1. < Pancreatic Cancer
Profile picture for helenar

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?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Pancreatic Cancer Support Group.

Profile picture for Turkey, Volunteer Mentor
Mentor
Turkey, Volunteer Mentor | @tomrennie | 5 days ago
In reply to @baravelli "@jerryc131 I had my treatment at a cancer center in New Orleans. I had worked for..." + (show)
Profile picture for baravelli @baravelli

@jerryc131 I had my treatment at a cancer center in New Orleans. I had worked for the same health system for 30yrs before I retired so all of my doctors & medical records since 1980 are there.
My next labs & CT are on 11.16.26 & I'll see my results that evening on the clinic portal which I will send thru Chat gbt for translation if I don't understand any portion of the results. My consult is on the 18th. So I will have a list of questions prepared from the Chat gbt report. My oncologist says once we confirm the lung nodules to be pan can we can start Rasonque. If it's lung cancer, I had the genetic testing done so they have a treatment plan for whatever type it turns out to be. I feel silly now that I've seen the CA19-9 results of other pts on here. I was so alarmed when mine went from 9 to 264 in 7 months and yet my Dr didn't seem concerned about that at all. I currently have no issues re lungs.
I'm on Rx for depression & anxiety but feel fatigued 24/7 I'm really blessed so far. I just pray that the next year brings hope to all of us. I lost my daughter, my only child, 3 weeks before my dx in 2024 was confirmed. So that is a big part of my depression. We lived together after her divorce, & she never had children so I have no grandkids but I'm still not ready to give up!! Praying for your husband

Jump to this post

@baravelli Good luck with your labs/scan on 11/16. Please let us know how it goes? You have been through a lot, yet you keep fighting through the challenges. You should feel very proud of yourself. It isn't easy.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for cliffturner07
cliffturner07 | @cliffturner07 | 5 days ago
In reply to @beatpcan "@cliffturner07 Which area did the cancer return? I wish you the best of health. Really F..." + (show)
Profile picture for beatpcan @beatpcan

@cliffturner07

Which area did the cancer return?

I wish you the best of health. Really F cancer!

Jump to this post

@beatpcan i had the body and tail removed and it reappeared in the Neck but been dormant for the last 2.5 years.

REPLY
Profile picture for baravelli
baravelli | @baravelli | 5 days ago
In reply to @tomrennie "@baravelli Good luck with your labs/scan on 11/16. Please let us know how it goes? You..." + (show)
Profile picture for Turkey, Volunteer Mentor @tomrennie

@baravelli Good luck with your labs/scan on 11/16. Please let us know how it goes? You have been through a lot, yet you keep fighting through the challenges. You should feel very proud of yourself. It isn't easy.

Jump to this post

@tomrennie thanks so much! I am trying to stick around as long as I can!! I've been told I'm a tough old bird LOL !
Thanks for your kind words.

REPLY
Profile picture for cliffturner07
cliffturner07 | @cliffturner07 | 5 days ago
In reply to @baravelli "@cliffturner07 the clinic that I received my chemo & surgery from in New Orleans, La. USA..." + (show)
Profile picture for baravelli @baravelli

@cliffturner07 the clinic that I received my chemo & surgery from in New Orleans, La. USA has some connection to a hospital in Queensland but I can't remember the name. When they started sending doctors here to our teaching hospital I remember how excited the surgery department was about the joint program. I'll see if I can find the name of the hospital. Wouldn't it be a coincidence if it's where you were treated!!!

Jump to this post

@baravelli Princess Alexandra Hospital Cancer Ward or Burghoffer Cancer Clinic both in Brisbane Queensland Australia

REPLY
Profile picture for cliffturner07
cliffturner07 | @cliffturner07 | 5 days ago
In reply to @tomrennie "@cliffturner07 Do you have a link for the case study on you? I can't find it..." + (show)
Profile picture for Turkey, Volunteer Mentor @tomrennie

@cliffturner07 Do you have a link for the case study on you? I can't find it online. Thanks.

Jump to this post

@tomrennie your looking for
"A rare case of Rhabdoid Pancreatic Carcinoma prolonged Dusease Free Survival following Upfront Resection and Adjuvant Chemotherapy "
Gabriel Land 1
Benjamin van Haeringen 2
Caroline Cooper 2
Vladimir Andelkovic 3
Thomas O'Rourke 4
I am too old for computers, but the cancer is very rare and less that 50 maybe less recorded cases Worldwide. SMARCB1/INI1 Pancreatic is the cancer and I presented to the Princess Alexandra Hospital Cancer Ward with stomach/back pain and itching at 69yo and that study was the first 18 months post Whipple and will be updated next February/March,good luck with the search.

REPLY
Profile picture for baravelli
baravelli | @baravelli | 5 days ago

I found the info on the Queensland connection to the Health System I go to in New Orleans. I retired 17 years ago and forgotten more than ever knew!
Ochsner Health is partnered with The University of Queensland (UQ) in Brisbane, Australia, through the joint UQ-Ochsner Clinical School / MD Program.
It was the Uni of Queensland not a hospital that they are associated with. (I claim chemo brain + aging )

REPLY
Profile picture for kakalena
kakalena | @kakalena | 5 days ago

I did 5 months of the gem/brax combo. It was ineffective. However, my cancer was acinar cell carcinoma, rare type of pancreatic cancer. SBRT radiation was very effective and shrank the tumor enough to have the Whipple surgery, very successful. All cancers are different. I have read of very successful results from the gem/brax treatment on this site. I hope the same is true for you. As my oncologist put it, "If this doesn't work, I have other tricks in my bag."

REPLY
Profile picture for jerryc131
jerryc131 | @jerryc131 | 5 days ago
In reply to @baravelli "@jerryc131 I had my treatment at a cancer center in New Orleans. I had worked for..." + (show)
Profile picture for baravelli @baravelli

@jerryc131 I had my treatment at a cancer center in New Orleans. I had worked for the same health system for 30yrs before I retired so all of my doctors & medical records since 1980 are there.
My next labs & CT are on 11.16.26 & I'll see my results that evening on the clinic portal which I will send thru Chat gbt for translation if I don't understand any portion of the results. My consult is on the 18th. So I will have a list of questions prepared from the Chat gbt report. My oncologist says once we confirm the lung nodules to be pan can we can start Rasonque. If it's lung cancer, I had the genetic testing done so they have a treatment plan for whatever type it turns out to be. I feel silly now that I've seen the CA19-9 results of other pts on here. I was so alarmed when mine went from 9 to 264 in 7 months and yet my Dr didn't seem concerned about that at all. I currently have no issues re lungs.
I'm on Rx for depression & anxiety but feel fatigued 24/7 I'm really blessed so far. I just pray that the next year brings hope to all of us. I lost my daughter, my only child, 3 weeks before my dx in 2024 was confirmed. So that is a big part of my depression. We lived together after her divorce, & she never had children so I have no grandkids but I'm still not ready to give up!! Praying for your husband

Jump to this post

@baravelli
Oh my God, how awful! I can understand your depression from the cancer alone, but to have dealt with the death of your only child is so unfair! I am so sorry for what you’re going through, but I truly admire your spirit! Don’t let the sucker get you down, as they say!

I didn’t know the pc could metastasize while on chemo. I’ve got a lot to learn yet. B’s CA19-9 has gone up since treatment as well, but just your doctor was not concerned, neither is B’s. His was 40 in July and has gone up to 62 - and I AM concerned still!
We have to take a day at a time, but I have always needed a “carrot” in front of me to give me a reason to get through a day, get over boredom, just something to look forward to, even if the news is bad. You - we can plan a grand trip, go do something stupid and not care - good news or bad!
Sorry, I do go off sometimes!🤪
But you, Lady, hang in there. You now have a new friend, and we all are gonna make it!

REPLY
Profile picture for kyshoor
kyshoor | @kyshoor | 1 day ago
In reply to @dubbscopper "Omg I feel exactly the same and they just switched me telling me side effects wouldn’t..." + (show)
Profile picture for dubbscopper @dubbscopper

Omg I feel exactly the same and they just switched me telling me side effects wouldn’t be as bad- same horrible effects but add hair loss after ine treatment! I git switched to every other week because blood count and side effects... had anyone had sore eyes eye pain or photo sensitivity ??? They said it hardly happens but it’s killing me

Jump to this post

@dubbscopper
I did folfirinox and had really bad eye sensitivity and some pain. My ophthalmologist gave me some prescriptions for severely dry eyes that the oncologist approved (the strongest is a Vaseline/parafin ointment) that helped a lot. Also warm wet washcloths on my eyes help. Obviously I don't know if it will help you but maybe you can ask your doctor.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.