New to Truqap and faslodex

[jltorcz]

After a year on Kisqali and letrazole, I will be strting

Truqap and faslodex next week. My oncologist and I decided this was the best course of action as opposed to the trial with Astrazenica and the new Genomic drug.

He knows I have a planned trip to Scotland in May, traveling from California, and I am very, very concerned bout managing the side effects.

Any advice when taking this new regimen will be greatly appreciated. For example, do the side effects get better during the 3days off or stay about the same ? Can you manage the diarrhea without becoming constipated which can be worse than the diarrhea .

Other than lots of cream and moisturizing, any other suggestions for the rash?

And do I need to forgo all sweets?

Any suggestions will be so much appreciated .

[GiGi00]

Everyone is different but here is my experience. First few weeks I got rash on legs and arms. I was taking Claritin in the morning, then switched to zyrtec at night which took care of that.

I didn't get diarrhea right away but when I did I took 2 immodium at first bought and if I still had 1 each time. It is controllable.

My worst problem was the nausea. It got so bad I couldn't force myself to eat. Got very weak and lost weight. Then I was given ondansetron which really helps. Since you take it every 6 hrs I was also given prochlorperaz which you can alter these two every 3 hrs.

Keep hydrated, lots of water and any hydrating drink like gatorade or pedialyt.

Many have few side effects , we are all different. Hope this helps and I hope you are one that tolerates it well.

Good luck!

[jltorcz in reply to GiGi00]

thanks so much. You have been very helpful.

[MettavivorDS]

I’ve been taking Truqap and fulvestrant since June, 2024. I like this treatment a lot and find the side effects easy to manage. The 4 days on/3 off schedule helps with managing the side effects. The symptoms get better on the off days. I take my Truqap Monday thru Thursday, so I can feel better on the weekend. On Sundays, I fell my best.

For me, the loose stools and occasional diarrhea isn’t bad enough to require any treatment. I take two different antihistamines each day(Allegra in AM and Xyzal at night) and haven’t gotten a rash. The dry skin does require lots of extra moisturizer. My hair has thinned, but not enough for anyone to notice. It’s my nails that have the worst of it. After 6 months on the Truqap, my nails suddenly became brittle and started breaking and splitting a lot. I now use a nail strengthening gel to hold the nails together so the splits can grow out enough to file down. My doctor recommended biotin which I’ve started taking. I can’t tell, yet, if it’s helping.

[jltorcz in reply to MettavivorDS]

what is Xyzal?

[MettavivorDS in reply to jltorcz]

Xyzal is an antihistamine that causes drowsiness. The active ingredient is levocetirizine.

[jltorcz]

wow! Very encouraging. Thank you 🤗

[jersey-jazz]

jitorxz==I began Truqap and restarted Faslodex last month. So far, the only side effect besides loose stools is the deepening feeling of exhaustion. I will be eighty-eight in a few weeks. So, that is to be expected. Importantly, my mental attitude has become balanced again and I am back to smiling and loving life. I wish you the same smooth sailing with this combination. Please let us know how it goes.

[jltorcz in reply to jersey-jazz]

Thanks for your kind encouragement. I am worried now that I won’t qualify for the drug as my glucose numbers are prediabetic. I had my bloodwork on Friday so I could start on Monday but I now don’t know if they will let me.

[MettavivorDS in reply to jltorcz]

Try taking benfotiamine. It’s a metabolically available form of thiamine (B1). This vitamin regulates blood sugar and nerves. I started taking if for sensations I thought might be pre-neuropathy. It helped a lot and my glucose has always been normal while taking the Truqap along with benfotiamine. I take 1 capsule with 150 mg of benfotiamine daily.

[jltorcz in reply to MettavivorDS]

Well I am hoping that they will let me start and I will mention this vitamin.