Stomach pain grade vi glioblastoma

View all Brain Cancer Discussions Post A New Discussion

11 Posts | Page(s): 1 2 Next

My good friend was diagnosed with grade vi glioblastoma in July 2 dAys after his 32nd bday what a bday present. Overall he has been doing well wit chemo and radiation recently he has had severe stomach pain to the point where he's not eating and basically hasn't gotten out of bed is it possible he has developed an ulcer with all the meds he has been taking. He basically a walking pharmacy. Besides the stomach pain evrything is going ok last 2 scans have been good nothing has grown or no new tumors. So I guess I could use some input on the stomach pain. Thanks mike

Quote | Reply

siblingof
(Inactive)

Stop Tracking
Track Thread
Email Friend

Mike, it seems like it could be caused by the Temodar. A lot of people (most) have digestive troubles from the Temodar, though usually it's nausea and constipation. It's important to not eat 2 hrs before and 1 hr after taking Temodar. Could be one of the other drugs he's taking but Temodar's my first choice as the culprit.

Quote | Reply

Cook1021

Yea I'm pretty sure he follows the protocol well wit the eating before and after the temodar he takes another pill an hour before the temodar and is always good wit the not eating part. They recently put him on diffferent regiment wit 5 days on temodar but double dose then 20 days off so on and forth so not sure maybe that has something to do with it Thanks

Quote | Reply

Cook1021

Also do you know anything about lamictal xr. They just switch him to that a few weeks ago and he hasn't been feeling himself since they switched him to that for his seizures not sure what he was on before that

Quote | Reply

SarahGrey

I'm guessing your friend is also taking steroids? Is he taking Pantoprazole? It's pretty much necessary that he take that drug to protect the stomach from steroid damage. Good luck!

Sarah

Quote | Reply

SarahGrey

PS - did he tell his doc about the pain? You mentioned he just started the "double-dose" of 5 days on, 20 (or 23?) off. This is a test-run to see how he handles a stronger dose. If he can not tolerate the stronger dose, his doc needs to know asap. :(

Quote | Reply

Cook1021

I'm not sure of the other meds to protect his stomach but ill talk to him about it though thanks for the info And yes it's 23 days off they didn't say anything a about a trial run this is the second round of the 5 on 23 days off so I will also talk to him about that. Thank you so much for the info

Quote | Reply

Cook1021

And yes he is taking steroids and a lot of them so I will find out more details

Quote | Reply

SarahGrey

yes, he definitely needs something to protect his stomach from the steroids :(

Also, we didnt know about the 'trial run' either. it was only after the doc increased the dose that he told my husband 'ok, now that you handled a stronger dose, we'll increase it one more to full strength.' wow.

basically, with Temodar, it seems the 42 days are at a low dose. Then, when you start 5 on, 23 off, the dose is increased. If you handle it well then the next time (and future rounds) it's increased to the full strength.

Quote | Reply

GeeBeeEm

Well - a grade 6 glioblastoma is pretty serious (sorry - I'm a pedant. A glioblastoma is technically a grade 4 astrocytoma).

I think the others have nailed it- it's either the temozolomide or the steroids.

I'm more than 4 months past the end of my 'high dose' Temodar adjuvant therapy (so a good year past where your friend is with the same disease), and my stomach still hasn't returned to 100% normal, although it's certainly better than when I was on the drugs. Have him eat lots of fruit, veggies and a high-fiber diet, and stay hydrated.

Good luck!

Quote | Reply

11 Posts | Page(s): 1 2 Next