cisplatin with gemcitabine

Hi Rev. Wayne,

Thank you for your note and hope that all is well.  Good to hear you have linked up with a major cancer center.

Is the chemo you mentioned adjuvant, namely a precautionary treatment after surgery?  Or did your doctors find a recurrence?

If adjuvant, gem-cis is a common choice but there are other regimens that patients have followed.  The BILCAP (capecitabine) regimen that showed good results in a recent study would be one – it has the advantage of being entirely in pill form which is more convenient than infusions.  Gemcitabine alone, gemcitabine plus capecitabine, and gem-cap plus radiation are among other adjuvant therapy options that have been used.  Oncologists will have very specific reasons for the regimen they recommend – but it is important that as a patient you ask about the choice and review what other options may be out there.

If the treatment is not adjuvant, gem-cis is the usual first go-to chemo for CCA.  As Gavin noted, there are a lot of posts on this board about gem-cis experiences that can be found via the search engine.

If you will be having chemo infusions, your doctor will likely discuss your getting a port, an option that many patients find helpful in reducing any discomfort from the infusions.

I hope your appointment at Mayo goes well and brings you a great way forward.

Regards, Mary