Gemcitabine and Capecitabine
PK
unfortunatley has now spread to the Liver - he is 74 and is in
'good-health'.
The Oncologist has suggested he might want to undertake a clinical
trial using a combination of Gemcitabine and Capecitabine drugs.
My question is: At this stage of the illness how successful is
chemotherapy in prolonging life? And whether the proposed combination
therapy is more beneficial?
PK.
J
> My father has recently been diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer, which
> unfortunatley has now spread to the Liver - he is 74 and is in
> 'good-health'.
>
> The Oncologist has suggested he might want to undertake a clinical
> trial using a combination of Gemcitabine and Capecitabine
AKA 5-FU
http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/214a2a.htm
> drugs.
>
> My question is: At this stage of the illness how successful is
> chemotherapy in prolonging life? And whether the proposed combination
> therapy is more beneficial?
Hello PK,
So sorry about your father.
This was just posted yesterday.
<http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/HPI/CancerManagementGuidelines/Gastrointestinal/08.Pancreas/Management/8Palliative.htm>
and Questions to ask (by Steph, our resident radiation oncologist)
<
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&th=d6c2e79fa2510db8&seekm=lioa7.18385%242J4.6101418%40news2.rdc1
> and
<http://groups.google.com/groups?q=+%22pancreatic+cancer%22+author:J&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&scoring=d&selm=3E4EBA12.1860FF74%40execulink.com&rnum=4>
Looks like the combo's in Clinical Trials a number of places
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/show/NCT00033540?order=4
http://www.cecog.org/studies/sakk.htm
Steph will be back early next week.
Others' here might be participating in clinical trials (and may contact
you).
Ask what the goal of the trial is. Ask whether the possible downsides
are worth the possible positives.
Is he willing to accept (possible) less quality of life for possible
extension of life.
Each person responds differently. Only each person can answer that
question themselves.
http://www.acor.org/Cancerlist/pancreas.html
ACOR also has a listserv (private). I believe here
http://www.acor.org/mailing.html by clicking on the "P"
Watch for other replies
Post anytime, about (just about) anything.
That's what this newsgroup is for, cancer patients, relatives,
caregivers.
Best wishes in your decision(s).
J
Terrence Kearns
I am currently taking Germcitabine for pancreatic cancer. I have had a good
response so far with my "C marker" consistently going down. My oncololgist
tells me much is dependent upon the individual and his/her disease course
and his/her response to treatment. Side-effects to gemzar are usually
minimal. I don't know about the combination.
--Terry (male, age 59)
"PK" <pkin...@kinsler.fsnet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:36e8ed28.03022...@posting.google.com...
Howian
which no one definitely knows. That said, gemcitabine has been shown to have
some effectiveness with pancreatic cancer. Do a search on medline
www.medscape.com to check published results. l Carboplatin is a drug used with
various tumors and scientists are trying to see if the combination will help.
We can hope and pray for the best but what I know there are not too many
alternatives.
>Subject: Gemcitabine and Capecitabine
>From: pkin...@kinsler.fsnet.co.uk (PK)
>Date: 2/26/2003 4:26 AM Eastern Standard Time
>Message-id: <36e8ed28.03022...@posting.google.com>
Terrence Kearns
gemcitabine seems to being me much good. I don't know about the other
drug, but it probably does not hurt.
Good luck!
--Terry
"Howian" <how...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20030302105917...@mb-ba.aol.com...
Steph
The reason there is a trial is becasue the answer isn't known yet.
But there is no reason to believe that any chemotherapy can significantly
improve survival in advanced pancreatic ca.
If he's feeling well, the question really is "Why do anything"?