I’m not taking this evening my daily dose of Votrient, the targeted chemotherapy drug that I have been taking for the last two months, in my battle with renal cell carcinoma, which I prefer to just call kidney cancer. The side effects, for me at least as this is always different from person to person, have been much easier than those with Sutent, the previous drug I was taking, but a new issue has popped up. A rash on my legs that has turned into pretty much open sores, has me visiting the Doctor tomorrow to figure out if this is a new side effect or something unrelated, and we are halting the chemo as a precaution.
I have not updated the blog in a while, so here is the latest on my cancer and the side effects of the targeted chemotherapy, Votrient. I do not have CT scans scheduled until late April, so we really don’t know where we are with tumor growth.
Fatigue: While I am not a bundle of energy, I have much more get-up-and-go than I did with Sutent, but still a mere shadow of my former self pre cancer. I spend most of my time sedentary, working/playing at a TV, iPhone or computer, and am excited to get my iPad in a week or so. The weather is getting warmer and I am looking forward to at least getting outside for an occasional walk and a ride in the convertible. I continue to get short of breath if I over exert though, and back to back trips up and down stairs forces a sit down.
Pain: I am in pretty constant pain if not taking drugs to control it, but when I take the prescribed dosage I am practically pain free. The pain is in my chest, and goes all 360 degrees around, feels similar to what I used to describe as low back pain, and it can get pretty bad. The consensus medical opinion seems to be that the pain is coming from three possible sources: as a drug side effect, as a cancer tumor growing, or as just plain old age, pinched nerve, pulled muscle kind of thing. I believe it is mostly cancer tumor related, but there is some pain from all of the issues. Some days when I know I have nothing better to do, I do not take any pain medication just to see just how bad it gets before I give up and take a pill. Time release morphine and Vicodan control this just fine for me, but the usage of these drugs brings major problems in to life, and I know that as my disease progresses I can look forward to even more pain control medications. I do not want to sleep my life away and sit all day slobbering on my remote control.
Appetite: The Votrient has really done a number on my appetite. Believe it or not I have to sometimes force myself to eat. Part of this is the taste-bud damage that has been going on for almost two years of these anti-angiogenesis drugs. Things just do not taste the same as they used to, not necessarily bad, but generally bland. My sugar addiction is one of the most powerful things in my life though, and so far, it at least keeps a few calories coming in to my body. I have lost 35 pounds over the last few months, and if I keep up at that rate, I will weigh the same as a normal person in 5 years.
Diarrhea: Sutent kept me afraid of being too far from a friendly bathroom, but the Votrient seems to be much easier, and I think I can now officially declare that it is no longer a side effect. The pain killer constipation effect may be the cause, but I am in balance so am happy.
High Blood Pressure: Daily Norvasc, Coreg, and Torsemide keep my blood pressure under control and I stay close to 125/90.
I have learned my way around the American healthcare system in the last few years. I have no problems with how my personal medical care is paid for, and how it all related to what they have been hashing out in Congress with what they call healthcare. I am working on a new rant about all of that and it is soon forthcoming.