Search Results for 'gemcitabine cisplatin'
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Search Results
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In reply to: Mom just diagnosed with CC – Please Help!!
Hi,Danny,
1.This link may help you for clinical trial(experimental studies),you can read more about this subject under the research forum of our web site.
http://www.cancertrialshelp.org/contact.aspx.
2. For progressive or metastatic intrahepatic CC ,first line chemo therapy like Gemcitabine+cisplatin or 5FU is recommended by most oncology studies; or best supportive care.For experimental studies,clinical trial of chemo and/or radiation treatment is suggested.
3. Only surgery provide the POSSIBLE cure for cc; chemo and radiation treatments mostly provide tumor control and can extend patients’ survival.
God bless.Hi,
The following link provides a simple and useful explanation and info. for those who will be the 1st timer on Gemzar/cis treatment or for those who just want to increase the general understanding about the process of treatment.Thanks to Gavin.
God bless
In reply to: My first chemo gemzar/cisplatin
Hi there,
I have no personal experiences to share on the Gem/Cis combo that your husband is away to start as my dad never had chemo of any type. But that combination treatment has been given to many members or their family members here, and I am sure that some of them will be along soon to share their experiences with you. Also I should add that this combination is seen as a worldwide standard chemo for treating CC.
Here are some links that may be of interest to you regarding Gem/Cis –
http://www.cholangiocarcinoma.org/punbb/search.php?search_id=708583314
I wish your husband every success with this and please let us know how his meeting with the oncologist goes today.
Best wishes,
Gavin
In reply to: Mother with CC
Hi Charlie, Welcome aboard. The jury still seems to be out on whether chemo helps stage 4 but you will find people on here that it has helped, my husband being one. Doug is 60 and was very fit and active before cancer. He was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma last October, then cc in December. He was offered palliative chemo and was told only 10 – 20% respond and it was not a cure just an extension of life. We chose the chemo and Doug had 8 rounds (16 sessions ) from December until the end of May. The chemo combination was gemcitabine (Gemzar) and cisplatin (very common choice for cc). He also had radiation to the worst bone mets last October. He has been progression free since February, so we are regarding this a success. He also takes naturopathic support. Just telling you all this to let you know there are people with success at stage 4 and not sure why they are not offering you a choice for treatment. And as you said she responded well to the Gemzar. So, yes I would say a second opinion is in order.
Oh, just wanted to say that mental confusion is often caused by high ammonia levels. This can be tested by a blood test and lactulose is often prescribed to help bring the levels down. Doug has also suffered from mental confusion on and off. Right now it is good
.
How does your mom feel about all this? Is she willing to get more treatment?
Let us know how you make out. Sending best wishes to you and your mom. NancyIn reply to: My husband’s CC
Thanks to all who have responded so far. John (my husband) is seeing an oncologist, but he was on vacation when we went Friday. The last chemo he was on was cisplatin, gemcitabine and avastin. He tolerated this well with the exception of being very tired. His white counts and platelets were very low so he usually had to get a shot before he could get his next treatment. When he was diagnosed, he was already Stage 4, so the surgeon said that chemo and radiation were not an option. In fact, they told us that if the surgery did not take care of it, we had no other options. After the surgery (the mass was the size of a softball) and the resulting multiple tumors, the oncologist talked with other doctors and that’s when they decided to treat him with the drugs they use to treat metastatic colon cancer. When he had that adverse reaction, that’s when they switched to the cisplatin/gemcitabine/avastin. We just thank God every day for each day that he gives us and hope for the best. I have noticed that there are many more web sites about CC now than when John was first diagnosed. I have asked the oncologist several times about clinical trials but he doesn’t have much to say on the subject. I just want to keep John around for as long as possible. We live on the east coast so John Hopkins would be the closest to us. Thanks again, Peggy
In reply to: My husband’s CC
Hi Peggy, Your husband is a fighter, you both are! He sounds like my husband, very active and fit before cc and now still tries to do as much as he can too (Doug is 60). Our men are brave! As Lainy said, there have been patients with mets to their lungs. What type of chemo has he had so far? At one point, at the beginning of Doug’s treatment he had spots on the lungs consistent to mets that disappeared with chemo. His chemo was cisplatin/ gemcitabine. He also takes naturopathic support. I hope you get your answers soon and they come up with a good plan. As Percy mentioned, don’t be afraid of a second opinion. Take care. Nancy
In reply to: Introduction
Thank you all for your warm welcome into this Loving, yet unfortuante family to have. I am blessed to have a community/family like all of you.
@Gavin – Gemcitabine/Cisplatin combination sounds correct. I have a folder @ home with the info on it, just not here (I’m @ work, shh).@ Nancy – the doctor’s @ IU Hospital here in Indianapolis have explained to us that transplant would not be possible. We really like Dc. Helft (our oncologist) and he said, once the “seeds” have been planted that after the long recovery from a transplant the chances the CC seeds will have alredy strated to take over his new liver are pretty high.
We are getting ready for the Brickyard 400 – the Nascar race here in Speedway for any fans – and this has become a big family reunion for my dad’s family for the last 17 years. His brother from FL come up every year with his family (2 sons, daughter-in-laws and 4 grand children) along with the entire Guthridge clan that is local (2 sistters + their families). It’s what I coined last year the “All Guthridge, All The Time Weekend” – 3 days of constant family activities. Always fun, overwhelming (@ times there can be 30+ family) – lots of laughs and love! I just can’t help to look at this weekend in a whole new way this year!
Again – I’ll be in touch and thank you for the support you have all already shared with me.
Suzanne
In reply to: Introduction
Hi Suzanne,
Welcome to the site. So sorry that you had to find us all and I am sorry also to hear about your dad. But I’m glad that you have joined us all as you have come to the right place for support and help. I know how you feel right now and what you are going through. My dad was diagnosed with inoperable CC back in 2008 and he was also 64 at the time. When we were told the diagnosis I felt like I had just been hit in the head with a bat. My dad was in good health prior to this and this all came out of the blue. Like you, I felt lost as we had to take in so much information about something that we had never heard of before whilst at the same time having to come to terms with this diagnosis.
As I said, you have come to the right place as we all know how you feel and what you are going through right now. Please feel free to ask any questions that you have and we will all do what we can to help in answering them. I can’t help regharding doctors in Indiana as I am in the UK, but maybe this thread that was created by the members here will be of help to you –
http://www.cholangiocarcinoma.org/punbb/viewtopic.php?id=3126
Also, this may be of use to you as well. It is a list of major treatment centres in the USA –
http://www.cholangiocarcinoma.org/majorcancercenters.htm
Do you know what type of chemo your dad is on, is it the Gemcitabine/Cisplatin combination? If so there are many posts on this site by the members who are or have been on this combination. The search forum finction at the top of the page will throw up these discussions.
Please try to stay as positive as you can. I know that this will have come as such a shock to you and is so hard to deal with. We are all here for you and we care.
My best wishes to you and your dad,
Gavin
Hi,
Some facts about hair growth:
On an average,there are 100,000 hairs on the scalp and of which 100-150 are lost normally daily in the cycle.
Hair grows at a rate of 0.35mm per day.
Approximately 85-90% of hair follicles are in the active growth phase at any time.there are 3 grades of hair loss.
Grade1=less than 25% of hair;obvious to patients but not to others.
Grade2=25-50% loss; obvious thinning but enough to lead to the use of a wig.
Grade 3=>50% loss and a wig may be needed.
Randomized controlled trials suggest significantly less hair loss with scalp hypothermia but it may not be as effective in patients with liver dysfunction.Among the drugs used to treat CC, ,epirubicin,paclitaxel,irinotecan are those most likely to cause complete hair loss.;5FU,gemcitabine ,mitomycin are less common and Carpoplatin,Cisplatin and Capecitabine are the least common to cause hair loss. EGFR inhibitors like erlotinib(Tarceva) ,sorafenib(Nexavar) and sunitinib (up to 50% of patients) and MoAb like cetuximab(Erbitux) may cause hair thinning and most of them are reversible except in some cases after treatment of gefitinib(Iressa).
In short,high dose of chemo, and combination chemotherapy reigmens are more likely to result in hair loss than are single agents , by oral administration and low -dose therapy and weekly administration.
Because the chemotherapy-associated hair loss is transient and reversible after cessation of the treatment; counseling and psychological support before and during therapy should be considered first over the use of devices such as scalp hypothermia and scalp tourniquet because of case reports of cutaneous metastases and therefore preclude the recommendation for there use.No pharmacologic interventions is available to treat chemo-related hair loss effectively at this point.–From uptodate.com literature review version. 18.2.
God bless.In reply to: Looking for advice
Hi Catherine, My husband was diagnosed with stage 4 cholangiocarcinoma with mets to his liver and bones last December after 2 months of testing to find out what type of cancer he had. Like your uncle months prior he was seeing doctors who told him he was fine and one also suggested it might be in his head! It is frustrating and disappointing. Like you we are in Canada but at the other end! We live in a small town and Doug went to the BC cancer clinic in Kelowna to be under the care of an oncologist. Though Doug was told the cancer is incurable he was told he may achieve better quality of life and lengthening of life with chemo. ( He received radiation to the worst spine mets). We opted for the chemo treatments and we also see a naturopath for naturopathic support. He started chemo in December and finished the 8 cycles of gemcitabine/ cisplatin the end of May. We have been very fortunate with his response to chemo and he has been stable (no progression) since February. His quality of life has improved greatly.
Doug turned 60 in May, so is in the same age bracket as your uncle.
Also, the chemo did help Doug with the pain tremendously.
I would suggest seeing another oncologist that would support trying chemo, if that is what your husband wishes. Postive thoughts being sent your way.
NancyIn reply to: Good reports from Mayo
Hello to All! I am not only Brand New to this site but relatively new to this battle. My husband was diagnosed in April 2011. We have been on GEMCITABINE + CISPLATIN Chemo on a 3 week cycle Since mid April. We had our first scan today since chemo started and we are very worried. For those of you who are speaking of success what chemo treatments are the patient receiving? How old is the patient? How hard was it to get into Mayo and how long was the wait? Sorry for so many questions, but we are very young for this disease and scared as He–! Any information from those war heros would be gladdly received.
Topic: What next?
I was hoping to get your experienced thoughts… My husband completed 4 months chemo- Gemcitabine & Cisplatin Nov 2010. He has a number of mets in liver, bones and lymph nodes. David is getting another scan tomorrow and the results will follow the next week- the disease until now has been stable pretty much. i have a feeling that he might need to start treatment again. He isn’t feeling as good.
I just want to know what are the best options now? I want to have an idea before we see the consultant. Doc says quality of life but I am holding out for quantity too
C
Topic: Mother and CC
Hi All,
Firstly thank you to all who organize and participate in this forum. It is full of helpful advice, information and inspiration for those of us who are in need of it. Which I am now as we found out a few weeks ago that my mother’s cholangio carcinoma has returned – non operable or curable. This was after a successful resection and course of chemo last year. She has started 3, 3 week cycles of Cisplatin and Gemcitabine and we are gearing up to deal with what comes next as a family. I will fill in some more information on her background and planned treatment on the correct board but wanted to say hello and thank you.
Harry
Topic: Mom’s CC journey
Hello Everyone! My name is Julie and my wonderful mother has cc. I’ve been reading posts here for almost a year now, but never posted. Mom was diagnosed with stage IV cc last May and the year has been a blur. Her initial prognisis was 12-18 months, then 4-6 months. We went to MD Anderson in June and found hope there. Mom bravely endured 8 months of Gemcitabine/Cisplatin combo. In December, her oncologist told us that although she was responding to the chemo, the tumor was wrapped around an artery which meant no operation in her future. Her March scans showed a 20% overall shrinkage from last May, but growth in another area of the liver Last week she completed 5 weeks of proton radation therapy at MD Anderson and looks and feels better than she has in a year.
I was wondering if anyone on this site had shrinkage and growth at the same time? Also, has anyone gone through proton radiation therapy? I have tried very hard to remain hopeful and not put too much faith in anything but God. Sometimes too much information has not helped that effort. But I believe it is time to reach out…I need it.
As I read the posts of those who were taken so quickly, I am grateful for this time but hope for much, much more time with her.
Julie
Topic: Mr Hodg with the monster CC
I want introduce myself my name is Scott, I’m 50 years old and I was diagnosed with CC on July 14, 2010. I was told I had 4 to 6 months to live. At the time my tumor marker was 3960 and at the present time it is 35.8. I have been receiving chemo Gemcitabine and Cisplatin. I have it once a week for two weeks and then one week off and it take 8 hours for the infusion. My last PET scan showed no new tumors and very little activity in the existing tumors. My doctors have told me I will be on chemo indefinitely because of this very aggressive cancer. My symptoms have been pretty mild except for what I call “Mystery Fever”. Starts with chills, fever and vomiting that lasts anywhere from 8 to 12 hours and then goes. I have some aches and pains the next day. It usually happens on my off week from chemo. Has anyone else ever had this?
This week I will be going to UCI Medical Center (Orange, CA) to start the work up for SIR Sphere radiation program.
If anyone has had the SIR Sphere I would like to hear how it went.
