Don’t know why the difference…. could be differences in patients. Female at 90# that lost 20# and anemic vs male at mush higher weight. Have to trust your oncologist to make these decisions.

Each chemo protocol varies in how it is administered. Of the two first-line treatments, Folfirinox which is prescribed to those whose physical health is good and the patient is less than 70 years old is a 14 day cycle with oxaliplatin, Leucovorin and Irinotecan administered in approximately 6 hours followed by getting a portable pump to infuse 5-Fluorouricil (5-FU) over 46 hours.

The other first line chemo is Gemzar/Abraxane (Gemcitabine plus nab-Paclitaxel). This is given to patients generally over age 70 or if younger and health is frail or significant co-morbidities that would impact treatment and patient health. Its cycle is 28 days with weeks 1,2 and 3 receiving the two drugs followed by a week as a resting cycle before it repeats.

Folfirinox is used in curative setting but when a patient may have difficulty in tolerating some of its components, the concentrations and frequency can be adjusted. This is known as metronomic dosing and more oncologists whose specialty is pancreatic cancer have familiarity with the metronomic dosing technique. Basically, less chemo is given but it is administered more frequently to achieve therapeutic benefit.