Afinitor for Breast Cancer User Reviews

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 25, 2013

"I was one of the few people who could not take it. It attacked my body along with the cancer. Quit taking it after 2 months, but it would not flush from my system. My skin was bad from dehydration, as it did not allow my body to absorb moisture in my arms and legs. My skin looked like parchment with nothing under it but bone and a little flesh. Lost over 20 pounds in about a month. Finally, my regular doctor put me in the hospital - as I found some men in Australia had to do. I was given I.V.s for 5 days and am feeling much better. It is a good medicine, but some people just cannot take it."

• its...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 9, 2014

"I've been taking it for 5 months. After 6 weeks on 10 mg, my lymphedema arm got infected and really swollen. I was told it was shingles and Lyme disease. After 2 rounds of antibiotics, I went back on 5 mg. My subsequent scans show liver mets decreasing. My insurance cap was exceeded after 1 month ($$$), but I qualified for a Novartis program for free medicines-check it out. Side effects on 10 mg were intense-like chemo. 5 mg is much more tolerable, still, I must take Protonix every day for gastric upset. And I get really itchy."

• wrd...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 31, 2015

"Stage 4 with lymph and bone metastasis. Never on infusion chemo due to my autonomic diabetic nerve damage. Hormone treatments failed. Tamoxifen gave me terrible forgetfulness. Took Xeloda. At 6 months, scan showed cancer gone, except in a giant ulcer on the chest. Then Xeloda failed and cancer spread rapidly. Afinitor worked quickly with visible changes in two weeks. Four weeks, ulcer showing definitely better. Been about 5 months. Cat scan showed no cancer active. Ulcer a third smaller and still healing. Cancer itching totally relieved, although some itching as larger tumors heal. Had some slight nose bleeding issues early on, but with summer humidity, no problem. Chronic slight cough and congestion. Short of breath but can walk."

• Lif...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 15, 2016

"Although the medication did effectively treat my cancer, the side effects were so severe that I decided to discontinue use of the drug and try an alternate treatment. Skin rash started on my hands initially and spread to my entire body, causing severe itching and scratching, which led to something looking like opened bug bites all over. Severe gum irritation, described by my dental hygienist as your gums are flapping in the wind, also red swollen gums, which caused me to be unable to eat anything not soft. Lost 10 lbs the first two months. Also, projectile vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea. At three months, I found it had made me diabetic and raised my triglycerides to over 500. That's when I opted to stop treatment."

• Dai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 10, 2018

"It was the worst experience ever with this medicine. I DO NOT RECOMMEND it at all. Please don’t take it. This is a TOXIC medicine. My mum used it, it caused her lung problems, lung embolism, lung inflammation, and MALIGNANT LYMPHOMA, and she died after using this TOXIC medicine. She used the 10 mg from March to May, then 5 mg from May to June, and she stopped it after suffering from allergies. She lost over 27 kilograms in a short period."

• Fig...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 19, 2020

"I have been taking Afinitor for about 2 weeks. Just feel I cannot continue in with it, feeling like my heart is racing for hours after taking it, it feels close to a panic feeling. No mouth sores(yet) doing the steroid mouth swish as ordered. However, I suddenly have a cluster of large pimple like sores on inner thighs, my skin in general feels very dry. I just cannot deal with sores and am terrified they will become wide spread. I was on Ibrance a year and then it stopped working. The only side effect was fatigue, that I can deal with but sores - no. calling my doctor and telling him the side effects are too much! Give me a med that has fewer serious side effects! I have not taken it long enough to evaluate if it is even being effective. Just no the side effects have begun right away."

• MCH...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 15, 2022

"My sister has breast cancer metastasized to liver. She took affinitor for seven weeks. Mouth sores, rapid heart rate, fatigue and diarrhea and the cancer increased in size. Now she will be put on chemo. She is not living in US. Any helpful advice you can share please?"

• lov...
• June 8, 2013

"Don't have any side effects, only mild tiredness. Been taking it for three weeks."

• Sue...
• January 10, 2013

"Within 7 days of taking Afinitor, the fluid in my lung decreased."

• cec...
• June 11, 2015

"On this drug for 2 weeks, had severe side effects, swelling of both hands, rash, and small bubbles started appearing (pop it like water). Now it's on both feet, armpit. I had to stop taking it."

• Lif...
• March 15, 2016

"Although the medication did effectively treat my cancer, the side effects were so severe that I decided to discontinue use of the drug and try an alternate treatment."