MY DAD 2ND ROUND OF GEMZAR, CAN ANYONE HELP?

Hi Mark, Yes people have healed from this! Your dad’s chances are better because of resection. Many are not canditates for resection. Gemzar is often used after resection for prevention. Cortisone is used for inflammation or allergic reactions. Motilium is used to suppress naseau and vomiting.
Do you ever go with your dad for appointments? Don’t be afraid to ask about the different drugs and their intent and side effects. Sounds like your dad is in good hands but also don’t be afraid to get a second opinion if you are not happy with the responses you are getting. All the best to you and your dad. Nancy

Hi,Mark,
I have just copied my 14 month experience on Gemzar .
I hope it will give you some ideas on Gemzar as mono therapy.
For the question about the efficacy fo Gemzar alone and how long a patient should be on Gemzar;the reply from the drug manufacturer Eli Lilly of Gemzer is “until disease progress or unacceptable toxicity.”
My personally view about this CC disease is that unless a new drug is found, the use of systemic therapy is to keep the cancer cells at bay ,it will not cure the disease;all it will take is one of them to invade the patient’s immune system successfully and cause us trouble all over again.

As always, please confer with your doctor first before any change of Rx. This is for informational purposes only.
BEFORE Tx
1.Give lorazepam 0.5-1mg or alprazolam,same dose, by mouth 30min. before the start of chemo for anticipatory nausea/vomiting purposes.
DURING Tx
2. As pre-medication prior to gemcitabine to control nausea/vomiting ;Ondansetron(or granisetron or dolasetron)+ dexamethasone(a cortical steroid) as IVPB will be given over 30minx 1dose.(dose determined by body surface area of the patient).
3.Gemcitabine sholud be given just for 30min and no more than that in duration in order to minimize the side effect.;I always make sure the nurse understand this.(this only apply to monotherapy of Gemzar)
AFTER Tx
4. Then when you are home,take 25-50mg of benadryl(diphenhydramine)-an antihistamine and 0.5-2mg alprazolam or lorazepam together with sips of water and go to bed right away, if he needs to vomit,let her do it first,then take the med and go to bed ;he will wake up in about 3-5 hour and will feel better.Encourage her to drink water or juice or soy milk as much as possible especially in the first 8 hour after gemcitabine.(ie;3-4 glass of 240ml size /day or more) to flush out the gemcitabline to minimize its side effects.
5. I do not need any other meds to control the N/V until the next week of chemo;but if you dad needs it,ask to doctor to have some promethazine 25mg on hand for nausea /vomiting and take it by mouth every4-6 hour as needed.
For diarrhea,Imodium or Lomotil are the choices, Take one by mouth every 4-6hrs AS NEEDED for diarrhea and not to use more than 8 tablets/day.

Again, every patient is different in physiology and the state of health at time of diagnosis. You MUST consult your doctor first for his recommendation .
God bless

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