Help and advice please.

[sally70]

Hello again everyone. I have just started on Tagisso which my doctor said is unlikely to work because my tumour doesn't have the right genetic 'make up'. But I live in hope, what else is there. He also said that if it didn't work there was nothing left. Over the past 2 years I have had Afatinib, immunotherapy, chemotherapy and a trial drug which had a code type name. Happy to pass on names of drugs if anyone wants them.

We are told all the time that new treatments are being developed but to be told that after this there is nothing is devastating . Is there any one out there who has had a similar experience. I just need to think that somewhere out there is another treatment that we can try and it might work for me.

Thank you very much

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Dear Sally70

It is understandably very disappointing for you to hear that there may be no treatment options after Tagrisso.

You are right in that there are new treatments coming through for lung cancer and for some people, they are not available in the time frame that they need them. Unfortunately new treatments do take time to research and obtain a license, the treatments have to show effectiveness and safety for the individual.

Hope you keep well on Tagrisso and perhaps provide some positive outcome for you.

I hope you also hear from others in the forum who have been where you are. It may be that when your treatment of Tagrisso comes to an end, that there may be something new that has just been licensed for use.

If you would like to discuss anything you can email ask the nurse at [e-mail] or call our free phone nurse led helpline number on 0800 358 7200 Monday to Thursday 0900-1700 and Friday 0900-1600

Kind regards

The Roy Castle Support Team

[Appletree25]

Hi Sally, l haven’t used all my treatment options yet, Tagrisso is my first line treatment but l have progression on it. I am assuming you must have had an EGFR mutation to have been on Afatinib, have you had a biopsy to see if there is a new mutation to target? Tagrisso showed good results at my 3 month scan so l hope you get to find out quickly if it is helping, l really hope there is a chance it works or else the oncologist would surely not have been able to offer it under NICE guidelines. It is a very successful drug for a lot of people.. Wishing you all the best.