Tagamet for metastisized colon cancer

My husband has Stage 4 colon cancer, metastisized to the liver and also lymphnodes near the superior vena cava. He was diagnosed very late, had a resection in Novemeber, 2010, and as of yet, no further treament. Two weeks ago he was told he had between 6 and 12 months left. This is NHS, UK medicine at it's worst. Anyway, after much soul searching, internet research, etc, etc, we came upon some information that is astounding, relating to Stage 4 colon cancer. It seems that in the 70s, there was a small study done with advanced colon cancer patients using Tagamet in combination with chemo. The results were fantastic! I see that a discussion on this has been done before, but I think it's worth posting a reminder about it again. If you want more info on it, just google colon cancer tagamet and several articles will come up. It seems that no more studies have been done since 1990 and my opinion on this is that there isn't any money to be made from using it as a cancer treatment. Big pharma is about $$$ more than curing the patient. I'd say that was criminal, wouldn't you? Anyway, I felt that I had to join so I could post this so that maybe it would help others. Trust your doctors, but do your own research! Good luck to all!
Karen

Comments

  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    Yes, I take Tagamet (cimetidine)
    Hi Karen,

    This subject has been mentioned on the board before, but it's always a good reminder and good for those new on the board. The study I read about was on stage II colon/colorectal patients (I believe). 1/2 took Xeloda for a year following their colon resection. The other 1/2 took Xeloda and also cimetidine (Tagamet) for the year following their resection. At the end of the year the group who had taken the cimetidine/Tagamet in addition to the Xeloda fared much better than the group taking Xeloda only. I don't remember the statistics/% offhand, but it was quite significant (I want to say close to 30% better, but I don't remember for sure). The Tagamet supposedly works in preventing the cancer from metastasizing (remember these were stage II patients).
    I'm stage IV and my onc says that on that premise, even though my cancer has already spread to the liver and lungs, that the Tagamet could possibly work by preventing the cancer from spreading any further than it already is, so it certainly won't hurt me to take it & could possibly prevent it from spreading any more. Don't know if it's been coincidence or not, but my cancer was in the liver/lungs upon my diagnsis 3 yrs, 10 months ago, & it has not spread in this time anywhere else in my body. So, I will keep taking the Tagamet/cimetidine. The dosage given to the patients in the study was 800 mg/day. The tablets I get are 200 mg. each, so I take 2 in the morning & 2 more each evening.
    I get mine in Walmart where the antacids are sold. It's really not a very good antacid and I'm actually surprised they still sell it with so many newer types on the shelf. But I'm glad they do, since I'm not taking it as an antacid, but for my cancer.

    Thanks for bringing this up-
    Lisa
  • plh4gail
    plh4gail Member Posts: 1,238 Member
    Thank you so much for caring
    Thank you so much for caring and posting!

    Gail
  • pete43lost_at_sea
    pete43lost_at_sea Member Posts: 3,900 Member
    thanks and welcome
    sorry about husband, sounds like nhs let you down.
    i'll let stage4's comment on lack of chemo for 7 months.
    i am about to start tagamet. just wanted to get a good blood test after finishing chemo.
    goodluck, i am into natural remedies and supplements, as you said do you research and
    hopefully for a great onc.
    hugs,
    pete
  • frankfishr
    frankfishr Member Posts: 3

    thanks and welcome
    sorry about husband, sounds like nhs let you down.
    i'll let stage4's comment on lack of chemo for 7 months.
    i am about to start tagamet. just wanted to get a good blood test after finishing chemo.
    goodluck, i am into natural remedies and supplements, as you said do you research and
    hopefully for a great onc.
    hugs,
    pete

    Natural remedies
    I'm new. I had two treatments of chemo. First 5fu, oxiplatin which shrunk my cancer considerably with the cea count at 2.5. The cancer came back I then rec'd Ironotecan and campostar. It didn't much at all. I'm now looking for alternatives. Have you heard of Protocel?
  • Buckwirth
    Buckwirth Member Posts: 1,258 Member

    Natural remedies
    I'm new. I had two treatments of chemo. First 5fu, oxiplatin which shrunk my cancer considerably with the cea count at 2.5. The cancer came back I then rec'd Ironotecan and campostar. It didn't much at all. I'm now looking for alternatives. Have you heard of Protocel?

    Protocel, also called Cancel
    Andrew Weil on Protocel
  • janie1
    janie1 Member Posts: 753 Member
    Buckwirth said:

    Protocel, also called Cancel
    Andrew Weil on Protocel

    Karen, thank you for your
    Karen, thank you for your kindness in posting.

    Frankfisher (sorry, spelling), if you only had 2 rounds of the first chemo and it seemed to work well, I'm curious about why they changed to the 2nd type chemo. Seems like they could have done more with the first type. How soon after you fininshed the first 2 rounds of chemo, did the recurrence happen? (I'm new, too, and learning). Thanks.
  • frankfishr
    frankfishr Member Posts: 3
    janie1 said:

    Karen, thank you for your
    Karen, thank you for your kindness in posting.

    Frankfisher (sorry, spelling), if you only had 2 rounds of the first chemo and it seemed to work well, I'm curious about why they changed to the 2nd type chemo. Seems like they could have done more with the first type. How soon after you fininshed the first 2 rounds of chemo, did the recurrence happen? (I'm new, too, and learning). Thanks.

    Why the switch
    I wanted to know the same thing. They told me that the cancer might be used to that chemo and wanted to try something different. Now they're thinking of doing the 1st chemo again with a mix of the last. Make sense?
  • frankfishr
    frankfishr Member Posts: 3

    Why the switch
    I wanted to know the same thing. They told me that the cancer might be used to that chemo and wanted to try something different. Now they're thinking of doing the 1st chemo again with a mix of the last. Make sense?

    As far Andrew Weils article
    Sounds like he works for the pharmies. there's no chemicals in Protocel and when the NCI did test Protocel is showed great results. I want to be cured from cancer not just maintained on chemo all my life. I'm new - am I wrong? I know of many people who died from chemo, not the cancer. I don't know.
  • janie1
    janie1 Member Posts: 753 Member

    As far Andrew Weils article
    Sounds like he works for the pharmies. there's no chemicals in Protocel and when the NCI did test Protocel is showed great results. I want to be cured from cancer not just maintained on chemo all my life. I'm new - am I wrong? I know of many people who died from chemo, not the cancer. I don't know.

    Frank, i may have
    Frank, i may have misunderstood. Did u have the 5Fu only 2 times...or more than that? Then, the second round, (after the recurrence), you received the new chemo drugs? I thoroughly understand about wanting the best treatment. Are u able to get a second opinion or get more of your questions answered?
  • Buckwirth
    Buckwirth Member Posts: 1,258 Member

    As far Andrew Weils article
    Sounds like he works for the pharmies. there's no chemicals in Protocel and when the NCI did test Protocel is showed great results. I want to be cured from cancer not just maintained on chemo all my life. I'm new - am I wrong? I know of many people who died from chemo, not the cancer. I don't know.

    Weil
    Look him up. The last folks he works for are the "pharmies".

    Everything contains chemicals, so that thought is wrong (chemically, water is hydrogen and oxygen). We all want a cure, but the honest ones here will all tell you to run away from anyone who promises you one.

    I'll settle for maintenance, particularly if the side effects are manageable.

    As far as the NCI and Protocel, the studies are available on-line. Bottom line; it does not work.