temodal side-effects

I am new on this site and my mother language is not english

I left same message , on side effects but i thought maybe i can get an answer quicker here 

... anyway 3 mounths ago , after sever headaches and vomiting my brother (25 years old) had an MRI in which it showed that he has a massive talamic tumor and they have to insrt a shunt urgently. after the surgery he was recovering very fast but we had no idea about the type of the tumor , therefore he was send to an international center for brain deases in germany. There he had a biopsy and fortunatly the result showed that its a grade2 type and beigne. The Professors declared that the location is unoperable and after lots of discussions they started chemotherapy with Temodal. the doze of temodal taken is 210 mg which he has to take every 2 week ( one week on , one week off) for 8 weeks, last sunday was the last day of week 1, in which he had a high fever at night. I have read about side-effects of this medicine but as my brother s having problem with his short memory and mental confusion( place, time and condition) specially after he wakes up , I want to know if it is normal or not ( he was very sharp before taking medicine). he also have problem with his eyes and sees far thing double. it would be very nice of you if you tell more about side-eefects of this medicine and how we can reduce it for example by nutrition. thanks a lot

Hi there,

My friend's son had this same thing as your brother and was treated at Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore, MD.  I would check their website for a number to call.  The son had a shunt with chemo given through it, and he's doing very well now. I agree about the steroid as well.  So happy for you that it is benign.  Give them a try.

all the best to you,

janni (wife of Steve gbm iv dx11/07)

Drug Information Temodar (Temozolomide)

The common side effects of this drug are nausea and vomiting, hair loss, which is not permanent and depression of the bone marrow, the blood forming organ in the body. Bone marrow depression leads to a decrease in the number of white blood cells (important for fighting infection), a decrease in the number of platelets(important for blood clotting), and a decrease in the number of red blood cells (leading to anemia and sometimes requiring a transfusion to correct).

The common side effects of this drug are nausea and vomiting, hair loss, which is not permanent and depression of the bone marrow, the blood forming organ in the body. Bone marrow depression leads to a decrease in the number of white blood cells (important for fighting infection), a decrease in the number of platelets(important for blood clotting), and a decrease in the number of red blood cells (leading to anemia and sometimes requiring a transfusion to correct).

Is the shunt for removal of fluid?  Some of those side effects are possible side effects for a malfunctioning shunt.  My son's shunt quit working 2 times and had some of those side effects.  Just an idea.

Kozyyak

mom to Martin dx 09/08 

On 10/21/2009 kozyyak wrote:

Is the shunt for removal of fluid?  Some of those side effects are possible side effects for a malfunctioning shunt.  My son's shunt quit working 2 times and had some of those side effects.  Just an idea.

Kozyyak

mom to Martin dx 09/08 

yes the shunt is inserted for removal of fluid , but as I have mentioned before, my brother had no problem with it and his body was recovering very fast + not only the tumor had stoped growing its diamater was reduced from 4 cm to 3.8 cm

BUt after starting temodal, he has become confused and has problem with his short memory and also double vision+ other common side effects.

Now  I want to know if these side effects are reversible or not ?

or how we can reduce them ?

I wish I had an answer for those questions.  Martin has memory loss and confussion also.  He has one more dose of Temodar and I hope those side effects leave.  His dr.'s have said the side effects could go away or stay forever and we won't know until later.

Sorry I am not much help

good luck

kozyyak

On 10/21/2009 kozyyak wrote:

I wish I had an answer for those questions.  Martin has memory loss and confussion also.  He has one more dose of Temodar and I hope those side effects leave.  His dr.'s have said the side effects could go away or stay forever and we won't know until later.

Sorry I am not much help

good luck

kozyyak

I wish  martin gets well very soon , I think memory poblems are related to the drugs because today my brother's was better as he is in the middle of his week off.

I really hope that these side effects wont last long.

I do pray for your son also in the middle of the night when i pray for my brother