My mother is 80 years old and was diagnosed with gallbladder cancer over 2 years ago (July 2020). The cancer was discovered following an autopsy on her gallbladder, which was removed due to severe pain. There were no other symptoms like jaundice present at the time. She was told that the cancer was caught relatively early, but, upon further imaging and blood tests, it was discovered that the cancer had spread to several lymph nodes and parts of the liver.
My mom went through another round of surgery to remove part of her liver, which had shown cancer-like lesions. Biopsy results on the removed liver tissue revealed NO sign of cancer! Since then, she has gone through several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation. Specifically, her chemotherapy regimen was as follows:
- Gemcitabine and cisplatin
- Gemcitabine + cisplatin + durvalumab (Topaz study)
- Oxaliplatin + 5-FU
Her body has had various reactions to the therapies above. After nearly six months of therapy with the Topaz study meds, her cancer was still growing, as evidenced by cancer antigen (CA 19-9) blood test and liver MRI. The lesions in the liver have not been positively identified as cancer (too small to biopsy). However, their mere existence, coupled with increase in CA 19-9 numbers have convinced her oncologist team that they are likely cancer. Hence the chemo regimen...
Fast forward to just over a week ago, her oncologist determined that the cisplatin + gems + immune regimen has taken its course, and, in order to further force the cancer to "stability" or "remission", it is best to move to the oxygen + 5FU regimen. After one session of this new cocktail, it became very clear that my mom's body was not responding well to this treatment. She lost her appetite, was extremely weak, was not able to sleep well at night, and lost ~6 lbs in close to a week. My mom currently weighs 52 kilos (~115 lbs), so the weight loss is significant.
I have provided this background to see if anyone has had a similar experience and what (if any) other therapies they may have tried that has worked for them.
My mother is 80 years old and was diagnosed with gallbladder cancer over 2 years ago (July 2020). The cancer was discovered following an autopsy on her gallbladder, which was removed due to severe pain. There were no other symptoms like jaundice present at the time. She was told that the cancer was caught relatively early, but, upon further imaging and blood tests, it was discovered that the cancer had spread to several lymph nodes and parts of the liver.
My mom went through another round of surgery to remove part of her liver, which had shown cancer-like lesions. Biopsy results on the removed liver tissue revealed NO sign of cancer! Since then, she has gone through several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation. Specifically, her chemotherapy regimen was as follows:
- Gemcitabine and cisplatin
- Gemcitabine + cisplatin + durvalumab (Topaz study)
- Oxaliplatin + 5-FU
Her body has had various reactions to the therapies above. After nearly six months of therapy with the Topaz study meds, her cancer was still growing, as evidenced by cancer antigen (CA 19-9) blood test and liver MRI. The lesions in the liver have not been positively identified as cancer (too small to biopsy). However, their mere existence, coupled with increase in CA 19-9 numbers have convinced her oncologist team that they are likely cancer. Hence the chemo regimen...
Fast forward to just over a week ago, her oncologist determined that the cisplatin + gems + immune regimen has taken its course, and, in order to further force the cancer to "stability" or "remission", it is best to move to the oxygen + 5FU regimen. After one session of this new cocktail, it became very clear that my mom's body was not responding well to this treatment. She lost her appetite, was extremely weak, was not able to sleep well at night, and lost ~6 lbs in close to a week. My mom currently weighs 52 kilos (~115 lbs), so the weight loss is significant.
I have provided this background to see if anyone has had a similar experience and what (if any) other therapies they may have tried that has worked for them.
My mother is 80 years old and was diagnosed with gallbladder cancer over 2 years ago (July 2020). The cancer was discovered following an autopsy on her gallbladder, which was removed due to severe pain. There were no other symptoms like jaundice present at the time. She was told that the cancer was caught relatively early, but, upon further imaging and blood tests, it was discovered that the cancer had spread to several lymph nodes and parts of the liver.
My mom went through another round of surgery to remove part of her liver, which had shown cancer-like lesions. Biopsy results on the removed liver tissue revealed NO sign of cancer! Since then, she has gone through several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation. Specifically, her chemotherapy regimen was as follows:
- Gemcitabine and cisplatin
- Gemcitabine + cisplatin + durvalumab (Topaz study)
- Oxaliplatin + 5-FU
Her body has had various reactions to the therapies above. After nearly six months of therapy with the Topaz study meds, her cancer was still growing, as evidenced by cancer antigen (CA 19-9) blood test and liver MRI. The lesions in the liver have not been positively identified as cancer (too small to biopsy). However, their mere existence, coupled with increase in CA 19-9 numbers have convinced her oncologist team that they are likely cancer. Hence the chemo regimen...
Fast forward to just over a week ago, her oncologist determined that the cisplatin + gems + immune regimen has taken its course, and, in order to further force the cancer to "stability" or "remission", it is best to move to the oxygen + 5FU regimen. After one session of this new cocktail, it became very clear that my mom's body was not responding well to this treatment. She lost her appetite, was extremely weak, was not able to sleep well at night, and lost ~6 lbs in close to a week. My mom currently weighs 52 kilos (~115 lbs), so the weight loss is significant.
I have provided this background to see if anyone has had a similar experience and what (if any) other therapies they may have tried that has worked for them.
Question any information using CA 19-9 to determine reoccurrence before tumor is large enough to be identified by CT scan.
With pancreatic cancer if their was elevated CA 19-9 prior to surgery then around 60% of the time an increasing CA 19-9 trend was identified before the tumor could be detected with CT scan.
History:
Gallbladder cancer found when it was removed 1.6 cm.
PET scan 20 days later showed tumor in liver section IVb.
Liver resection segment 4B, tumor 3.5 cm, margins clear.
Followed with 26 external beam radiation and 5FU chemo.
CA 19-9 continues to show downward trend and is approaching normal levels.
5 months after liver resection CT scan could not detect any tumor.
Current plan is to test CA 19-9 every 40 days and CT scan every 6 months. Frequency to be increased if CA 19-9 test establishes an increasing trend
Hi Doug, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Please meet @pgf, who has also been diagnosed with gallbladder cancer.
Has your wife started the new chemo regimen yet? How is she doing both in terms of side effects and emotionally? It must've been a blow to hear the tumor grew instead of shrinking with the first chemo. How are you!?
She has not started yet, It is strictly to keep the tumor from growing while she is considered for trials. But, you never know..
We are trying very hard to work with all of this as best we can. It is difficult but that is to be expected.
My wife has been diagnosed with gallbladder cancer and has gone through her chemo treatment with Cisplatin to try and shrink the tumor for surgery. The tumor actually grew so we are trying a different chemo plan and looking st clinical trials at Mayo. working with Dr. Borad. Doing chemo in our home town.
I would welcome any similar input if it is out there in our community.
Take Care
Doug
My wife has been diagnosed with gallbladder cancer and has gone through her chemo treatment with Cisplatin to try and shrink the tumor for surgery. The tumor actually grew so we are trying a different chemo plan and looking st clinical trials at Mayo. working with Dr. Borad. Doing chemo in our home town.
I would welcome any similar input if it is out there in our community.
Take Care
Doug
Hi Doug, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Please meet @pgf, who has also been diagnosed with gallbladder cancer.
Has your wife started the new chemo regimen yet? How is she doing both in terms of side effects and emotionally? It must've been a blow to hear the tumor grew instead of shrinking with the first chemo. How are you!?
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To the clinical staff: can you please provide some insight into the efficacy of Nab Paclitaxel + S1 cocktail for gallbladder cancer?
By "...oxygen + 5FU...) I meant "oxaliplatin + 5-FU"
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1 ReactionMy mother is 80 years old and was diagnosed with gallbladder cancer over 2 years ago (July 2020). The cancer was discovered following an autopsy on her gallbladder, which was removed due to severe pain. There were no other symptoms like jaundice present at the time. She was told that the cancer was caught relatively early, but, upon further imaging and blood tests, it was discovered that the cancer had spread to several lymph nodes and parts of the liver.
My mom went through another round of surgery to remove part of her liver, which had shown cancer-like lesions. Biopsy results on the removed liver tissue revealed NO sign of cancer! Since then, she has gone through several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation. Specifically, her chemotherapy regimen was as follows:
- Gemcitabine and cisplatin
- Gemcitabine + cisplatin + durvalumab (Topaz study)
- Oxaliplatin + 5-FU
Her body has had various reactions to the therapies above. After nearly six months of therapy with the Topaz study meds, her cancer was still growing, as evidenced by cancer antigen (CA 19-9) blood test and liver MRI. The lesions in the liver have not been positively identified as cancer (too small to biopsy). However, their mere existence, coupled with increase in CA 19-9 numbers have convinced her oncologist team that they are likely cancer. Hence the chemo regimen...
Fast forward to just over a week ago, her oncologist determined that the cisplatin + gems + immune regimen has taken its course, and, in order to further force the cancer to "stability" or "remission", it is best to move to the oxygen + 5FU regimen. After one session of this new cocktail, it became very clear that my mom's body was not responding well to this treatment. She lost her appetite, was extremely weak, was not able to sleep well at night, and lost ~6 lbs in close to a week. My mom currently weighs 52 kilos (~115 lbs), so the weight loss is significant.
I have provided this background to see if anyone has had a similar experience and what (if any) other therapies they may have tried that has worked for them.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsQuestion any information using CA 19-9 to determine reoccurrence before tumor is large enough to be identified by CT scan.
With pancreatic cancer if their was elevated CA 19-9 prior to surgery then around 60% of the time an increasing CA 19-9 trend was identified before the tumor could be detected with CT scan.
History:
Gallbladder cancer found when it was removed 1.6 cm.
PET scan 20 days later showed tumor in liver section IVb.
Liver resection segment 4B, tumor 3.5 cm, margins clear.
Followed with 26 external beam radiation and 5FU chemo.
CA 19-9 continues to show downward trend and is approaching normal levels.
5 months after liver resection CT scan could not detect any tumor.
Current plan is to test CA 19-9 every 40 days and CT scan every 6 months. Frequency to be increased if CA 19-9 test establishes an increasing trend
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionShe has not started yet, It is strictly to keep the tumor from growing while she is considered for trials. But, you never know..
We are trying very hard to work with all of this as best we can. It is difficult but that is to be expected.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionMy wife has been diagnosed with gallbladder cancer and has gone through her chemo treatment with Cisplatin to try and shrink the tumor for surgery. The tumor actually grew so we are trying a different chemo plan and looking st clinical trials at Mayo. working with Dr. Borad. Doing chemo in our home town.
I would welcome any similar input if it is out there in our community.
Take Care
Doug
PGF, click this link to see the whole discussion and the comments by others https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/gallbladder-cancer/
I clicked on Douglmcd and there was no message
I am Stage IIIb , starting Xeloda this week
PGF - Do you know the stage of your cancer yet? What treatments have you had or will have?
Hi Doug, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Please meet @pgf, who has also been diagnosed with gallbladder cancer.
Has your wife started the new chemo regimen yet? How is she doing both in terms of side effects and emotionally? It must've been a blow to hear the tumor grew instead of shrinking with the first chemo. How are you!?