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Can radiation be given between finishing chemo and having Whipple?
Pancreatic Cancer | Last Active: Jun 21 7:29am | Replies (21)Comment receiving replies
Hi - I am working through the Mayo clinic in Phoenix and have requested referral to Dr. Truty in Rochester as I have tumor in pancreas head but with a few arteries wrapped >180. Did radiation start while you were still getting Gemcitabine infusions, or was there a break? I had 4 Folfirinox infusions followed by blood test & CT at Mayo Phoenix and it's shown almost no response. ca19-9 stays in the same general range (mid-400s) so they are starting me today on the Gem-abraxine chemo. I'm eager to hear back from Truty's office, but thinking maybe they'll want to wait for a couple cycles of this chemo before evaluating me.
Anyway, just wondering about the chemo-radiation schedule. Thanks and congrats on your progress!!
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Also wanted to add that the first appointments with Dr Truty take a few days and are VERY in depth. He does labs, PET/MRI, and peritoneal washing to see if you are a surgical candidate. He is extremely thorough and the absolute best in my opinion. I owe him my life at this point!!
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I did 3 rounds of Folfirinox with poor response (CA19 increased from 174 to 440). Switched to Gem/Abrax and my CA plummeted to 75 after the first round! I am hopeful you will see the same results!
I did 4 rounds Gem/Abrax, then took a couple weeks off before radiation started. I did not get in with Dr Truty until after I had completed radiation, but that is just how the timing went with fighting my insurance.
I did weekly Gemcitabine infusion (no abraxane) during my 4 weeks of radiation. Then after radiation and meeting with Truty, I continued Gem/Abrax for another 2 rounds followed by a few weeks off, prior to surgery.