Tips and tricks on addressing Side Effects

laguna24
laguna24 Member Posts: 91

Hi, All

As I am going through my treatment of mBC ILC I, like many others, have Side Effects that I’m trying to overcome to be on the treatment and lead my life as normal as possible. So I decided to post some tips that worked for me.

When my recurrence was discovered during endoscopy I had small lesion in my stomach (among other mets). What I dealt with is the dumping syndrom. Food was going down right through my stomach into my intestines. The food is processed and nutrients get absorbed in the stomach, not in intestines. So I was unable to gain any weight back and felt fatigue.

What helped me? Start day with protein or protein shakes. Eat your meals often, but in small amounts. Avoid any cold drinks right after food intake. Instead lay down for about 30-40 minutes to let your food stay in the stomach. Avoid sour or low pH foods that cause acid reflux, like tomatoes, citrus etc. Instead switch to a high pH diet and water. You can find these foods by Googling.

I also developed unbearable rash in response to my treatment on Kisqali plus Letrozole. I started antihistamine Allegra 180 mg as a non -drowsy medication so I can function the next day. It did not work. I reported it to my medical team. They wanted to take me off of Kisqali. But I figured out it’s mostly Letrozole that caused the rash. My doctor switched me to Aromasin. The itching in a lighter form was still there as both Kisqali and Letrozole have itching and rash as the side effects. So I did some research and found that in addition to Allegra that addresses H1R there is also Famotidine that addresses H2R. It works and I can continue with my medications.

Please share your tips. They can help others. What works for you?

Comments

  • moderators
    moderators Posts: 8,609


    Thank you for sharing your experiences, and tips. I hope others can chime in.

    Not sure you know, but we offer a Metastatic Lobular Breast Cancer virtual zoom meetup the Third Thursday of every month, 2pm ET. Join others also diagnosed with metastatic lobular breast cancer to share the unique experiences that come with this diagnosis. This monthly meetup is a collaboration between Breastcancer.org and the Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance. Register in advance for this meeting.

    You can sign up here (it's free, by the way!):

    https://breastcancer-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUtfuivpzstE91ffPYF3Kz7iZS_DFyR32gu#/registration

  • laguna24
    laguna24 Member Posts: 91

    thank you. Just did.

  • amel_83
    amel_83 Member Posts: 234

    Thank you for your post!

    I have an advise about something that happened to me recently.

    I had diarrhea for months, due to all the medicines. I was taking imodium from time to time. It make me feel weird, tired, bloated...it doesn't allow me to use the toilet for 2/3 days, than when i finally can go to the bathroom off course I have d. again...

    So i really don't like it.

    Last week i went to the farmacy to get my monthly Decapeptyl shot and I saw a natural product for d.

    I wouldn't tough it would work, as I already tried all kind of probiotics, lactobacillus, diet variations...but the farmacist told me that this medicine works in a different way, it is an astringent.

    So I tryed it out, and it is a week I don't have d.! It seem crazy to me after all those moths!

    The pills are basically a complex of tannins and polyphenols. I imagine every farmacy have something similar.

    It allow me to go to the toilet daily and normally, without blocking my belly like imodium does.

    I skip a day during the week and still I didn't got any d.

    Off course when I will stop taking the pills for a longer period I will go back to have d., as it is caused by medications, but having a normal toilet week was relieving!

    Anyways, if something else will come to my mind I will post it.

  • laguna24
    laguna24 Member Posts: 91

    @amel_83 Thank you for chiming in. Can you share the name if that medication? It will be easier to find it or to look for analogous medication.