Cimetidine/Tagamet for Janderson

annalexandria
annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1

Jeff, I wanted to make sure you saw this, so am starting a new post.  Tagamet is an OTC med that you can pick up at any pharmacy.  It's an antacid medication, but for some reason seems to make it difficult for stray cancer cells dislodged during surgery to stick to the surrounding tissues.

I don't understand the mechanism really at all, but there are quite a few Japanese studies, with a large number of participants tracked over several years, in which a significant positive impact on prognosis is seen.

I used it for my last surgery, maybe helped, maybe not, but that was my last surgery, and I had mets that had pretty obviously spread from previous surgeries.

You could start tomorrow (Thursday), make sure they give it to you in the hospital on Friday, and continue to take it for a couple of weeks post-surgery.  I did only one week post-surgery, but some people take it for up to a year.  Even if you only do it post-surgery, it may still help.

400 mg, 2x per day.

You will probably need to tell your surgeon you want it so he can prescribe it for use in the hospital.

If he wants to see references to the studies, a good overview is here:

http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2007/may2007_report_cimetidine_01.htm

I'll pm you too.

Comments

  • Chelsea71
    Chelsea71 Member Posts: 1,169 Member
    #2
    I would try it, Jeff.  Can't

    I would try it, Jeff.  Can't hurt.  Might make all the difference in the world.

  • jen2012
    jen2012 Member Posts: 1,607 Member
    #3
    I agree its worth a

    I agree its worth a try...cheap at target and walmart.  Our hospital doesnt use it so we had to bring our own to the hospital and give to the nurses.  Good luck Jeff!

  • ron50
    ron50 Member Posts: 1,723 Member
    #4
    Quite by accident

          I took tagamet for years before during and after cancer to minimise the damage of nsaids. I am now on stronger drugs Ie Somac. I have also been on metformin for many years for insulin resistence then type two diabetes. Seems If there is a drug around that is suspected of interfering with cancer I've been on it.Ron.

  • tanstaafl
    tanstaafl Member Posts: 1,313 Member
    #5
    our experience

    Last surgery I did get the surgeons to buy in using on the cimetidine for the surgery itself to prevent acid aspiration, even as high dose oral tablets in the no oral intake period. They waited too late to find the cimetidine injectable.  Cimetidine dosing for surgery is in their surgical guides for the last 30 yrs.  

    Also both surgeries, the surgeons themselves prescribed celecoxib for post op for two weeks.   Pre op CEA  and CA19-9 is  our mantra.

  • janderson1964
    janderson1964 Member Posts: 2,215 Member
    #6
    Thanks Anna. Laz mentioned it

    Thanks Anna. Laz mentioned it on one of my post so I have been taking 400mg twice a day since saturday. I read some od the Japanese studies ans wasnimpressed. I wish I had know about it for the first 4 surgeries.

  • LindaK.
    LindaK. Member Posts: 506 Member
    #7
    Is Pepcid the same or similar?

    I just remembered they gave my husband this (Pepcid) in the hospital every day after his surgery in January.  We were never sure why, no one said and no one recommended taking it at home after.  He does not have acid reflux so we're still wondering why they gave it to him, he never has the need for anything even like Tums.  Even when we asked why they were giving it to him, we never got a good answer.  I wish we'd known this before and after his surgery.

    Linda

  • annalexandria
    annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
    #8
    ron50 said:

    Quite by accident

          I took tagamet for years before during and after cancer to minimise the damage of nsaids. I am now on stronger drugs Ie Somac. I have also been on metformin for many years for insulin resistence then type two diabetes. Seems If there is a drug around that is suspected of interfering with cancer I've been on it.Ron.

    And here you still are...

    interesting!  Congratulations, btw.  Always nice to see such a long-timer on here. Laughing

  • annalexandria
    annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
    #9
    janderson1964 said:

    Thanks Anna. Laz mentioned it

    Thanks Anna. Laz mentioned it on one of my post so I have been taking 400mg twice a day since saturday. I read some od the Japanese studies ans wasnimpressed. I wish I had know about it for the first 4 surgeries.

    Oh good!

    I'm glad to hear that you're already on it.  I felt the same way about my first four surgeries, but since there's no going back...may number five be the one for you like it was for me.

  • annalexandria
    annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
    #10
    LindaK. said:

    Is Pepcid the same or similar?

    I just remembered they gave my husband this (Pepcid) in the hospital every day after his surgery in January.  We were never sure why, no one said and no one recommended taking it at home after.  He does not have acid reflux so we're still wondering why they gave it to him, he never has the need for anything even like Tums.  Even when we asked why they were giving it to him, we never got a good answer.  I wish we'd known this before and after his surgery.

    Linda

    I'm not sure, Linda...

    I looked it up and Pepcid is famotidine, vs cimetidine/Tagamet.  Sounds like they are in the same family, but I'm no expert on it.  It's kind of odd that they would give him that medication, and not be able to tell you exactly why!

  • LindaK.
    LindaK. Member Posts: 506 Member
    #11
    annalexandria said:

    I'm not sure, Linda...

    I looked it up and Pepcid is famotidine, vs cimetidine/Tagamet.  Sounds like they are in the same family, but I'm no expert on it.  It's kind of odd that they would give him that medication, and not be able to tell you exactly why!

    Another question for the oncologist...

    As you know, there were many mis-steps in his care last month.  The hospital was always trying to force long term insulin on him at night (after 14 days of not eating) and he would refuse it every time.  They would act horrified that he was refusing it.  His blood sugar levels were steady around 120, which is very good for a diabetic.  If and when there is another surgery, we will definitely add this OTC drug. 

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