Anyone on Gemcitabine with Abraxane? How long? Effective?

Hello.
I was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer Dec 24 after going to ER for severe. jaundice. Found tumor in the head of the pancreas. Feb 25 started 5FU treatment for 12 - 2 week cycles . I did not tolerate it well at all with all kind of side-effects. Nausea, vomit diarrhea, fatigue. CT Pet should no progress in reducing tumor or CA19. So they chagrdvit to GA. Which is tolerated very well. 8 - 2 week cycles. Tomorrow shrank and CA went down. Proceeded to Wipple surgery which was a sucesss in removing the tumor, normal C A19. 3vweeks after surgery. No sign of metastases and levels normal. Until myb3 mo checkup. It has now metastases to liver. Stated on GA gain on Nov 13. Waiting on DNA of biopsy. Will go from.thete. hope I tolerate GA same as last time.

Hello: My husband recently had a recurrence of pancreatic adenocarcinoma in the surgical bed (Per PET & CT scans) after almost going 3 years cancer free post Whipple surgery (December 2022). With the recurrence to get to the area to do a biopsy, due to the previous Whipple surgery, has been unsuccessful. Has anyone had a similar experience post Whipple and was able to successfully get a biopsy of a similar recurrence area? If so, what procedure was used and where? He is currently using chemo drugs Gemcitabine and Abraxane ( this upcoming infusion will be his 4th ). He is going to do scans soon to check if the chemo drugs are working. His CA 19-9 levels have always been low (0.6), so that blood test can't be used as a marker to determine if the treatment is working.

Thank you Leigh, it is SO good to read some positive news. I'm going for my scan on the 24th (then I would have completed 9 sessions of Gem/Abraxane) I am PRAYING that my scan will show positive results. I also lost my hair soon after my 1st session, but it is starting to grow back nicely. Good luck with your treatments and I will keep you in my prayers. Stay strong.
Love
Helena

To Helena: For me, an 85 year old 90 pound woman (now), it's working great. My CA marker went from 1100 to 143 and I no longer have abdominal pain. No hair, including eyebrows; some fatigue but that is it. I think I have a reduced dosage (which I asked for) and the infusions are every other week. I was unable to tolerate folfirinox almost 3 years ago and quit; had a Whipple in May 2023; came back to chemo when I was diagnosed with peritoneal carcinomatosis about 5 months ago. I hope you have success with this chemo--don't hesitate to work with your oncologist for a treatment that works for you. I am just grateful for the additional--relatively pain-free--years. Courage, Carrie

@joyful23, I'm sorry to hear your husband's cancer has returned after being cancer free for 3 years. How is he doing on chemo? When will he have his follow-up scans?

@carrie40 Sorry to hear about peritoneal carcinomatosis diagnosis. What are your doctors doing about that?

@monterrey1997
So far so good...I'm on a reduced dosage of Gem/Abrax and my CT scan yesterday showed no "concerning" items. I have been fortunate with this chemo after not tolerating Foflurinox almost 3 years ago. I have no major discomfort or pain other than digestive issues; even with Creon. Thank you for asking....Carrie

@monterrey1997
So far so good...I'm on a reduced dosage of Gem/Abrax and my CT scan yesterday showed no "concerning" items. I have been fortunate with this chemo after not tolerating Foflurinox almost 3 years ago. I have no major discomfort or pain other than digestive issues; even with Creon. Thank you for asking....Carrie