I was diagnosed with rcc July 2nd of this year. I bumped my head, puncturing my scalp, and had to go to ER. When a CT scan was done, they found a tumor on the opposite side of my head. A full body scan showed a primary in L kidney and 2 sml metastasis to L lung.I had radiation for the brain tumor in Aug. and the latest CT scans show that it has shrunk by 1/3. The kidney tumor, though it has not grown in size, shows now to have a tumor thrombus in renal vein and multiple pariaoritic lymph node involvement, which were not there previously. I was started on Nexivar 9/23rd at 1 tab twice daily. In two weeks, it was increased to 2 tabs twice daily. I had multiple side effects, the painful burning scalp, pain on soles of feet,(to painful to walk at times), nausea, loss of appetite, fatigue, etc. When I developed a low grade temp,(101.6), I was admitted to the hosp., given IV antibiotics, and the Nexavar was stopped for a week. My WBC was 14,500. Since being released, I have been on a reduced dose and was told to increase it in 5 days to 2 tabs in am and 1 tab in pm. The 2nd day after the increase, I started having chills and my temp. was 104.degrees. Lab work was drawn & showed no elevated WBC.
I was told by the oncologist that the fever is, most likely, "Tumor Fever". Said when the tumor cells start "melting" that toxins are released that can cause fever.
Has anyone out there taking Nexivar had fever and been told this? I am now back to 1/2 dose again since I can't tolerate the full dosage. (The reason I wasn't started on Sutent first was because I have heart irregularities.) Would appreciate any information regarding Nexivar and it's side effect's in relation to their treatment.