← Return to Chemo not working. What to do next??? Please help!!!

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@stageivsurvivor

After first line chemotherapy regimens of (m)Folfirinox and Genzar/Abraxane are no longer effective, there are second, third and fourth-line chemo drug combinations available.

CHEMOTHERAPY PROTOCOLS FOR PANCREATIC CANCER
https://www.cancertherapyadvisor.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2020/03/Pancreatic-Adenocarcinoma-0320.pdf
For metastatic disease to the liver and surgical bed, ablation in the form of cryoablation and Nanoknife/IRE (irreversible electroporation) may be options. Treatment of liver mets may be possible using Y-90 (Yttrium 90 radiotherapy) where albumin and then a radioisotope is perused into the liver.
https://interventionalnews.com/y90-radioembolization-metastatic-pancreatic-cancer/
In later stage pancreatic cancer, clinical trials offer the patient potential of better outcomes through access to new drug compounds not yet available to the general patient population.

Ablation
https://letswinpc.org/promising-science/2022/06/30/ablative-smart-radiotherapy-advanced-pancreatic-cancer/
https://letswinpc.org/promising-science/2020/06/19/study-nanoknife-ire-technology/
https://www.medpagetoday.com/meetingcoverage/astro/101459
Precision Medicine of genetic testing using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and or liquid biopsy to detect possible somatic (spontaneous);or germ line (mutations) is important for determining if targeted therapy is available or in finding a suitable clinical trial. After my second chemo regimen was beginning to wane, genetic testing led to my finding a clinical trial resulting in achieving NED status in 2016 after metas disease to the liver.

Genetic Testing
https://pancan.org/news/what-you-need-to-know-about-genetic-and-molecular-testing/
https://pancan.org/news/lets-talk-about-genetic-and-biomarker-testing/
As others responding to this post mention, advocating for better treatment is essential. One needs to be prepared when encountering resistance for one’s private health insurer. Fortunately for me, the private insurance was outstanding, allowed me to obtain treatment wherever necessary and paid for genetic testing and everything thing else. The clinical trial costs and transportation were covered by the trial sponsor.

Lastly, do not hesitate to obtain additional opinions. If you feel your current care team is not meeting your expectations, consult with other pancreatic cancer oncologists who have the depth and breadth in treating pancreatic cancer that the average GI specialist won’t have. When inquiring about clinical trials, my experience has been that a GI oncologist whose sub-specialty is treating cancers of the pancreas is more likely to know of clinical trials than a regular GI specialist whose practice generally consists of few pancreatic cancer patients.

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network can be of help in providing a list of NCI designated tertiary-level centers of excellence in cancer treatment and the names of pancreatic cancer oncologists and interventional radiologists and surgeons experienced with ablative techniques, Y-90 and other chemotherapy combinations less widely used. PanCan.org can be reached at 877.272.6226, M-F, 7:00am-5:00pm PT.

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Replies to "After first line chemotherapy regimens of (m)Folfirinox and Genzar/Abraxane are no longer effective, there are second,..."

Thank you so much for this information!!! I was informed yesterday that I am going to get radiation for my pancreas and Prof Eduard Jonas (part of my team) will do the op on my liver to remove the 2 lesions. He is starting a trial early January, and he will then treat me and monitor me, and when the mass in the pancreas has reduced a little, he will do the op to remove the tumor.

Praise God for this news. This gives me extra power to keep on fighting and believing! There surely is power in prayer!!!!!

God bless all
I will keep you updated

Thank you so much for your post.

I am heartbroken and just found out my brother who has pancreatic cancer, was told it has spread to his liver and has two small dots on his liver that are each 1 cm. They are unable to operate on him due to the tumor wrapping itself around his organs. The treatment so far has been Chemo, and radiation.

He currently is being seen by Dr. Truty Mayo/MN and the Doctors who are treating him in Ohio told him this news today and that he has 6 months to live.

I am asking my brother to wait to talk to Dr. Truty and this other Doctor told him a year ago he had 6 months to live and to please wait to hear from Mayo MN.

They do not have the reports back to tell him if the tumor is dead or not and he does not have the results of the CA-19-9 bloodwork.

I do not know how to feel and I do not understand why the Doctors in Ohio would tell him this when there is still hope.

I guess, I am asking if I am delusional?