More Tykerb Tales: All I Got for Christmas ...
Was a huge zit on the end of my nose. Make that three zits, or five.
My battle to adjust to the new chemo drug, Tykerb, continues. This is the drug that I'm calling "Son of Herceptin," because it is a targeted therapy that works in somewhat the same way as Herpceptin does, but better. If you can tolerate it. And that's been the problem.
The first side effect of Tykerb is problems in the lower GI tract, also known as diarrhea. I've written about this before, and my struggle to adjust my dose to a manageable level.
My doctor suggested cutting the dose, and then alternating doses (four pills one day, five the next, and then back to four). But he also said to stay on a lower dose (only three or four pills a day instead of the recommended dose of five) if that's what I need to do to avoid spending my entire life in the bathroom.
So I've been playing with that, although I also took several days completely off the Tykerb while I was feeling the worst effects of my last round of radiation--in bed, sick as a dog, for almost four full days.
But in the meantime, I started experiencing the second common side effect of Tykerb, a rash, complete with nasty, nasty pimples.
I haven't had acne for decades, so this was a very unwelcome side effect, although Dr. Livingston had told me he is seeing it in his patients on Tykerb, so I was warned. He, and my doctor in Seattle, recommended an antibiotic, minocycline, to take twice a day.
I've never heard of this one, but apparently it's quite effective for this kind of acne. The only problem is that you aren't supposed to have any dairy products within one hour of taking the drug, because that lessens its effectiveness.
I think I need to work out a time table for all my drugs--the Tykerb is also supposed to be taken on an empty stomach. And it is a drugstore around here, as I've said before. Someday soon I'll put up a post listing all the drugs I'm taking ... Just for fun.
So back to the zits.
This is a pretty nasty outbreak, as I said, with new pimples coming up every day on my chin, around my nose, and in my ears, which really hurts. I've only been on the antibiotic for a few days (and one day I threw up right after taking it, but didn't repeat the dose), so I suppose it's too soon to see results.
In the meantime, makeup!
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@ Jeanne Sather 2007.
A reader sent me this e-mail, and I decided to post it. I'm not the only one getting zits from Tykerb!
"I just read your message about the acne… Thank goodness I am not alone, I am breaking out like a teenager, this is terrible. I have been on tykerb for about 2 weeks now. The 'rhea' seems better but the acne is getting worse. It has spread to my chest and belly now. Crazy business this cancer stuff. I am so glad you have a positive attitude, I do too."
Posted by: jeanne | December 28, 2007 at 11:21 AM