Afinitor Help!

kayrnic

My doctor said I have to go off of afinitor (which last scan showed it was working) because my blood sugar is so high as well as my liver enzymes. She said once my numbers are in normal range, we can cut the dose and re start the med. The other option is to scrap the afinitor and move on to Xeloda. I'm so discouraged! I've never had to quit a med because of side effects! Especially one that is working. Anyone have similar issues? Anything I can do to try and improve my numbers? Thanks!

artistatheart

I had to quit Letrozole/Ibrance because of high liver enzymes. hit for two week and went back on Faslodex/Ibrance lower dose and did fine if that helps at all....

pajim

I quit Afinitor after three cycles because it caused pneumonitis (lung inflammation). I was taking it was Aromasin and Ibrance.

The drug was simply causing too much trouble. I didn't like the mouth sores much either, so Xeloda it was.

I will say one thing. . .giving up the hormonals and moving to a chemo, even an oral one, was a wrench. You feel like you've taken a step towards death. So I totally understand your reluctance to move on.

Maybe the lower dose will do the trick!

P.S. My onc says he hates Afinitor. He uses it but he hates it. Causes more trouble than it is worth.

ShetlandPony

Kay, if Afinitor was working and your side effects were not too bad, it seems worth it to try a lower dose. If the liver enzymes go down but the blood sugar does not, is it possible to use metformin to control blood sugar? (I hope that is not a stupid question.) For liver numbers, all I know is avoid alcohol. If you do move to Xeloda, come on over to the thread. When I quit Afinitor + Faslodex because they didn't work, I was like, Oh no, I'm moving to chemo. But now in my daily life X seems like no bigger deal than the anti-estrogen treatments and it is working very well.

kayrnic

Shetland pony.....I am on metformin but only for the last 10 days. Probably not enough time for it to kick in. I will probably try the lower dose, if things get back to normal. I’m glad to hear Xeloda works well for so many. Just so complicated