A few questions

janenz00
janenz00 Member Posts: 12
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Hi All,

 

It has been almost 9 months since I first posted here on behalf of my father's disease. (http://csn.cancer.org/node/251404). I did get immense support from many here, thank you for that. 

 

My father was on Stage 4 pharyngial cancer, with a bone metastasis when the treatment started. After 9 chemo sessions and 33 radiations, we had our PET CT in July. The result is a bit mixed, with the primary location showing increased activity in the scan. The Bone Mets shows decreased activity. But, there is an additional lung Mets. Doctors has put him for another 6 weeks of chemo with Abraxane. 

I have a few questions to the group. 

 

1. Has anyone here treated with Abraxane? I read online that Abraxane is kind of last resort when other chemo drugs fail. Does that mean we do  not have much hope? I know this is a question to be asked to the oncologists, but I could like to know from the experienced people first.

 

2. Has anyone  here had similar PET scan results with increased activity and later had it reduced ?

 

Thanks,

Jane

 

Comments

  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #2
    what you are talking about

    Most here know as taxol.  Many here have had it, either singly or as part of a chemotherapy cocktail.  It is one of a number of drugs which have some activity against  SCC.  However, the issues here are complex, and mostly should be put to someone qualified to answer them.  Yes, some fail taxol and get a response to other agents.  This suggests that a qualified medical oncologist should be weighing the current response to help you decide  if continuing on the taxol is the best plan, or if it  is  time to  consider a switch.  In  the original treatment, what chemotherapeutic agents were used, and how did tumor respond?  Its all a difficult situation, but there are ways to go forward.  If you read down the board you will find several members in  simila situations have posted in the last few days.  Some are doing pretty well, and I  hope he does also.

    Pat

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