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Nanoknife for pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic Cancer | Last Active: Nov 17 1:28pm | Replies (47)Comment receiving replies
I don't know anything about Nanoknife except what I've read on this board, and I'm certainly no medical expert of any type, just a patient. But I noticed that you mentioned that your husband's oncologist was stopping the modified Folfirinox chemo after 12 cycles because of concerns about bone marrow. I have stage 4 adenocarcinoma, inoperable due to blood vessel involvement. I just completed chemo cycle 23 last week. Why are they stopping his after 12? I will say that my oncologist discontinued oxaliplatin after cycle 8 in order to avoid neuropathy. I've also been on a reduced dosage the entire time. But we have continued because we're getting results and because otherwise it might give the cancer a stronger toehold. So it might be worth asking. Here's the other thing I wanted to ask: Has your husband been given injections to activate and boost the bone marrow and prevent infection? There are several versions. One is Neulasta; the one I get is Udenyca. It's given a minimum of 24 hours after the 5FU pump shuts off. Depending on what the bone marrow concern is, that injection might help him. Again, it might be worth asking if you haven't already.
FWIW, we were talking with my palliative MD today about these sorts of issues. I currently have some options to discuss as well. He said that there really is no clear-cut one-size-fits-all pathway for pancreatic cancer therapy. It is such an individual disease, with all sorts of variations. And it's extremely virulent as well, which makes treatment challenging. He said that it requires a lot of back and forth conversations, hallway exchanges between MDs, tumor boards, debates, etc., to arrive at the best plan for each patient. It's frustrating to me, and I'm sure it is for you as well because it's hard to make decisions. But we just have to keep asking questions, doing our research and hopefully getting our MDs together to assess and discuss so they can come up with a plan. I hope all works well for you all!
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Hi ncteacher,
Just wondering where you are receiving treatment. My sister is at MSK and had 12 rounds of Folfirinox with considerable tumor shrinkage, now on oral capecitabine. Also not a candidate for surgery (Stage IV with vessel involvement) . She is enjoying being able to eat again and expressed tears of joy to be able to taste her food.
She does have some neuropathy and I question why her onco has discontinued her infusions other than the fact that "standard of care" is 12 rounds Folfirnox, and her feeling so ill after treatment every 2 weeks. Did the elimination of oxaliplatin result in better quality of life between treatments as well as decreased neuropathy?
I thank you and every contributor here and wishing all of you the best of luck in your journey.
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Morning Everyone,
Just a "different perspective" on everyone is different.
I had Folfirnox ( with very little side effects) pre Whipple procedure for 3 months (March to May 2023); had the Whipple procedure (with complications); tried to get back on Folfirnox again after surgery. After only one treatment, it put me in the hospital with rapid weight loss, dehydration and lots of pain. After being bedridden for 3 weeks after the hospital and taking four months to get my strength back, it took me til 5 months before I tried chemo the 2nd time. This time with G&A. The results were the same, dehydration, 20 pound weight loss and bedridden - and I'm in the process of trying to recover (yet again) the strength that I had before chemo.
My only thought to pass on to everyone; chemo is wonderful when it can help prolong your life in a productive way. As we always say, this really is an individual cancer that impacts everyone in different ways.
My only suggestion on future comments; try to be a little gentler with people when recommending they try different types of chemo at different levels. Sometimes, even when people would like to be on chemo, the negative impact it may have on some individuals is way too much of a burden to carry. (Knowing you are stage 4)
We're all trying to help one another here. Sometimes, not continuing on with chemo is a tough enough choice by itself. Each individual needs to make their best choice. "Gentle" suggestions can be helpful. Other times, trying to push someone a certain way to "help themselves" is difficult to read when you have already made a tough choice.
Prayers for everyone......