Anyone on Gemcitabine with Abraxane? How long? Effective?

Posted by helenar @helenar, Aug 17, 2022

Hi, I'm Helena from South Africa. I have been diagnosed with PC, stage 4, in March. Tumour between body and tail and with one lesion on my liver.
I have been on Folfirinox for 3months, but it had no effect, allthough my markers came down from 3091 to 357, the tumour increased in size and there is another lesion on my liver.
I have started Gemcitabine with Abraxane.
Has anyone been on Gemcitabine/Abraxane?
If so, how long and how effective is this treatment?

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hbtb2356 | @hbtb2356 | Nov 4, 2023

In reply to @colleenyoung "@hbtb2356, how are you and your husband doing today, and few days post treatment?" + (show)

The chemo kicked his ass to say the least. Sleeps alot. Cant eat, alot of stomach pain. It’s been a difficult week. I hope he will be able to handle his second treatment on Monday. Very worried. I’ve offered many suggestions to him about food, walking, fluids, etc, but he’s just miserable. Still staying positive.

ro0891 | @ro0891 | Nov 4, 2023

It is so difficult. I found that protein shakes helped after chemo for my dad. He was reluctant to drink them but I just kept encouraging them. Take it easy - sending positivity.

ro0891 | @ro0891 | Nov 4, 2023

In reply to @hbtb2356 "My husband has been diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic pancreatic cancer. Has spread to the liver...." + (show)

My dad began on the Folfurinox 5fu- chemo regimen. Then switched to the Gem/Abrax. We tried to do that treatment plan but after week two we had to switch to a one week on/one week off plan. It was too much for him to handle. The Gem/Abrax really took a toll on him but switching the treatment plan definitely gave him some time to recover.

hbtb2356 | @hbtb2356 | Nov 4, 2023

In reply to @ro0891 "My dad began on the Folfurinox 5fu- chemo regimen. Then switched to the Gem/Abrax. We tried..." + (show)

Thankyou. The first dose has taken a huge toll on my husband. Not sure how he’s going to do with his next treatment on Monday. We may have to do the same. Stomach pain is his biggest issue

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Nov 9, 2023

In reply to @hbtb2356 "Thankyou. The first dose has taken a huge toll on my husband. Not sure how he’s..." + (show)

How is he doing with the second treatment? Did you share with the chemo nurse the symptoms he experienced with the first round? We're they able to help?

hbtb2356 | @hbtb2356 | Nov 10, 2023

This week was only 1 drug. He did much better this week! Still lack of appetite but was more active. He actually played a full round of golf yesterday. Tired him out but he had a great nights sleep! Staying positive 👍

altc321 | @altc321 | Nov 22, 2023

In reply to @myacim "Hello, All~ My husband was diagnosed in May and has now been through two rounds of..." + (show)

Hi Myacim… you mentioned “two rounds” of Gemcitabine /Abraxane. Were these individual treatments or a number of treatments per “round”?

God bless and the best for him❤️

sheridanb | @sheridanb | Oct 30 6:14pm

My husband had first treatment of gem/abrax today. Nice to be able to read of everyone else's experiences with it. Dan is 70. Had 12 treatments of folfironox, then about 6 of reduced maintenance sessions. CA19-9 numbers went up 4 or 5 times, so 3 more full treatments of folfironox. CT scan showed new growth in two lymph nodes at the back of the abdomen, though other spots in lungs, pancreas, bones showed no grown, so today changed to gem/abrax. Still too early to see how he will react to it. It really was nice though how it was a shorter day of infusions! We were used to 11 hour days (with the drive in/out) of blood draw, oncologist visit and infusions of hydrations and folfironox. Now a shortage of hydrations, so not offered and the gem/abrax were a lot quicker! Fingers crossed that it works and the side effects aren't terrible.

gracect | @gracect | Oct 31 3:11pm

My husband has been on gemabraxane for 2 and a half years. The first 25 months or so were with a trial drug, which didn’t pan out. He has continued with the gemabraxane since. Tumors shrunk by half during the first year and have remained stable. . No spread. 19-9 dropped to normal in the first year and has been fluctuating a tiny bit since June.

betsteff | @betsteff | Nov 1 9:31am

I am in the same situation as you are to a tee! 5FU did not shrink my tumor. Cancer did not spread either! Tumor marker continued to rise too. After 6 rounds of 5FU, my oncologist switched me to gemcitabine/abraxane. After several treatments, my CA19-9 has dropped significantly! I hope it means my tumor is shrinking! My very best to you!