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Bess,
Mom's primary was in her bile duct w/ mets to her liver. This was not prescribed w/ the intention of 'curing' her. M.D. Anderson told her that this would possibly 'freeze' the cancer, and it did...for a while. We were lucky that she responded to it, some people w/ her type of cancer don't. I think they gave us a 50/50 chance of it working for a while and we were glad when the next couple of scans showed reduction in the size of her tumors. They told us that the Xeloda was originally used for breast cancer but is being prescribed for other things too, hence the different dosages. She took 7 pills a day for 2 weeks and then a week off & then back to the 'grindstone'. That is the only treatment she was on, I have not been able to convince her to try anything like green tea or what you have described. That is a TON of things to do but if it were me, I would probably try everything too, especially since you have your onc's approval. That is great that the onc has an open mind to alternatives, most frown on anything unconventional. At least that is what I have read & heard. From personal experience, I wouldn't know as Mom has never had to ask her onc if he approved. How long until your husband's next CT scan? I'm sorry Bess, I have forgotten what type of cancer he has, I think I remember in the liver but there have been so many new people lately that I have forgotten some details. Mom was also pretty tired and still is & all of the pills are a pain in the neck too. I guess you just have to forge on and do it anyway....at least that is what I would think. If it were me, I really don't know what I would do, I like to think that I would be a good patient but I don't know.
Best of Luck & keep in touch,
Dusti
-cancer@lists.meds.com
Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2000 1:27 PM
To: mol-cancer@lists.meds.com
Subject: Re: [MOL] Bess
Dear Dusti:
In addition to CPT-11 every week for four weeks and two weeks off (so
far Tom has only had two of the four weeks), he takes 2 zeloda after
breakfast and 2 zeloda after dinner for a total of 2,000 mg a day. He is
supposed to take this for two weeks and then stop. Our onc has not indicated
if he will resume the zeloda with the next cycle.
What kind of cancer did your mother have and did she take the zeloda
without a break for six months? Alone or with something else? How did you
know it stopped working unless it was alone?
Unfortunately, or fortunately, we are doing so many different things--the
CPT-11, the zeloda, the Alternate Regime with Dr. Chang that includes the
frozen liquid shark cartilege 3 times day before meals, the equivalent of 24
cups of green tea, 2,000 units of D3 daily, 9 pancrease MT 20 enzymes daily,
9 bromelan daily, 1800 mg megasoy daily, 2 minocin antibiotics daily, the
equivalent of a tablespoon of flax oil daily, 2 tblspns of powdered
herbs-main ingredient reishi mushrooms (this to counter chemo effects) and
six puffs daily of Intal inhaler.
This regime is supposed to duplicate angiogenesis. So if there is a
"response" it will be virtually impossible to tell what is responsible. I do
know that Tom is incredibly tired, that taking all these pills before meals,
during meals, after meals is incredibly burdensome especially since his
stomach feels full all the time and he can hardly eat. We were both dubious
to combine the two regimes but our onc thinks "it can't hurt and might help"
anyhow we are doing our best to give this a try and see where we are at
the next evaluation. All the best. Bess
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