Gall Bladder Cancer

mary G
mary G Member Posts: 1
in Colorectal Cancer #1
I had gall Bladder Cancer. I am in remission now. I had taken Chemo three times, Cicplatin and Gemcytabine together. I had it infused. I took Emend to stop the stomache problems. They also infused water with the chemo. Now though I have to take radiation along with Xeloda for five weeks. Is this the protocol? I did get sick from the infusion it felt like the flu. I was suppose to have two more treatments, but I had a heart attack. Is Xeloda easier to take than the infusion?

Comments

  • Buckwirth
    Buckwirth Member Posts: 1,258 Member
    #2
    This should help
    Gall Bladder Thread

    It is under the Rare and Other Cancers forum.

    CSN breaks us up into individual cancer types, and each has its own treatment protocols, so I am not sure how much help you would get here on the Colorectal forum.
  • westie66
    westie66 Member Posts: 642
    #3
    Buckwirth said:

    This should help
    Gall Bladder Thread

    It is under the Rare and Other Cancers forum.

    CSN breaks us up into individual cancer types, and each has its own treatment protocols, so I am not sure how much help you would get here on the Colorectal forum.

    Gallbladder Cancer
    Hi: I, too, have gallbladder cancer (diagnosed April 2010). You'll find lots of information under Rare and Other Cancers but there are several threads. We almost need our own discussion board too! Do not be put off by the glum news on "official" websites. Yes, indeed, gallbladder cancer is rare and a tough one to survive, but people are surviving (like me!). To get a pep talk, see Lily50's discussions - she is a more than 5 year survivor. BUT, you must have a good oncologist and surgeon for this, one who actually believes that gallbladder cancer is real and can be treated. My treatment started with surgery to remove the gallbladder, its cancer, and where it had penetrated into the liver. Almost died but didn't. A "proper" surgery would have removed much more than this!!!!! As I found out from my American friends on this website. I had to wait 4 months for chemo as the incision wouldn't heal (I now have an incisional hernia that must be fixed some time). Chemo was cisplatin/gemcitibine two weeks out of three (one week off). I did OK on that, no problems once the dosage was corrected. But the cancer had spread to the peritoneum. Make sure they watch for this!!!!!! That is the tough one to treat. I am in chemo again on what is called FOLFOXFIRI - oxaliplatin/irenotecan/5FU/leuc..... something or rather. It is a lot more difficult to take than the GEM/CIS treatment, at least for me. But it is also a lot stronger. I don't know if anyone else has had this treatment for gallbladder cancer alone.
    So be strong, find out all you can, perhaps from the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota (an efriend had his surgery for gallbladder cancer there), and don't take no for an answer. You can beat this.
    Cheryl
  • kmygil
    kmygil Member Posts: 876 Member
    #4
    HNPCC?
    Hi Mary,
    I don't have an answer to your questions, but I want to know if you have HNPCC. HNPCC carries a variety of cancers with it, and albeit it is not that common, gall bladder cancer is one of them. I am sorry you are dealing with so much at one time. Know that prayers and positive energy is coming your way.

    Hugs,
    Kirsten
  • westie66
    westie66 Member Posts: 642
    #5
    kmygil said:

    HNPCC?
    Hi Mary,
    I don't have an answer to your questions, but I want to know if you have HNPCC. HNPCC carries a variety of cancers with it, and albeit it is not that common, gall bladder cancer is one of them. I am sorry you are dealing with so much at one time. Know that prayers and positive energy is coming your way.

    Hugs,
    Kirsten

    HNPCC
    Hi Kirsten: I haven't heard of that - what is it an acronym for?
    Cheryl
  • Buckwirth
    Buckwirth Member Posts: 1,258 Member
    #6
    westie66 said:

    HNPCC
    Hi Kirsten: I haven't heard of that - what is it an acronym for?
    Cheryl

    HNPCC
    Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, it is also called Lynch Syndrome.

    It is a genetic defect that makes one very susceptible to CRC as well as a few other cancers.

    Here is the screening criteria from Wikipedia:

    Amsterdam criteria
    The following are the Amsterdam criteria in identifying high-risk candidates for molecular genetic testing:[21]
    Amsterdam Criteria:

    Three or more family members with a confirmed diagnosis of colorectal cancer, one of whom is a first degree (parent, child, sibling) relative of the other two

    Two successive affected generations

    One or more colon cancers diagnosed under age 50 years

    Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) has been excluded


    Amsterdam Criteria II:

    Three or more family members with HNPCC-related cancers, one of whom is a first degree relative of the other two

    Two successive affected generations

    One or more of the HNPCC-related cancers diagnosed under age 50 years

    Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) has been excluded

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