how manage side effects of Mekinist (a MEK inhibitor)?

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turtle
Posts: 30
Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2015 5:02 pm
Location: Encinitas, CA
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how manage side effects of Mekinist (a MEK inhibitor)?

Postby turtle » Wed Dec 13, 2017 4:32 pm

Hi. I'm putting this post out here even if it takes a long time for people to reply.

Does anyone have advice on how to manage the gastrointestinal side effects of Mekinist/trametinib (a MEK inhibitor like cobimetinib)? I am armed with loperamide and cheap products that can be purchased from a drug store. I would like to learn how to reduce the number of diarrhea episodes that I have, and the GI symptoms (like "semi-burning poo-poo intestinal feeling" and "I want to poop but it won't happen"-feeling), and the chest tightness which I assume is GERD. I wonder if loperamide can work prophylactically, or if some antacids reduce symptoms.
Feb. 2015 at age 39: Dx stage IIIb cecal cancer extending into appendix
March 2015 at age 40: Began FOLFOX, discontinuing early after 10 cycles due to suicidal ideation and difficulty moving
Oct. 2016 at age 41: Dx stage IV with 3 metastases to lungs (one 3.7 cm x 2.2 cm) and 1 to liver
KRAS-mutation positive

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

Re: how manage side effects of Mekinist (a MEK inhibitor)?

Postby Lee » Sun Dec 17, 2017 7:32 pm

I don't have any real answers, just a bump back up to the top, hopefully someone can answer your question.

Do you see a GI doc? Have your ever been scoped going down the throat into your stomach?

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!

turtle
Posts: 30
Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2015 5:02 pm
Location: Encinitas, CA
Contact:

Re: how manage side effects of Mekinist (a MEK inhibitor)?

Postby turtle » Sun Dec 17, 2017 8:52 pm

I have a GI doc for colonoscopies. I had an EGD done in 2014 which found that I have chronic atrophic gastritis, and some of my gastric mucosa has disappeared.
Feb. 2015 at age 39: Dx stage IIIb cecal cancer extending into appendix
March 2015 at age 40: Began FOLFOX, discontinuing early after 10 cycles due to suicidal ideation and difficulty moving
Oct. 2016 at age 41: Dx stage IV with 3 metastases to lungs (one 3.7 cm x 2.2 cm) and 1 to liver
KRAS-mutation positive

Tim UK
Posts: 76
Joined: Fri Jun 12, 2015 1:05 am

Re: how manage side effects of Mekinist (a MEK inhibitor)?

Postby Tim UK » Tue Dec 19, 2017 5:12 pm

Hi
I was on a MEK inhibitor for 9 months in 2016. The GI adverse effects were varied and changed throughout the treatment (malabsorption, diarrhoea, cramping etc.). I would strongly recommend seeing a GI specialist who can monitor you and address each of these if/when they arise. It's tough to figure it out on one's own and their toolkit is broader than just anti-diarrhoea meds.
Best wishes
Tim
https://youtu.be/qoQbY4A5RNA
05/15 L hemi-colectomy
05/15 Dx st 3 T4N2M0 @43
kids: now 13, 10
BRAFm mucinous - KRASw
06/15 liver mets
06/15 CEA 9, CA19-9 400+
06/15 - 09/15 6 x FOLFOXIRI+Avastin
09/15 markers 4/50
10/15 drain-site met
11/15 CRS+HIPEC
1-8/16 BRAF triplet (dabrafenib, panitumumab, trametinib)
CEA;CA19-9: range 16;650 to 1;36 back to 4;135
8/16 progression
10/16-6/18 : NCT02650713
7/18-9/18 : anti-GITR; ERK inhib
10/18-4/19: folfoxiri+avastin
7/19-9/19 enco+cetux+Bini
10-19 starting regonivo


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