second approach with oxalyplatin and gemzar
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I would also like to welcome you. On this board we have seen Oxiliplatin to cause some of these side effects: peripheral sensory neuropathies, neutropenia, nausea, emesis, and diarrhea and I think that the neuropathy seems to be the most reported. The members will have plenty of suggestions coming your way should any of these issues be present for you also. You can also read up on some of the postings under “side effects” or, the “search” function is always an option, too.
Best wishes coming your way and I am so glad that you have found us,
MarionWelcome to the site. We are a great group of people (if I do say so myself). Decisions are difficult. I think that one of the pluses of this site that it gives you great information and insight that can help you make decisions.
I too have been off chemo for over a month. Xeloda wiped me out. I was on oxilplatin and xeloda. Xeloda made me sick, oxilaplatin made be very sensitive cold things. I am going to switch to gemzar and cisplatin. My doctor said that was an easier regime than xeloda and oxilaplatin. So, i dont know how that fits in….is gemzar easier than xeloda, or if cisplatin is easier than oxilaplatin. So actually, I am or no use so I will stop blabbling.
Kris
Hi,
Your history with cc is very similar to my husband, Gary. He was diagnosed in Nov 2007 and also had his Whipple on Dec. 11 (but in 2007). His margins were clear from the surgery and the outlook was promising. However he also had complications – infection that meant a second surgery on Dec. 22, a wound vac for months, a bile leak that wouldn’t heal, many trips back to Duke for abcesses and more drains. He started chemo (Xeloda and Gemzar) and also radiation, but had to stop treatments because of the infections. Nothing ever showed up on his ct scans, but in December his CA-19 levels started to rise so he began Folfox. That was bringing his numbers down, but then he had to stop again in order to have surgery to finally repair that pesky bile leak and a huge hernia. He has since resumed the chemo plus Tarceva, but a recent CT scan shows a spot or two on his liver. This came as a complete shock to us. After 3 rounds of chemo his CA-19 count is the same, and he is scheduled for another scan in 2 weeks. If the cancer is growing he will stop chemo. We’ve been investigating clinical trials and targeted therapies, but the problem with the targets is you know there are other cells in the body that will be missed. Cisplatin has been mentioned as a possible way to go – don’t know much about that. At this point we’re praying the chemo is working.
I understand your dilemma about getting the second, third opinions – but our experience has been we always learn something new or see the situation from a different perpective after talking to another doctor. Good luck with your fact finding – and blessings to your supportive family.Hello… I was diagnosed in November 08, confirmed via biopsy at UW Hospital in Seattle on December 5. A Whipple Surgery on Dec. 11 removed tumor on the bile duct and left clean margins, but after a long, complicated recovery (the incision got infected), radiation plus xeloda and then gemzar plus xeloda, the tumors have progressed into my liver. My surgeon warned me in December, “the knife is no match for tumor biology,” and during a recent consult at Mayo I was told that the cells were in there, although the margins at the time of surgery were clean.
So, the second line of chemo, in order to help stabilize and possibly shrink growth, as proposed at Mayo this week, is gemzar plus oxalyplatin. This protocol will be administered in my home town of Fairbanks, Alaska. I’m a 56 year old woman and otherwise have been very healthy and active; no other chronic conditions, except for varicose veins which flared up a couple of weeks ago.
The progression is alarming to us (possibly a dozen tumors in the liver) so we will probably not make our secheduled “third opinion” at MD Anderson next Monday, with Dr. Milton Javle, in order to stay here in Fairbanks and begin a second-line attack. I have heard good things about MD Anderson and Dr. Javle, but frankly I feel different these days and blood tests show that liver function is affected, slightly. I don’t know how much time I should take in making a decision. Gemzar plus xeloda was suspended July 7; haven’t had any treatment at all since then. Anyone had similar experience?
I like this discussion board and found it helpful these past few weeks in feeling less alone. My husband and family are super supportive and yet decisions are so hard to make. Thanks to the foundation for this discussion board.
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