1. < Pancreatic Cancer

Anyone on Gemcitabine with Abraxane? How long? Effective?

Posted by helenar @helenar, Aug 17, 2022

Hi, I'm Helena from South Africa. I have been diagnosed with PC, stage 4, in March. Tumour between body and tail and with one lesion on my liver.
I have been on Folfirinox for 3months, but it had no effect, allthough my markers came down from 3091 to 357, the tumour increased in size and there is another lesion on my liver.
I have started Gemcitabine with Abraxane.
Has anyone been on Gemcitabine/Abraxane?
If so, how long and how effective is this treatment?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Pancreatic Cancer Support Group.

altc321 | @altc321 | Nov 22, 2023
In reply to @myacim "Hello, All~ My husband was diagnosed in May and has now been through two rounds of..." + (show)
@myacim

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

Jump to this post

Hi Myacim… you mentioned “two rounds” of Gemcitabine /Abraxane. Were these individual treatments or a number of treatments per “round”?

God bless and the best for him❤️

REPLY
hbtb2356 | @hbtb2356 | Nov 10, 2023

This week was only 1 drug. He did much better this week! Still lack of appetite but was more active. He actually played a full round of golf yesterday. Tired him out but he had a great nights sleep! Staying positive 👍

REPLY
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Nov 9, 2023
In reply to @hbtb2356 "Thankyou. The first dose has taken a huge toll on my husband. Not sure how he’s..." + (show)
@hbtb2356

Thankyou. The first dose has taken a huge toll on my husband. Not sure how he’s going to do with his next treatment on Monday. We may have to do the same. Stomach pain is his biggest issue

Jump to this post

How is he doing with the second treatment? Did you share with the chemo nurse the symptoms he experienced with the first round? We're they able to help?

REPLY
hbtb2356 | @hbtb2356 | Nov 4, 2023
In reply to @ro0891 "My dad began on the Folfurinox 5fu- chemo regimen. Then switched to the Gem/Abrax. We tried..." + (show)
@ro0891

My dad began on the Folfurinox 5fu- chemo regimen. Then switched to the Gem/Abrax. We tried to do that treatment plan but after week two we had to switch to a one week on/one week off plan. It was too much for him to handle. The Gem/Abrax really took a toll on him but switching the treatment plan definitely gave him some time to recover.

Jump to this post

Thankyou. The first dose has taken a huge toll on my husband. Not sure how he’s going to do with his next treatment on Monday. We may have to do the same. Stomach pain is his biggest issue

REPLY
1 reply
ro0891 | @ro0891 | Nov 4, 2023
In reply to @hbtb2356 "My husband has been diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic pancreatic cancer. Has spread to the liver...." + (show)
@hbtb2356

My husband has been diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic pancreatic cancer. Has spread to the liver. Went to ER Oct 4 for severe constipation after a family vacation to Munich for Octoberfest. CT scan in ER Showed mass on pancreas and liver. Shocking news!, PET scan and MRI showed spots of omental carcinomatosis. He had his first round of chemo today. Abraxane and Gemcitabiene. He has slept most of the day. Had a little nausea but took meds for that and it went away. He just feels lousy. Hopefully he feels a little better tomorrow. His treatment plan is day 1, 8, and 15 then a week off.
We are praying for progress. He is 68. We are staying positive!! There has to be something out there to stop this cancer. I am so grateful I found this group.

Jump to this post

My dad began on the Folfurinox 5fu- chemo regimen. Then switched to the Gem/Abrax. We tried to do that treatment plan but after week two we had to switch to a one week on/one week off plan. It was too much for him to handle. The Gem/Abrax really took a toll on him but switching the treatment plan definitely gave him some time to recover.

REPLY
1 reply
ro0891 | @ro0891 | Nov 4, 2023

It is so difficult. I found that protein shakes helped after chemo for my dad. He was reluctant to drink them but I just kept encouraging them. Take it easy - sending positivity.

REPLY
hbtb2356 | @hbtb2356 | Nov 4, 2023
In reply to @colleenyoung "@hbtb2356, how are you and your husband doing today, and few days post treatment?" + (show)
@colleenyoung

@hbtb2356, how are you and your husband doing today, and few days post treatment?

Jump to this post

The chemo kicked his ass to say the least. Sleeps alot. Cant eat, alot of stomach pain. It’s been a difficult week. I hope he will be able to handle his second treatment on Monday. Very worried. I’ve offered many suggestions to him about food, walking, fluids, etc, but he’s just miserable. Still staying positive.

REPLY
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Nov 3, 2023
In reply to @hbtb2356 "My husband has been diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic pancreatic cancer. Has spread to the liver...." + (show)
@hbtb2356

My husband has been diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic pancreatic cancer. Has spread to the liver. Went to ER Oct 4 for severe constipation after a family vacation to Munich for Octoberfest. CT scan in ER Showed mass on pancreas and liver. Shocking news!, PET scan and MRI showed spots of omental carcinomatosis. He had his first round of chemo today. Abraxane and Gemcitabiene. He has slept most of the day. Had a little nausea but took meds for that and it went away. He just feels lousy. Hopefully he feels a little better tomorrow. His treatment plan is day 1, 8, and 15 then a week off.
We are praying for progress. He is 68. We are staying positive!! There has to be something out there to stop this cancer. I am so grateful I found this group.

Jump to this post

@hbtb2356, how are you and your husband doing today, and few days post treatment?

REPLY
1 reply
scalettasandy | @scalettasandy | Nov 1, 2023
In reply to @jk77 "@scalettasandy : Hi. I live alone, I have no family nearby, and my closest friends are..." + (show)
@jk77

@scalettasandy : Hi. I live alone, I have no family nearby, and my closest friends are 200+ mi. away, so I empathize.

Until recently, I had a longtime therapist, and she was a great support. (She retired, which had been in the works for two years; not a surprise, therefore, but bad timing for me.)

My hospital's cancer center has a social worker who has been a great support in various ways; she's an LCSW, so she could provide a few sessions of therapy, and she has put me in touch with the Behavioral Health unit at the hospital, with the goal of my having short-term psychotherapy support (3 mos. is their limit) if I want it. I'm not sure whether I do, but I'm glad it's a possibility.

This is a lousy time to be without support, and I feel for you. Might your hospital be able to help in these, or other, ways?

ETA: If any of your relatives live near a bigger / better hospital, might you be able to move in with them for a few months?

Jump to this post

Thank you for responding. I have an appointment tomorrow in Minneapolis at M Health Fairview so I’ll ask when I’m there if there’s a social worker available to talk to

REPLY
annsant | @annsant | Nov 1, 2023
In reply to @jk77 "@annsant: Has he tried more than one acupuncturist? I've tried three over time -- one was..." + (show)
@jk77

@annsant: Has he tried more than one acupuncturist? I've tried three over time -- one was great but moved to another state; two was (to my min) mediocre; and three was very good/great.

Jump to this post

This is his second. This one has been recommended by our doctor and many people who have gone to him. He has had some relief from the back pain, but not any progress with the hand and foot/leg neuropathy. Thank you for touching base. Be well.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.