MEK/Pazopanib

Hi Kris
on the 5th I will most likely be heading to Baltimore for my visit 1/6. on the 9th, I will hopefully be leaving for italy. I will be available anytime before. I hope we can work this out. best,
Serena

Well, my scans look good, but i don’t. my hemoglobin kept plummeting for no apparent reason, so i finally had a transfusion after having ruled out internal bleeding with a colonoscopy/endoscopy, sonogram, and CT. I was disappointed, putting it mildly, not to have been re-energized afterwards.

I am also taking lots of oxycontin since I have a great deal of pain in my bloated abdomen and my back, again with no explanation. I took a break from the meds due to the latter and the fact that ALT was quite elevated. In the last week, all liver enzymes have come down, as has CEA, but so has hemoglobin, rbc, wbc, lymph, platelets. Except for hemo and rbc, those had all been fine while i was on the meds. seeing a hepatologist tomw.

Not getting a lot of holiday shopping done, but being doted upon by darling daughter.

Kris– any tree viewing coming up?

hugs,
Regina

Hi Carrie~

Sorry to hear that your busy family has to go through this, of all things. I wish I could have met you both, especially because we’d be on the same schedule, but I have succeeded in having myself switched back up to Johns Hopkins, which is much close to NYC. I had gone there initially, but they had some bureaucratic glitches creating a problem enrolling patients on a timely basis.

Your team at MDA is terrific. Shroff is a great listener and allows for questions with no rush. she appears to be extremely knowledgeable. Zinner is my personal favorite because he has a good sense of humor, lively spirit and a professor’s enthusiasm for explaining the scientific basis of anything you ask about. Lindsay Law is a very caring nurse, and Chichi, Zinner’s NP is a bundle of friendly and practical energy. Jing is very competent, but beware of subtle language-based (probably) misunderstandings that could seem uncaring or as repudiations.

There is much excitement around this trial, so I have a lot of hope for us.

As per side effects, I had all the same ones. They seemed to mellow with the passage of time and learning the patterns and remedies. At one point, I had acne so bad I felt that people were looking away so as not to appear to stare (at a 53year old with acne). I took topical antibiotics and soon began oral doxycline, which have worked very well. Still healing. but no more whiteheads. I had a red dot-like rash on my groin and my right inner elbow, but they are disappearing and didn’t bother me much.

I have occasional diarrhea, but it is quickly stopped with immodium, maximum of two have been needed. You are advised to catch it right away. I have often felt tired for the rest of the day after these bouts. Quick and ongoing rehydration is critical. I’ve even used some Pedialyte on some occasions, with success. Be sure he avoids sugar alcohols like maltitol, inositol, etc., which have a laxative effect. I used sugar-free candies and a fizzy electrolyte replacement tab to keep my mouth wet and rehydrate and kept waking up with diarrhea. I had no idea for quite awhile. — Don’t assume that all odd symptoms are just the meds! — I do often have gas causing me, on some days, to burp incessantly. (my peeps are used to it.) I shifted my pill time to just before bedtime to avoid the feeling of tiredness and belly ache I often got an hour after dosing.

As per blood pressure, I took some pride and solace in mine having always been low (90/60), having been an athlete all my life. In the first month that I was on these meds, it rose to a bit higher than normal (125/85), but it has not continued to rise; in fact, it has come down some. In fact, all the lab tests that rose as an apparent result of the meds, have actually come very close to normal or acceptable now, seven weeks later.

You are in good hands at MDAnderson — you can just feel the science going on there — but be sure to stay on top of it all and press for answers to questions you have. They have the patient care figured out pretty well. I advise you to stay at the Rotary House, but book far in advance. Gorgeous pool, very good dining (there’s very little else around there, if at all), very friendly people, information, patient coordination, everything.

Let’s stay in touch! Good luck!
Regina