anyone have experience with pre existing bowel problems starting Acalabrutinib

[tatly]

age 77 recent sugery

[mk2045]

I've had "loose bowels" for some time and was worried when I started acalabrutinib. My situation has not changed much, or at least been problematic.

[tryandtry]

I'm 80, & had a serious stroke nearly 40 years ago that has affected my bowels ever since. To be blunt, I'm on a very short leash (like, never more than 50 feet from a toilet) every day until I "go".

I took Calquence for nearly two years, some 1-3 years ago. It had only a minor effect on my bowels, requiring me to take 1 loperamide pill every couple of weeks, when my bowels got especially loose. Calquence was a pretty good CLL drug for me, but it quit working after about 2 years, and I switched to Venetoclax. I've been on V for only 9 months, but so far it's been both effective against my CLL, and slightly better on my bowels (I'm still on the short leash, but can stray a bit farther if I've had no "urges").

Hope this helps.

Gary

[tatly in reply to tryandtry]

did you have any other side effects from acalabrutinib ?

[tryandtry]

Very minor rash (dime-sized or smaller red spots, usually on my back or chest, or arms - but not sore or itched). It was a good drug, while it worked - but that was for less than 2 years.

[tatly in reply to tryandtry]

many thanks Gary your answers make me feel much more comfortable with the idea of taking this drug regards TAT