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Giving hope: 5 year celebration pancreatic cancer-free
Pancreatic Cancer | Last Active: Aug 10, 2023 | Replies (41)Comment receiving replies
Thank you Markymark for that info. My husband had 7 rounds of fulfironox, which didn't reduce the tumor, so dr switched him to the Gem/Abraxine. (They also told him because he was young (59) and healthy that the "more agreesive" chemo would be better for him.) I believe he gets only the two drugs, not including cisplatin. He's had 3 of those Gemcidibine treatments and is totally wiped out afterwards for days, and doesn't want to eat much. He tolerated the Fulfirinox much better; he ate better and wasn't so fatigued. I realize the longer you are on chemo, it's a cumulative effect, so maybe that's a factor. Were you more tired on the GEM/ABRax treatment? He is sleeping all the time, and the treatments are every week, with one week in between, where as the Fulfirinox was every two weeks. Also, his blood work showed problems last week with raised levels of ALT, AST and bilirubin. Dr. thinks there is blockage in bile ducts and ordered MRI to be done next week. He had a stent placed in Jan to open up the ducts. Has anyone else experienced this? Could his stent (metal) be damaged or moving around? He feels very full and cannot eat much. Also, his back pain has increased. Anxious to get that MRI done and hopefully find solution to pain.
Replies to "Thank you Markymark for that info. My husband had 7 rounds of fulfironox, which didn't reduce..."
Hi,
I did 12 rounds of Folferinox, one week on and following week off, for my stage 1 PC. CT scan showed cancer cells had invaded my liver and elevated CA 9-19 as well. So, Folferinox failed in stopping metastatic disease. I was switched to the Gemzar/Abraxane regimen, three weeks on and one week off. The fatigue is definitely more pronounced with this new regimen, and I begged off for the fifth treatment because I didn't feel up to it. The side effects have been cumulative for me, because the initial treatments seemed ok, and I felt ready for the next one, until number five. I only had to have one Folferinox treatment cancelled because of feeling more unwell than usual. Everyone reacts differently, but I hope my experience is helpful.
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My initial metal stent fell out after four months.. It was found by the CT scan I had done. My alkaline phosphatase suddenly was elevated over the course of two weeks. I had been scheduled for routine follow up and the stent was missing and there was still blockage. I got the second stent. When my alkaline phosphatase became elevated again, I had a follow up CT. Just showed sludge in the biliary ducts. I have started with ursodiol and the alkaline phosphatase is down. Still get an occasional cramp like the one I had when the stent fell out, but not often. Hope you find a reason for the pain and hope it can be corrected.