Perforated Diverticulitis as Side Effect
Comments
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I'm so sorry you have to go
I'm so sorry you have to go through this.
Sending prayers and love,
Wanda0 -
Wow - sounds like addingLighthouse_7 said:I'm so sorry you have to go
I'm so sorry you have to go through this.
Sending prayers and love,
Wanda
Wow - sounds like adding fuel to the fire! Sorry you have this added
stress on your body. Welcome to our group here; you will find info,
advice when you ask and most importantly love & support.
Hugs & prayers
Teresa0 -
So sorry this happened to yougami43 said:Wow - sounds like adding
Wow - sounds like adding fuel to the fire! Sorry you have this added
stress on your body. Welcome to our group here; you will find info,
advice when you ask and most importantly love & support.
Hugs & prayers
Teresa
Did you have any intestinal/bowel issues before starting chemo? I can't believe now you have to go through this along with everything else.
I'm sending you my best positive energy, good thoughts and prayers today to recover swiftly. Keep in touch.
Hugs, Renee0 -
a good friend had very bad
a good friend had very bad cases of Diverticulitis-cancer patient as well..I DONT" ever remember them conntecting the two (or side effects) but I am sure very likely...Sorry you are going through this and I hope you find some info on here to help you...
Denise0 -
I was treated with Taxotere
I was treated with Taxotere and Carboplatin. After my 3-4 treatment I too had Diverticulitis. I didn't have to have surgery but I spent about 5 days in the
hospital on IVs with antibiotics. I then had to take them for about a week. I was
lucky that mine cleared up and I haven't had a recourance since but I was told it
was a side effect of chemo. Hang in there it does get beter.
Janie0 -
Yes, my mom had the same thing
I just had to let you know that the same exact thing happened to my mom many years ago. She was on her 2nd chemo treatment for bc and ended up in the emergency room with same surgery you had. The dr said it was the chemo that caused the problem. She stopped chemo and took tamoxifen for awhile ... I am not sure how long but not more than a few years. She was stage 3 with lymph node involvement. The dr gave her 5 years since she didn't finish the chemo. She lived 25 years with no re-occurrence or other health issues. She died last year at 89 of heart failure. So, it just goes to show ... you never know. You have to trust you gut... no pun intended.0 -
Diverticulitisoctober7 said:Yes, my mom had the same thing
I just had to let you know that the same exact thing happened to my mom many years ago. She was on her 2nd chemo treatment for bc and ended up in the emergency room with same surgery you had. The dr said it was the chemo that caused the problem. She stopped chemo and took tamoxifen for awhile ... I am not sure how long but not more than a few years. She was stage 3 with lymph node involvement. The dr gave her 5 years since she didn't finish the chemo. She lived 25 years with no re-occurrence or other health issues. She died last year at 89 of heart failure. So, it just goes to show ... you never know. You have to trust you gut... no pun intended.
Wow! Thanks for the encouraging words. My oncologist said he was 99% certain it was a direct side effect of the chemo drugs. Heading back in next month to have the colostomy reversed. I'm done with the chemo. Will discuss radiation after I recover from this next surgery. Wish I'd know of this possibility before beginning my treatment.0 -
Thank you for the prayersmissrenee said:So sorry this happened to you
Did you have any intestinal/bowel issues before starting chemo? I can't believe now you have to go through this along with everything else.
I'm sending you my best positive energy, good thoughts and prayers today to recover swiftly. Keep in touch.
Hugs, Renee
Thank you for the prayers and hugs. In answer to your question, I'd never had intestinal/bowel issues before. I've read since this happened that it's an uncommon side effect. Definitely not something I'd wish upon anyone.0 -
Me Too
I know exactly what you have been through as I am recovering myself from the exact same event. I was beginning to think I was the only person in the world it happened to! We are rare that's for sure. Mine happened after the 1st dose. There is plenty of info on the internet on the steroid connection and colon rupture - not so much on chemo and rupture. My docs originally said it was the steroid (dexamethazone) that caused the rupture. Now this week my Onc decided it was the Taxotere. However, the elephant in the room seems to be that I have diverticululum and from my research it appears to be the culprit in making us susceptible to a rupture during chemo. Since my fear is that I would have another rupture if I continued chemo, I elected to have a colonoscopy (my first and it was a breeze esp. with a colostomy) to see if there was more diverticulum....my doc thought she had removed it all with the surgery. Well not so....I have plenty more and right next to where the last one ruptured. The suggested solution was to move to the AC protocol and less steroid. But the AC carries other risks including inflamed colon and from what I have read, any chemo and any steroid could potentially, not absolutely, but could cause another rupture when you have diverticulum. The fear of another rupture is far greater than my fear of cancer it was that horrible of an experience (especially with a body full of chemo). 35% don't survive the surgery as the steroid masks the symptoms. So my survivor sister, I wish you well for your continued recovery. It was really tough but now on the other side of it, just know that you will feel like yourself and life will be good again.0 -
Diverticula/DiverticulosisSuzieq2 said:Me Too
I know exactly what you have been through as I am recovering myself from the exact same event. I was beginning to think I was the only person in the world it happened to! We are rare that's for sure. Mine happened after the 1st dose. There is plenty of info on the internet on the steroid connection and colon rupture - not so much on chemo and rupture. My docs originally said it was the steroid (dexamethazone) that caused the rupture. Now this week my Onc decided it was the Taxotere. However, the elephant in the room seems to be that I have diverticululum and from my research it appears to be the culprit in making us susceptible to a rupture during chemo. Since my fear is that I would have another rupture if I continued chemo, I elected to have a colonoscopy (my first and it was a breeze esp. with a colostomy) to see if there was more diverticulum....my doc thought she had removed it all with the surgery. Well not so....I have plenty more and right next to where the last one ruptured. The suggested solution was to move to the AC protocol and less steroid. But the AC carries other risks including inflamed colon and from what I have read, any chemo and any steroid could potentially, not absolutely, but could cause another rupture when you have diverticulum. The fear of another rupture is far greater than my fear of cancer it was that horrible of an experience (especially with a body full of chemo). 35% don't survive the surgery as the steroid masks the symptoms. So my survivor sister, I wish you well for your continued recovery. It was really tough but now on the other side of it, just know that you will feel like yourself and life will be good again.
I'm so sorry that the two on you had to have surgey for colon problems.
While undergoing chemo (Taxatere and Cytoxin), I had severe pain in my left lower abdomen ( I could barely walk for a couple of days). I just assumed it was caused by the diarreha/constipation cycle. I ended up in the hospital after my first chemo treatment with low white blood count. Two weeks later when I had the stomach pain I just could not bear to go back to the ER. I was on antibotics so the pain eventually went away. When I mentioned it to my onocologist she pocked around and said she didn't feel anything. I had similar pains after the other three chemo treatments (but not nearly as bad). I ran a fever after each chemo treatment so was put on an antibotic for 10 days. This is why my pain probably did not get worse.
I just went for a colonoscopy and it showed that I have Diverticula/Diverticulosis. So I probably had Diverticulitis. In hind sight, I know that it was pretty dumb not to seek treatment after what happened to the two of you. So I guess this one time God was really looking our for me. I'll mention this to the doctor when I go for my colonoscopy follow up.
I wish you both a speedy recovery. May God look after us all.
Peggy0 -
Another case.....
I was just searching the net for other cases like my husbands.... last friday he had cytoxan to prepare for a stem cell harvest (he has mulitple mylemo, bone marrow cancer) 2 days after he had intense pain in the lower left side of his abdomen - we went to the hospital and they did a CTscan and found that he had a ruptured colon/ diverticulitis. They told us that they would operate but because of the high dose chemo and risk of infection he would probably not survive. He has survived the operation but is still in a critical stage as he is in a severe neutrapenic state (white blood cell counts are 0.4/5) have been for 2 days.
Our specialist doubted the dexamethasone was the cause but rather masked the pain of gut problem - but wondering if it was the cytoxan that pushed it to rupture. My husband has always been a bit sensitive with his gut but even after testing quite a few years ago they said he was fine.
We were told this is very rare and it happened at the worst possible time, just as the immune system was shutting down ready to "wake up" later for stem cell harvest. I just pray my husbands blood levels rise tomorrow and he survives.
My husband has also been introduced to the world of having a colostomy which should also be temporary. We will not go ahead with Stem cell transplant now unless he relapses and doesn't have other options.... hoping we can still get a harvest ... if he survives this next few days!
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I am so sorry you are going
I am so sorry you are going through this. And I have to say it scares me a lot. I am on my third round of chemo including taxotere. I had a history with diverticulitis eight years ago. So now the bad gut pain I experienced just three days ago has me worried. Also I seem to have a mystery fever every time I get the chemo and end up on abpntibiotics. I will discuss this all with my Dr. Before my next round. I really want to stop taking the taxotere. I had a horrible reaction to it in round two, and it seems to be the drug making me the sickest. Take care.
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It is really important toCAT48 said:I am so sorry you are going
I am so sorry you are going through this. And I have to say it scares me a lot. I am on my third round of chemo including taxotere. I had a history with diverticulitis eight years ago. So now the bad gut pain I experienced just three days ago has me worried. Also I seem to have a mystery fever every time I get the chemo and end up on abpntibiotics. I will discuss this all with my Dr. Before my next round. I really want to stop taking the taxotere. I had a horrible reaction to it in round two, and it seems to be the drug making me the sickest. Take care.
It is really important to talk about it with your doctor although chemo is never great hey..... Hope you can find a treatment regime that works for you and even better that you can stop taking the cancer drugs some time soon! My husband seems much better today and his white blood cell levels have gone up slightly... Up is better than down!
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follow-up on Taxotere and resulting colostomy
I've not been on this site for a while so hadn't been aware of the more recent comments of others affected in the same way I was. Thankfully, I am about 20 mos post colostomy reversal and doing well. Since I've read of the many occurrances of this type of side effect, I think patients that are placed on Taxotere should be made aware of this very serious potential side effect even if it is rare. Had I not presented to the ER when I did, I might have had a far worse outcome of untreated Peritonitis.
According to WebMD, "Left untreated, peritonitis can rapidly spread into the blood (sepsis) and to other organs, resulting in multiple organ failure and death. So if you develop any of the symptoms of peritonitis -- the most common of which is severe abdonminal pain -- it's essential to seek prompt medical evaluation and treatment that can prevent potentially fatal complications."
Anyone with questions on this should address them with their oncologist immediately. Don't hesitate to go to the ER and have any severe abdominal pain checked out. It's not worth the waiting.
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diverticulitis and stem cell transplant decisionUlrika said:Another case.....
I was just searching the net for other cases like my husbands.... last friday he had cytoxan to prepare for a stem cell harvest (he has mulitple mylemo, bone marrow cancer) 2 days after he had intense pain in the lower left side of his abdomen - we went to the hospital and they did a CTscan and found that he had a ruptured colon/ diverticulitis. They told us that they would operate but because of the high dose chemo and risk of infection he would probably not survive. He has survived the operation but is still in a critical stage as he is in a severe neutrapenic state (white blood cell counts are 0.4/5) have been for 2 days.
Our specialist doubted the dexamethasone was the cause but rather masked the pain of gut problem - but wondering if it was the cytoxan that pushed it to rupture. My husband has always been a bit sensitive with his gut but even after testing quite a few years ago they said he was fine.
We were told this is very rare and it happened at the worst possible time, just as the immune system was shutting down ready to "wake up" later for stem cell harvest. I just pray my husbands blood levels rise tomorrow and he survives.
My husband has also been introduced to the world of having a colostomy which should also be temporary. We will not go ahead with Stem cell transplant now unless he relapses and doesn't have other options.... hoping we can still get a harvest ... if he survives this next few days!
I found this forum searching for information about diverticulitis and chemo.
Just diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma Feb 2015, I have not yet had SCT and am in the decision making stage about whether to. I have had severe diverticulosis and some IBS for 15 years and always had it well controlled. But the constipation from my VRD- (my biologic chemo of Velcade, Revlimid and Dexamethasone) is wreaking havoc with my colon. It is extremely difficult to achieve a balance somewhere in between diarrhea and constipation with the various remedies. And I have already had one bout of diverticulitis needing treatment with IV antibiotics and requiring a hold on my Dex and Velcade that week. This is one of my big concerns about having high dose chemo of cytoxin and Melphalan for SCT.
When I was first diagnosed, I expected that it would be the bowel infection risk that would cause the most problems. 8 years ago Doctors wanted to remove half my colon. Problem for me was that all parts of the intestine were involved, so the remaining half would just keep getting worse, so I resisted and did not have surgery. I've really had to work at keeping my intestines successfully on track and now this. We meet with two different doctors this week and attend a seminar at another Myeloma center on Saturday. Hoping we can come to a decision we are comfortable with.
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diverticulitis and chemoJudithE said:diverticulitis and stem cell transplant decision
I found this forum searching for information about diverticulitis and chemo.
Just diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma Feb 2015, I have not yet had SCT and am in the decision making stage about whether to. I have had severe diverticulosis and some IBS for 15 years and always had it well controlled. But the constipation from my VRD- (my biologic chemo of Velcade, Revlimid and Dexamethasone) is wreaking havoc with my colon. It is extremely difficult to achieve a balance somewhere in between diarrhea and constipation with the various remedies. And I have already had one bout of diverticulitis needing treatment with IV antibiotics and requiring a hold on my Dex and Velcade that week. This is one of my big concerns about having high dose chemo of cytoxin and Melphalan for SCT.
When I was first diagnosed, I expected that it would be the bowel infection risk that would cause the most problems. 8 years ago Doctors wanted to remove half my colon. Problem for me was that all parts of the intestine were involved, so the remaining half would just keep getting worse, so I resisted and did not have surgery. I've really had to work at keeping my intestines successfully on track and now this. We meet with two different doctors this week and attend a seminar at another Myeloma center on Saturday. Hoping we can come to a decision we are comfortable with.
I also have severe diverticulosis that involves my entire bowel and had an attack with my first round of chemo, cytoxin and taxotere. I usually eat a high fiber diet, with a goal of 38-40 gm of fiber a day. I met with the dietician and she suggested I go on a low fiber diet to rest my bowel for 3 days after chemo, and to also start on a probiotic. I followed her instructions and had no further bowel problems But then I only had 3 more rounds of chemo to get through.
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I too have diverticulitis
I'm a 32 year old male that was diagnosed with bowel cancer and after about 4 days of chemo, I too had to go to the hospital with bad abdomen pain. Turned out to be diverticulitis. I guess its a rare thing but It was oddly comforting to know others have been through the same. I just wanted to add my story so other could see that this is something that needs to be addressed more by Dr's for those of us that have the same thing happen to us. I never felt any pain until I started treatingy cancer. Thats when the pain came. I wish diverticulitis on nobody. Almost the same pain I felt when I had a kidney stone. I have a beautiful wife and twin two year old daughters and I was begging for death to get rid of the pain. I still have 22 days left of chemo and radiation and the oncologist answer to my diverticulitis is to lower my dose of chemo by 300mg (I was on 2300mg) so I'm scared that still taking 2000mg starting Monday is just going to end in the same result. My prayers for everyone here. Let's get better together.
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diverticulitis and chemoMerv2099 said:I too have diverticulitis
I'm a 32 year old male that was diagnosed with bowel cancer and after about 4 days of chemo, I too had to go to the hospital with bad abdomen pain. Turned out to be diverticulitis. I guess its a rare thing but It was oddly comforting to know others have been through the same. I just wanted to add my story so other could see that this is something that needs to be addressed more by Dr's for those of us that have the same thing happen to us. I never felt any pain until I started treatingy cancer. Thats when the pain came. I wish diverticulitis on nobody. Almost the same pain I felt when I had a kidney stone. I have a beautiful wife and twin two year old daughters and I was begging for death to get rid of the pain. I still have 22 days left of chemo and radiation and the oncologist answer to my diverticulitis is to lower my dose of chemo by 300mg (I was on 2300mg) so I'm scared that still taking 2000mg starting Monday is just going to end in the same result. My prayers for everyone here. Let's get better together.
I have had diverticuli for years and knew going into chemo that it could trigger a flare up (though my onc kind of poo-poo'd it). Well, the first treatment of cytoxin and taxotere DID cause a flare up and I had to go on the 2 week antibiotic regime along with the bland diet until the pain went away. I met with the dietician and followed her suggestion of going on a bland low fiber diet to rest the bowel for a few days the day before and a few days after each chemo treatment, and I also started taking a probiotic pill twice a day (which I've continued post treatment). I was able to continue the remaining chemo treatments without any further bowel problems.
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Diverticulitis during chemo for breast cancer
Hi all. I am in the uk and am currently helping to care for my mother in law who has recently had a mastectomy for breast cancer and is undergoing chemo. I had to call an ambulance to her last Thursday as she had severe diahroea and hadn’t passed urine for three days. It turned out she was in acute renal failure for severe dehydration. Her CRP was 200 but as her white cells were normal they didn’t treat with antibiotics. she was in for a week on iv fluids and catheterised to monitor her urine output. She has just been allowed home and the pain and diahroea is back. She’s really struggling to get to the toilet and having accidents as it’s constant. The doc has just been back out and taken bloods and her temperature is really high. He is pretty sure it is diverticulitis as she has a history of diverticulitis. She has never had and infection with it before though. She’s still at home at the moment with oral antibiotics but Im pretty sure she will be sent back to hospital. I searched for information about chemo and diverticulitis and found this group so joined to see if you could offer any help or advice. At the moment that are still considering continuing with the chemo but I really don’t think they should. Her kidneys are now damaged and she has this as well. If they don’t they still want to give her the herceptin injections?? Does anyone have any experience they can share? Thanks in advance. Caroline x
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