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Tarceva side effects


SandraL

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Well it seems here I go again, suffering every side effect in the book. I just started Tarceva last Thurs..and well nausea, the runny thing, rash very much so today, etc. And I just noticed blood in my urine. I just happened to be going to my gp this afternoon for something else so he is doing a culture but we are betting it is tarceva related. I have called the clinic now that I am back home. Has anyone else suffered from blood in urine from Tarceva and what was the outcome?

Man I pray all this doesn't mean I can't tolerate this darn drug either and need to be pulled off. I am starting to get really worried about that. Your positive thoughts are much appreciated.

Sandra

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Sandra, your timing is amazing! A week ago I would have said "no" (I've been on Tarceva a full year) but today it's "maybe." Until I read your post I would have never connected it to Tarceva, but now after doing some research I see that Tarceva has been known to interfere with clotting in general and associated with stomach bleeding in particular. So far I haven't found a specific reference to blood in the urine while on Tarceva, but it certainly makes sense that it could happen.

It might be easier to discuss some of this in a PM exchange, so I'll just say this for now. I don't see any visible evidence of blood in the urine, though that doesn't mean it's not present in minute amounts. What I have noticed, maybe 3 or 4 times in the past week, is a pinkish or reddish tint to the last couple of drops as I'm finishing up in the bathroom. Also on two occasions this week, and once a few months ago, I noticed a couple of small dried pinkish stains on the inside of my undershorts. That leads me to think the source is closer to the outlet, as it were, rather than somewhere in the bladder or urinary tract.

This has been somewhat disconcerting, mainly from the prospect of getting yet another medical specialty involved in my situation with more tests and more medications, so I've been hoping it would go away on its own and I could forget about it. The past two days have been free of any unusual seepage, so that's been encouraging. But if it actually is Tarceva causing it, then I wonder what impact that could have on my treatment, and of course you have the same question for yourself.

Aloha,

Ned

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Sandra-

I cannot see anything in any literature about blood in urine from Tarceva but I do find where Tarceva can cause bleeding issues. Thats why it has screwed up my coumadin levels so far.

Now, of course, I am just hoping for a conicidence and that you have a good old-fashioned bladder infection BUT...... please also call your onc first thing in the morning.

Thinking of you and hoping for the best.

Hugs - Patti B.

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Thanks you two. Blood in the urine is listed as a "call your doctor asap" side effect on my tarceva sheet. I called late yesterday and expect a call back this am. I am not going into work today as am upset about a few things. Hey I've got mouth sores now too. Just tick the list of side effects and I have got them...and I have only been on it for a week. I am so worried about being pulled off it.

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Sandra-

Mouth sores are supposed to be one of the more common side effects of Tarceva. I do not believe that they will pull you off of it for that. Ask you doc for a prescription for "magic mouthwash" - its supposed to help a lot. Or they may let you decrease the does for a few days. In checking over on Dr. Wests site, decreasing the dosage does not necessarily impact the effectiveness of the Tarceva.

Good luck and let us know what your doc says about the blood in the urine.

Hugs - Patti B.

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Sandra, you have every Tarceva side effect imagineable and are afraid of being pulled of it. Testament to what a tough lady you are. I just wish your strength wasn't being challenged as much as it has been these past few months.

I'm going to bring in the optomistic view. My second (I believe) Avastin infusion in my combos was withheld because of blood in my urine (showed up in the urinalysis). I was sent to a specialist who did a culture and an ultrasound and said I was fine. A certain (moderate) amount of blood in a woman's urine can be perfectly normal. Ultimately it had to be written into my orders that they could go ahead with full treatment in the presence of a "moderate amount" of blood in the urine.

I know I didn't "see" mine like you and Ned did, but I'm hoping it's not something that will terminate your treatment.

You're in my heart today as we all wait for the outcome of this latest worry for you.

Judy in Key West

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Sandra

I have had a tiny bit of blood in my urine on and off for about a year - just enough to notice - but gone within a day so i have ignored it. Like you - I never want to give my doctor any reason to take me off Tarceva!

Prayers to you

Janet

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Hi all. I have been chasing around my bleeding problem all day. The first med onc at the clinic, relayed a message through a nurse, that I should GET OFF TARCEVA. Can you believe that!!?? It ain't flipppin' foot cream we are talking about here you know, just get off it and see how that goes. Geesh..we are talking about life saving/extending medicine. Some doctors really need their heads examined!. The nurse didn't like that answer either so she told me to come down to the clinic. They did a full blood work up and took a urine sample. The med onc that I saw when I was there (a different one, I am not sure what I might have said to the first one) said that she was pretty darn sure that this bleeding is not Tarceva related. The kind of bleeding they would be concerned about would be bleeding related to low blood counts. And my blood counts are just fine. So everyone else who has had a bit of bleeding and has normal blood counts I think can put their mind at ease as well. It is something else though so off I went back to my gp's office who did the "woman thing" and we will see next week. Phew...I was so worried about it being Tarceva related. Something not cancer related is just fine with me.

And I also got an anti-biotic prescription for my rarin' red and spreadin' fast rash from the stuff. Doc said this should help to settle it down and we are making no adjustments to my tarceva dose for now. That's good. Any decisions like that can wait until my med onc is back from vacation.

Thanks for your concern

Sandra

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