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?

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Nov 10 9:07pm
In reply to @pam79 "Does anyone know of any in person meetings , activities or events in the Mayo area..." + (show)
@pam79

Does anyone know of any in person meetings , activities or events in the Mayo area today or this week that we could attend?

Jump to this post

@pam79, are you and your sister still at Mayo Clinic? In Rochester? There are many things to do. I encourage you to check out the Cancer Education Center if you haven't already in the lobby of the Gonda building. Here's more information:
- General https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/cancer-education-center/
- Classes https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/cancer-education-center/tab/offerings/#ch-tab-navigation
They have kind people to greet you and offer support where you may need it.

Be sure to also stop in to Concierge Services in Mayo Building (lobby level, in the International Center)
https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/minnesota/concierge-services
They can tell you more about what is going on in Rochester, Mayo Clinic, and make recommendations from activities to restaurants to quiet places to visit to art tours and more.

How is she doing on radiation? How are YOU doing?

REPLY
marienewland | @mnewland99 | Nov 3 1:17pm
In reply to @199 "I've been on it since July 2022 (gemcitabine & Abraxane). I had a four-month break from..." + (show)
@199

I've been on it since July 2022 (gemcitabine & Abraxane). I had a four-month break from Jan to July of this year.
Last treatment made it 57 in all! This time my CA 19-9 just got within normal limits after 12 treatments: 29.4 🙂

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That is so awesome @199! And a 4-month break at that! I think with our diligence (57 treatments) and stamina we are showing PC who’s the boss! The longer we survive the more researchers will learn about this disease.

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marienewland | @mnewland99 | Nov 3 1:12pm
In reply to @gracect "He has an ATM, KRAS G12V and a BRACA 2 that may or may not be..." + (show)
@gracect

He has an ATM, KRAS G12V and a BRACA 2 that may or may not be actionable.
They are considering a KRAS study when tumor starts to grow.

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Ok, actionable? - that’s a new term for me - I’ll have to look it up!

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199 | @199 | Nov 3 10:42am

I've been on it since July 2022 (gemcitabine & Abraxane). I had a four-month break from Jan to July of this year.
Last treatment made it 57 in all! This time my CA 19-9 just got within normal limits after 12 treatments: 29.4 🙂

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1 reply
pam79 | @pam79 | Nov 3 6:37am
In reply to @pam79 "I am my sisters caregiver. She was also diagnosed February, March. She started the same treatment..." + (show)
@pam79

I am my sisters caregiver. She was also diagnosed February, March. She started the same treatment in May and finished first round in October. It helped shrink her tumor and is very stable. We are now at Mayo for 3 weeks while she is doing radiation. She is very active and doing things that she enjoys.
Without treatment the prediction was 2 months.

Jump to this post

Does anyone know of any in person meetings , activities or events in the Mayo area today or this week that we could attend?

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1 reply
pam79 | @pam79 | Nov 2 11:40pm

I am my sisters caregiver. She was also diagnosed February, March. She started the same treatment in May and finished first round in October. It helped shrink her tumor and is very stable. We are now at Mayo for 3 weeks while she is doing radiation. She is very active and doing things that she enjoys.
Without treatment the prediction was 2 months.

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1 reply
gracect | @gracect | Nov 2 7:45am

My husband was stage 4 metastasis to liver when he started.

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gracect | @gracect | Nov 2 7:43am
In reply to @mnewland99 "That’s wonderful news gracect! That’s the longest time I’ve heard anyone being on GA. I was..." + (show)
@mnewland99

That’s wonderful news gracect! That’s the longest time I’ve heard anyone being on GA. I was on 5FU in early 2023, and then when it metastasized when I came off it, I was switched to GAC chemo early this year so going on 11 months now. May I ask which mutations you have? Mutations type can drive the treatment response. Mine are KRASD12, TP53, and ATM. Thank you for your post as it will help others.

Jump to this post

He has an ATM, KRAS G12V and a BRACA 2 that may or may not be actionable.
They are considering a KRAS study when tumor starts to grow.

REPLY
1 reply
gamaryanne | @gamaryanne | Nov 2 6:12am

Great news! Doctors are now being able to predict which standard of care recipe will work best . I believe it’s based on mutations. Wouldn’t it be great if they all knew this and implemented this strategy to save the wear and tear on our bodies! So glad GA is stabilizing and and working. I’ve never heard of anyone tolerating it for two years!
I was on it for awhile but they removed the abraxane and shortly after my marker was on the rise and a liver tumor appeared.
All good now

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sheridanb | @sheridanb | Nov 1 11:59am

so happy to hear of the long time positive effects of GA for marienewland and gracect! My husband is just starting this journey after nearly a year on various forms of 5FU. Yesterday he felt fine. Today, tired and achy. We'll see what tomorrow brings. Thanks for the hope and help.

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