Question on new med -Votrient

Watch your blood pressure real well. also the protein in your one kidney. For these reasons my Dr. took me off of it. 

rhominator -- you give me hope.

I have been on Votrient for 6 months.  At first, I tolerated it well.  Now, diarrhea and immodium are my friends.  My blood pressure shot through the roof but is controlled now.  White hair everywhere.  Hair dresser keeps my head and eyebrows in good shape with color.  Fatigue in the evening.  Taste in foods have changed.  But, last scans showed massive decrease in tumors in lungs and NED everywhere else.  So...it working.

I was on 800 and then reduced to 600 because of infection.  Holding at 600.  Dr allows me to take an immodium right when I eat to control the diarrhea.  So far so good and i don't have stomach cramps like I do when I eat.  Something to think about.

Also - I don't know if you are reacting to the meds because for me it seems like the longer I take it the more side effects I get.   Hope you feel better.

I had my left kidney removed in May of 2012. Yearly scans after that. Found a mass in the lymph node in my chest in June 2014. Had not taken any medication to that point. Had a media stenoscopy to get a biopsy of the mass. Both samples were negative but the thoracic surgeorn said that it looked like cancer to him. Waited a few months, had another scan and the mass had grown. Doctors decided to radiate the area. That was done in October, 2014 around Halloween time. Waited till January to see what the results would be. First scan after the radiation showed reduction in the size of the mass. That was January 2015. My oncologist started me on Votirent a few weeks later. Subsequent scans showed continue reduction. Right now it is stable and shows no signs of regrowth. Doctor would like to have it removed but too close to vital areas like my aorta. The Votrient has not been that bad. First month my hair started turning white. It is all white now, all over my body, and it thinned a little but still looks good. Do have some fatigue, but not terrible. Have to rest a little more often when I do chores, but it really doesn't keep me from doing anything. The worst side effects are intestinal. I developed pancreatitis from the Votrient. Not many people do but it has been documented. At first my oncologist thought the cancer may have spread to my pancreas, but after extensive testing that was ruled out and the likely cause of my difficulty is the drug. The intestinal problems are the worst thing for me, but they are manageable. Eat a healthy diet and stay away from fats and it will be a lot better. I also take a liquid probiotic in the morning and evening and that helps. Also make sure to take a good multivitamin. So for me about 1 year and 7 months so far. You may go through up and down cycles (feeling good and bad), I do. Overall I would say that this drug is not a problem for me to take. Hope that it is the same for you. It seems to be helping me.

Sammie23 said:

OPDIVO

My oncologist has taken me off the Votrient. They now are wanting to put me on Opdivo every 2 weeks. It almost feels like a step back. When I had gotten off the IV chemo years ago I was put on pills which was a blessing in disguise. Since I work full time managing my meds was much easier. Now Im going to have to manage my life around the time I need to take off to do the Infusion treatment.

Now im worrying about the cost of everything, from office visits, meds and a new surgery ahead of me (2nd one in 5 months). It been pretty overwhelming and Im hoping this will pass to where things will work out. Especially praying that the medicine will work for me.

The phrase when it rains it pours... well I feel as if Im in a hurricane.

I'm sorry to hear that Votrient didn't work for you.  That 'cabo' med that foxhd and Teashea are on sure sounds interesting for a 2nd line treatment.  Its an oral med.