My mom is taking the medicine called gleevec for gastrointestinal stromal tumors. This is the second time around with the drug. The first time she had her tumor removed and it stayed away with the gleevec for five years. A few little tumors came back, (if they ever were completely gone) a few months ago and she's taking it again with a major side effect of diarrhea. Is there anything she can take safely that could help her side effect?
Is there anything that can lessen the side effects of diarrhea from Gleevec? Not room for?
- Posted:
- 17 Dec 2009 by fanatribe266
- Topics:
- gleevec, diarrhea, gastrointestinal disorders, gastrointestinal stromal tumor, side effect
Details:
Answers (4)
itsmetoo2
barbles241317 Dec 2009
Wow I wish that this answer was easy but I really feel that whoever is treating your Mom would be best to suggest what would help the side effects of this medication. I wish I could help more but I would not want to give any advise that would make matters worse. Good Luck and God Bless. It is my hope that all you needed was a little help to convince you that a call to the doctor is not inappropriate. God Bless Barb
fanatribe266
17 Dec 2009
Thanks for your honesty and your thoughts. God bless. Right
barbles2413
17 Dec 2009
Anytime and I hope you have a great holiday. Take Care and God Bless
3 Nov 2011
I have been on Gleevec for nearly 5 years and also suffer with severe diarrhea. I take imodium 4 mg (2 tablets) prophylactically before eating on the advice of a gastroenterologist. It seems to help a lot, although does not completely control the diarrhea. It is important to take it before the diarrhea gets started, thus before each meal seems to help. Once you have the diarrhea for the day, pretty much nothing stops it. I also take a fiber supplement every day and that helps, and also calcium (without magnesium).
I am not totally diarrhea-free, but close.
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Thanks for replying! Not a bad idea.
I am quite excited when I came across this article.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090805084953.htm
Finding Key To Cancer Drug Gleevec's Limitations
ScienceDaily (Aug. 7, 2009) — University of Michigan researchers have developed an animal model that provides strong evidence why imatinib, marketed as Gleevec, helps patients with chronic myeloid leukemia survive longer, but does not keep the disease from returning if treatment ends
If you live anywhere near The Univ. of Michigan Ann Arbor, I would contact the physician below as with this and other write ups. She seems the most knowledgeable in the field of CML and understanding how Gleeves works. They may have a clinical trial comming up.
She sounds like the blessing you are looking for.
Theodora S. Ross, M.D., Ph.D.
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Abnormal HIP1 and cancer biology