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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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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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?

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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 👍

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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

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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❤️

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