Irinotecan induced bloating?

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LMighty
Posts: 98
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2016 6:16 am
Location: Hong Kong

Irinotecan induced bloating?

Postby LMighty » Thu May 18, 2017 12:58 am

Anyone on Irinotecan experienced bloating? After my mom's third infusion her belly increasingly feels filled up and looks enlarged. We were scared of possible ascites but our onc said it's very very unlikely. He said most people get diarrhea and some like my mom get bloating...
Supporter to my mom (64 yr); KRAS wild type; MSS

2012: DX Stage I, rectal cancer; resection and colostomy
5/16: DX Stage III, mets found; right groin lymph node and soft tissue
5-6/16: Radiation + Xeloda
7/16: DX Stage IV, pleural effusion; cancer cells found in fluid
7-12/16: Xelox + Avastin X 6
1/17: Clean PET scan, NED
2/17: Pleural effusion; recurrence
4/17: Iri + Erb X 3
5/17: Ascites; Chemo failed
6/17: Keytruda X 1
7/17: TECENTRIQ (atezolizumab) + COTELLIC (cobimetinib)
9/17: At peace

Lee
Posts: 6207
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:09 pm

Re: Irinotecan induced bloating?

Postby Lee » Thu May 18, 2017 12:11 pm

My first thought was ascites too. Is there anything they can give her for relief? Or will it go away on it's own?

Hope she feels better soon.

Lee
rectal cancer - April 2004
46 yrs old at diagnoses
stage III C - 6/13 lymph positive
radiation - 6 weeks
surgery - August 2004/hernia repair 2014
permanent colostomy
chemo - FOLFOX
NED - 16 years and counting!

LMighty
Posts: 98
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2016 6:16 am
Location: Hong Kong

Re: Irinotecan induced bloating?

Postby LMighty » Thu May 18, 2017 12:49 pm

My mom feels a bit better after taking loperamide and emptying bowels, but then she also eats frequently to fight the nausea and keep energy level, so the bloating feeling does not go away for long.

X-ray on Monday showed that the pleural fluid is slowly draining. Our onc was confident that it means chemo is working systemically so ascites is very very unlikely to happen. He did not even bother to do a ultrasonic.

I just called the clinic today to see if the onc would prescribe some pills for relief or consider further scan... I hope it goes away on its own. The scare is overwhelming.
Supporter to my mom (64 yr); KRAS wild type; MSS

2012: DX Stage I, rectal cancer; resection and colostomy
5/16: DX Stage III, mets found; right groin lymph node and soft tissue
5-6/16: Radiation + Xeloda
7/16: DX Stage IV, pleural effusion; cancer cells found in fluid
7-12/16: Xelox + Avastin X 6
1/17: Clean PET scan, NED
2/17: Pleural effusion; recurrence
4/17: Iri + Erb X 3
5/17: Ascites; Chemo failed
6/17: Keytruda X 1
7/17: TECENTRIQ (atezolizumab) + COTELLIC (cobimetinib)
9/17: At peace

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mypinkheaven
Posts: 459
Joined: Fri May 20, 2016 4:29 pm
Facebook Username: Sally Cunningham
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Re: Irinotecan induced bloating?

Postby mypinkheaven » Thu May 18, 2017 1:00 pm

LMighty wrote:My mom feels a bit better after taking loperamide and emptying bowels, but then she also eats frequently to fight the nausea and keep energy level, so the bloating feeling does not go away for long.


I just had my 7th infusion of Irinotecan last week and my colon is miserable this week. It cramped up so much I needed to take a Norco. From my experience Irinotean can be rough and the bowels. Loperamide might be her best bet unless she gets constipated. I use Miralax for constipation. 8)
MSS, KRAS Wild NRAS Mutated
9/2012 CRC IIB Lft Colectomy 0 lymph nodes 0 Chemo
10/2013 CT clear
11/15 CEA 2.7 to 4.6
11/15 Spread to uterus. Hysterectomy
2/16 Pelvic radiation 25, brachytherapy 3
4/16 - 6/16 Xeloda
6/16 CT Several lung nodules 5 mm
8/16 CT Nodules still present. Most stable. Some growth
11/16 Transfer to UCSD Moores
12/16 Folfox + Avastin failed
2/17 Folfiri + Erbitux
8/17 5FU+Erbitux No 5FU bolus
7/18 Spread to vagina
6/18 Folfiri + Avastin + Trametinib
6/18 CEA dropping

LMighty
Posts: 98
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2016 6:16 am
Location: Hong Kong

Re: Irinotecan induced bloating?

Postby LMighty » Thu May 18, 2017 1:38 pm

mypinkheaven wrote:
LMighty wrote:My mom feels a bit better after taking loperamide and emptying bowels, but then she also eats frequently to fight the nausea and keep energy level, so the bloating feeling does not go away for long.


I just had my 7th infusion of Irinotecan last week and my colon is miserable this week. It cramped up so much I needed to take a Norco. From my experience Irinotean can be rough and the bowels. Loperamide might be her best bet unless she gets constipated. I use Miralax for constipation. 8)


Sorry to hear that. I think my mom also got a mild constipation as there was minimal stool the first two days after infusion. No cramps though!

The loperamide was intended for diarrhea which never happened to my mom. Drug description says it also works for bloating so I suggested her to take it anyway.

I hope you feels better soon!
Supporter to my mom (64 yr); KRAS wild type; MSS

2012: DX Stage I, rectal cancer; resection and colostomy
5/16: DX Stage III, mets found; right groin lymph node and soft tissue
5-6/16: Radiation + Xeloda
7/16: DX Stage IV, pleural effusion; cancer cells found in fluid
7-12/16: Xelox + Avastin X 6
1/17: Clean PET scan, NED
2/17: Pleural effusion; recurrence
4/17: Iri + Erb X 3
5/17: Ascites; Chemo failed
6/17: Keytruda X 1
7/17: TECENTRIQ (atezolizumab) + COTELLIC (cobimetinib)
9/17: At peace


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