative intent. Please share your pet ct report for further query.

Need to undergo few molecular test on biopsy tissue
if feasible retrieve tissue wax block from biopsy lab and send for analysis
you can video consult also for test and then see
there are better drug available if mutation testing is positivw.

Sorry to know about the condition of your father. Afatinib is better than erlotinib or gefitinib with respect to results but is costlier. I would suggest you discuss with your treating oncologist and plan ahead.