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Long term Abraxane/Gemzar Treatment

Posted by bzabeli @bzabeli, Sep 17 12:40pm

Can anyone provide input with personal knowledge on a situation?

Someone has been under Abraxane/Gemzar for metastatic pancreatic cancer spread to the lungs only. Under treatment for 33 months. Treatment is every other week. It's been very effective with both Abraxane and Gemzar already reduced to the minimum.
Here's the question: if given an option of taking a chemo holiday vs. going to a three-week cadence, which is better?

I've already gone to Grok for its assessment, and I'll be meeting with my provider in two weeks to get input.

Does anyone out there have personal experience with one or the other or both?

Thanks,

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199 | @199 | Sep 18 11:53am

I was on gemcitabine & Abraxane for 4 years/87 chemo treatments. I had 2 " breaks" or holidays. If I had to go back, I would opt for the 3-week cadence. I went too long last time on break for almost 7 months & MY ca 19-9 got up to over 11,000! This last break was very much needed. I had gone way too many months (3) of feeling horrible before that break. I am now on Rasonque.

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bzabeli | @bzabeli | Sep 27 6:17am
In reply to @199 "I was on gemcitabine & Abraxane for 4 years/87 chemo treatments. I had 2 " breaks"..." + (show)
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I was on gemcitabine & Abraxane for 4 years/87 chemo treatments. I had 2 " breaks" or holidays. If I had to go back, I would opt for the 3-week cadence. I went too long last time on break for almost 7 months & MY ca 19-9 got up to over 11,000! This last break was very much needed. I had gone way too many months (3) of feeling horrible before that break. I am now on Rasonque.

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@199
Thanks. That's good information. And congratulations for four years. That's a feat.
Can I ask if you were scanned periodically during that seven-month holiday? With your CA19-9 ballooning like that, if would seem there would also be evidence of growth through a scan.
Currently I'm on a three-month cycle for CAT scans. That might increase to a two-month cycle to catch any growth, whether I go the holiday or three-week cycle route.
Thanks again and best wishes.

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199 | @199 | Sep 28 5:26pm
In reply to @bzabeli "@199 Thanks. That's good information. And congratulations for four years. That's a feat. Can I ask..." + (show)
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@199
Thanks. That's good information. And congratulations for four years. That's a feat.
Can I ask if you were scanned periodically during that seven-month holiday? With your CA19-9 ballooning like that, if would seem there would also be evidence of growth through a scan.
Currently I'm on a three-month cycle for CAT scans. That might increase to a two-month cycle to catch any growth, whether I go the holiday or three-week cycle route.
Thanks again and best wishes.

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@bzabeli
I was scanned every 3 months even on the seven-month holiday. The numbers went up & we kept an eye on them. I told the oncologist I wanted to wait until I went over, I think 5000 but that more than doubled on my last CA19-9. I went back on chemo & had 2 treatments with the numbers declining well, then I was accepted into the daraxonrasib program which took so long I ended up getting it after FDA approval> Started Rasonque on Sept 4th. Labs on the 25th showed my CA19-9 down to 483 🙂

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bzabeli | @bzabeli | Sep 28 7:54pm
In reply to @199 "@bzabeli I was scanned every 3 months even on the seven-month holiday. The numbers went up..." + (show)
Profile picture for 199 @199

@bzabeli
I was scanned every 3 months even on the seven-month holiday. The numbers went up & we kept an eye on them. I told the oncologist I wanted to wait until I went over, I think 5000 but that more than doubled on my last CA19-9. I went back on chemo & had 2 treatments with the numbers declining well, then I was accepted into the daraxonrasib program which took so long I ended up getting it after FDA approval> Started Rasonque on Sept 4th. Labs on the 25th showed my CA19-9 down to 483 🙂

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@199
Thanks. Very helpful. With that I might go for a two-month interval on the scans along with the three-week interval on the treatments. I'm likely to have those options.

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