Pazobanib Treatment - Dad is suffering

Hello all,

I wanted to ask if anyone has any experience of pazobanib?

My Dad was diagnosed with Stage 4 RCC last May and has been on pazobanib (votrient) ever since. He falls very sick every few weeks where he is admitted to hospital.

Dad went to a hospice for two weeks and was discharged a couple of weeks ago, but every time he is discharged he seems like he is getting worse than the previous time. He sleeps constantly. He hasn't been out of bed since Saturday and he was only up for a short while on Saturday. He struggles to find the energy to dress and is extremely low. They have reduced his treatment to 600mg. I call Palliative Care often, but there is never an answer as to what I should do. I stay off of work to be here as I worry what will happen if I don't and luckily the company I work for are amazing and allow me to work virtually so I can be a carer to Dad aswell.

My question is, should my Dad be this unwell on the treatment. Sleeping approximately 18-20 hours a day, not getting out of bed, in pain daily? I am going to put another call out the morning for help, but I just wondered if anyone has experienced the same. 

Thank you

 

Marie

  • My Dad is also taking pazopanib but I believe a much smaller dose. He's using it in conjunction with an immune therapy drug trial so it's not a very high dose. Even at a small dose my dad does expereince extreme fatigue with this drug so I can imagine it being expounded with a higher dose. 

  • Thank you for replying and so sorry to hear about your Dad too.

    My Dad is back in hospital and is every 3 weeks since last August. He is confused, swearing, trying to have a conversation, but nothing makes sense. They have done a brain scan, but it's clear. That's great news, but they keep discharging him with no answers. I think it is mental health, in fact I'm certain, but they won't listen. He will be discharged again and back in 3 weeks as that's how it is, but every time these episodes happen, he deteriorates further. He knows something else is wrong, but can't speak properly to fight, so I'm doing all I can, but they won't listen. I don't know what to do x

  • My husband has been on pazopanib for 6 months now but only 400mg daily. Just seen the oncologist today and he has said he has responded well to treatment. Brian told him the worse thing was he couldn't taste any food anymore- everything like cardboard. He said he could have a drug holiday until he sees him next in July, quality of life is more important he said. He also gets diarrhoea occasionally which restricts going out. He is also very tired so he takes the drug before he goes to bed to send him to sleep.

    l would see if he could have a reduced dose as this might help or like my husband a drug holiday to recover from the effects of the drug and get his spirits back up. Brian is also stage 4 as the cancer has metastised in the stomach. He has just had 5 days in hospital due to an infection in the bladder. Both exhausted after this even though he had his own room with ensuite facilities, better than some hotels we've stayed in!

    Hope this helps.