Exciting article on lapatinib (Tykerb)

Tom · 04-17-2006, 03:28 PM

I stumbled across this rather extensive article regarding lapatinib while looking for incidences of "compassionate use", and thought it might shed some light on the drug's potential. It is personally exciting to me for Mom's situation, but sure won't do her any good if she can't find somewhere to receive it soon. My strategy all along was to help her hang on long enough for this drug to become available. I hope I don't find myself in the "last soldier killed in Vietnam" scenario. The link is below.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/519982

Lolly · 04-17-2006, 09:53 PM

Thanks Tom, great article! I've printed out several copies to hand around at chemo tomorrow

<3 Lolly

Lolly · 04-18-2006, 09:47 AM

P.S. Keep up the good work in trying to get your mom access to Tykerb. I agree with you that it is so very promising; my onc and I talked about it earlier this year as some of us are starting to show some signs of Herceptin "resistance"; it still seems to be slowing the rate of progression, but needs a chemo booster to be optimally effective. We're keeping our fingers crossed for speedy FDA approval.

<3 Lolly

Tom · 04-18-2006, 11:08 AM

Tykerb seems to have been developed for exactly our situation, and it is frustrating to me knowing it is so close, yet so far. I feel like a kid without and money in his pocket looking into a candy store window.

Maybe I should try to organize a campaign to push for it's quick FDA review, the way many people clamoured (sp?) for Herceptin years ago. I'd dance a jig in Macy's window in a Speedo if that would make them get their butts moving on the thing. I am seeing the onc tomorrow to review all of the testing, and perhaps push to restart the Herceptin and add Xeloda to the party. Whatever will give Mom hope until the Tykerb is available is fine with me. I have always told people that each additional day of life brings us closer to the next miracle drug. I just wasn't prepared to live that struggle as soon as it came to us.

I need to spend a few hours on my knees talking to God tonight, and I think I will do just that. Many on this site need some additional prayers right now.

Tom

Lolly · 04-18-2006, 04:51 PM

I hope that you can get them to at least agree to starting a low dose Xeloda, and optimally adding back Herceptin. I know we're all different, but one of my chemo buddies had her lung mets wiped out with Xeloda/Herceptin (don't know her dose), and I myself have had significant regression of lymph node metastasis since adding just 500mg Xeloda twice daily to my Herceptin/Navelbine program (I have progressed TWICE on Herceptin and my onc has Navelbine both times. This last time it stabilized the growth but Xeloda really added some punch). I would hope they see the reason in giving your mom something to keep things at bay to buy you time to work on getting Tykerb. Good luck, thoughts and prayers.

<3 Lolly

sarah · 04-20-2006, 01:55 AM

Dear Tom,
Hope your mom gets all the drugs she needs. You're a wonderful son.
Do you think a petition from many of us on the site would help speed up releasing lapatinib in special cases until such time as it becomes more available? Let us know if there's something we can do to help.
sarah