Anyone on Gemcitabine with Abraxane? How long? Effective?

My husband did 4 months of Folfirinox and is now in his 2nd month of gemcitibine and abraxane. He tolerated the Folfirinox much better than this chemo regimen. It has been brutal. No quality of life. Sleeps most of the time. No energy. Can’t eat. Barely drinks. Tumor marker came down from 377 to 204 after the first month. Hopeful it will drop even more after the second month and imaging will also show a decrease in tumor size. If it doesn’t, he will discontinue treatment. I hope you tolerate the treatment. Quality of life is everything at this point.

Hi, I was sick and nauseous most of the time while I was on Folfirinox. I have had my 2nd session of the gem/abraxane today. Don't know if it is still too early, but I did not have any side effects since I've started. Just a little bit of body aches, but nothing serious.
My WBC was a bit low last week, so I had to skip a session. Going every 7th day and will scan in October.
I pray and believe that it will have a positive effect on the markers and the tumor size.
All of the best to you and your husband, believe and stay strong
Regards
Helena

I hope you continue to feel well and this treatment will work well for you. I read another post about a lady who is stage IV and has been doing well for 5 years. Truly amazing and inspiring!

In addition to @lfitz, members @chemobile @colorafo19 @beachdog @dugancarol also have experience with Abraxane (nab-paclitaxel) plus Gemzar (gemcitabine) and can share more.

How are you feeling, Helen?

Hi all
I had my 3rd session yesterday, WBC was still low at 1100, but we decided to proceed with the session. I'm still feeling good, no nasty side effects, except for some body ache and every now and then a headache, but all still manageable
I'm staying positive, keep on praying and holding on to God, I do believe that He will keep His healing hand over all of us. Miracles still DO happen and nothing is impossible.
I have a rest week and will be starting with the 2nd round of sessions on the 8th of September
I hope all of you are still doing good, I will keep you all in my prayers.
Happy spring day - it's around the corner 🙂
Kind regards
Helena

Good luck. Praying for you

Hello, All~
My husband was diagnosed in May and has now been through two rounds of Gemcitabine /Abraxane. The first round was very rough and he was very weak by the end of it. They lowered the dose by 10% for round 2 and that helped a lot. But then he had a bleeding ulcer that sent him to the hospital twice with low hemoglobin (Hb). How much that accounted for his weakness we don't know for sure. He has now had 3 weeks off chemo and if Hb is stable, will start round 3 next week. The good news is that his 19-9 has dropped from 139 to 71. We are grateful it was caught early and are hoping that the Gem/Abrax won't be as bad without the bleeding ulcer sapping his strength.
Blessing to you all - holding you in light and love.
Peg

My brother (diagnosed Stage IV in August of 2020) had been on Gem/Abraxane for nearly a full year - an every two week cycle. It was very effective at lowering his CA 19-9 ....but it took a tremendous toll on him. The side effects were brutal - so much more so than the Folfirinox that he took as a beginning treatment. While his numbers went down, so did his quality of life. He had more bad days than good within that two week cycle. He endured all of it only to have his numbers start to creep up. The standard of care (at least at the comprehensive cancer center where he receives his treatment) after Gem/Abrax is Napoli - Nanoliposomal irinotecan with flouoroucil and folonic acid. My brother has received three treatments of this so far and the side effects are fewer. The most troubling for him is fatigue, but it's only for a few days and on those days he chooses to simply read, watch tv and give in to naps if need be. We've talked to others who have endured Gem/Abrax much better than Folfirinox or other treatments so I think it just goes to show that everyone is so unique and different and what happens to one may or may not happen to another. I wish you the best and pray that you have the support than keeps you hopeful and enjoying each day!

For my wife, folfirinox was a walk in the park compared to GAC. Of course folfirinox was at the beginning and before surgery so she was much healthier and able to tolerate much more abuse. Everyone's reacts differently.

Hi, did your wife had the operation? And what stage was she?