Tykerb and epigastric pain/right upper quadrant

[Luvcr]

I Have Been On Tykerb Since May Of 07. The Last Few Weeks I Have Been Having Unbelievable Pain In My Upper Abdomen And The Right Side Upper Region. I Have Been Having Nausea Etc.....having To Take Pain Meds And That Still Doesnt Take It Away. I Take My Tykerb 5 Pills At Night Before I Go To Bed. Doc Did Ct Of Abdomen And Hida Scan To Check My Gall Bladder. They Say It Is My Gall Bladder And It Is Set Up To Be Removed This Coming Monday. Sure Dont Want To Have Unnecessary Surgery - Has Any One Had This Type Of Pain Caused From The Tykerb? Please Email Asap. Thanks So Much. Cheryl

[Becca]

Cheryl, I have abdominal cramps at times on the T/X, but lower down than your pain. Of course you don't want to have any unnecessary surgery. However, if your doctors did tests and they feel confident it is the gall bladder causing your pain and should be removed, it must be the gall bladder. Is there a reason that you doubt what they are saying must be done? I know how hard it is to face surgery, but you will get through it just as you have with each step in the past. Hope you feel confident in what the doctors are telling you before Monday. Thinking and praying for you.

[Rupali]

Hi,
I have been on tykerb alone since November 29th, 2007. I also take 5 pills at night and suddenly from last one week have a dull achy pain on the right side just below my ribs...
Did you also start having dull achy pain in the begining......

I am seeing my onc on Monday but I am really scared as to what it is...
Regards,
Rupali

[hutchibk]

It is not unusual to have a coincidental medical dx while going through cancer treatment... chances are that even if you weren't in cancer treatment, you might have gall stones and need your gall bladder out. Here's an informative website: http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/what_symptoms_of_gallstones_gallbladder_disease_00 0010_2.htm

[chrisy]

Oh, Brenda you little heartbreaker. You mean that other things can go wrong that are completely unrelated to cancer????? On the other hand, it's sure funny that we can feel relieved to have arthritis, slipped discs, etc etc!

[hutchibk]

I know Chrisy - hard to believe! LOL. It is so easy for us to assume that everything is related to our cancer. I bruised a rib the other day and it is pretty painful. I saw the doc today and asked if it could be related. He looked at me an laughed and said, nope, sorry to disappoint, it's just a bruised rib and has nothing to do with cancer... what a relief that was, ouch.

[Kristi]

I have recently started taking Tykerb Xeloda, and am wondering if anyone can give an idea of how long it takes before it should start working?

[hutchibk]

Hi Kristi - I saw less enhancement of my brain mets (3 of them, appx 9 mm each) after 1 month, shrinkage of the brain mets by almost 1/2 by 3.5 months, and all were completely gone, as well as bone met in neck, at 5 months. I am now staying on the combo (at 8.5 months) and still NED-i.e. no evidence of disease. Of course, everyone is different, but I have had wonderful luck with this combo.

You should post this as a new question to be sure others see it and you can get a good range of answers... just click on 'new thread' at the top of the Herceptin/Tykerb page.

[Unregistered]

I'm on the combo herceptin and tykerb, I take 4 pills, I rashing so bad my face and nose I feel like i'm on fire. My pet scan is normal. My dr. said to reduce to 3 pills. I like to have a break from all meds...so tired of this, but no pain, just diarea bad.

[Nancy L]

Gallbladder surgery is not invasive most of the time these days. My sister had to have hers removed while she was a cancer patient. I wonder if there is a higher incidence of failed gallbladders for cancer patients.

[Unregistered]

My mother (Michigan, U.P.) has been on Tykerb and Herceptin for the last year or so. She is currently having trouble with gall bladder pain, "sludge"(tiny stones) in the gall bladder, with fluid around the gall bladder.

These medications have been keeping the breast cancer that metasized to her liver at a standstil, or very slow progression, but the intense gall bladder pain is unbearable. She has to go in for shots of demerol and try to stay on a very bland and limited diet of rice, clear liquids, etc.

Her oncologist is being contacted and will read her HIDA scan that she just had yesterday, Jan. 30, 1012.

Best wishes to you, and my God bless! I know how painful that condition must be.

Sincerely,
Karen N.

[Unregistered]

My mom's report on her HIDA test was NORMAL. Doc says they don't know what caused the gall bladder attacks, but she can resume her normal life. She still has to be very careful what she eats, though, as she could have another attack. We are guessing it is the medications.

[PatE]

HI,
I am on Herceptin and Tykerb (5 pills) and experiencing some right side/upper stomach pain. I had the HIDA scan done but said my gallbladder is fine. I am also experiencing upper left arm muscle pain near the shoulder cap, gets pretty intense at times. I feel like I am falling apart, is anyone else experiencing these symptoms. The arm pain starts soon after the stomach starts feeling sick. I generally just feel tired all the time.
I have been on Herceptin since 2008 and Tykerb since this past February.
Thanks for any help.
Pat

[Emy]

I have been taking tykerb 6 pills per day with herceptin every 3 weeks since march 2012....'herceptin stopped working after 6 months...I also get pain in my upper right side and am nausea sometimes.....pet scan was better this time and tumor markers dropped from 86 to 37......