My cancer has not responded to the oral chemo that I've been on for the last year. This week I will start a new one called Piqray. This drug was just approved in May of this year, so it has been a challenge to get my insurance company up to speed. First they didn't want to pay for the gene test, then they denied drug coverage. It all eventually go straightened out, but in the meantime, I've been off chemo for three weeks. The doctor's office just called to let me know I've been approved to try the drug.
According to the website, Piqray has a number of unpleasant side effects:
- Severe allergic reactions: Tell your health care provider or get medical help right away if you have trouble breathing, flushing, rash, fever, or fast heart rate during treatment with PIQRAY
- Severe skin reactions: Tell your health care provider or get medical help right away if you get severe rash or rash that keeps getting worse, reddened skin, flu-like symptoms, blistering of the lips, eyes or mouth, blisters on the skin or skin peeling, with or without fever
- High blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia): Hyperglycemia is common with PIQRAY and can be severe. Your health care provider will monitor your blood sugar levels before you start and during treatment with PIQRAY. Your health care provider may monitor your blood sugar levels more often if you have a history of Type 2 diabetes. Tell your health care provider right away if you develop symptoms of hyperglycemia, including excessive thirst, dry mouth, urinate more often than usual or have a higher amount of urine than normal, or increased appetite with weight loss
- Lung problems (pneumonitis): Tell your health care provider right away if you develop new or worsening symptoms of lung problems, including shortness of breath or trouble breathing, cough, or chest pain
- Diarrhea: Diarrhea is common with PIQRAY and can be severe. Severe diarrhea can lead to the loss of too much body water (dehydration) and kidney problems. If you develop diarrhea during treatment with PIQRAY, tell your health care provider right away. Your health care provider may tell you to drink more fluids or take medicines to treat diarrhea
I hope this drug works for me!
7 comments:
Good luck! I hope you can avoid the worst of the side effects, and that the drug works for you.
I do hope this makes you feel better and not worse. Fingers crossed for you. I'm sure the quilting world will be thinking of you
Prayers for good results and little side effects from the new medicine.
I'm praying that it works for you, too, with minimal side effects.
I hope this new drug helps you and the side effects aren't too awful. Take care.
Oh gosh Laura, I was saddened to hear of this latest update. I will pray that your cancer is reduced with this new drug and that the side effects will be minimal. Take care.
I'll be praying!
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