CancerCompass message board discussion started by DaddysGrl on 1/15/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,19734,0.htm Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ My father diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer 12 weeks ago started treatment combo of Tarceva and Gemc chemo and is on his 6th wk treatment.  He is having a difficult time with his treatment.  He is 74 with his weight declining to 130 pds, becoming weaker and many times to tired to get up out of bed, aswell as suffering all the side effects that come along with treatment.  Upon our last visit with the Doctor my father contiplated the choice of continuing with treatment or stopping for fear that it is not making a difference other then causing his last days here with us to be miserable and unbearable.  The doctor then reassured him that the treatment is working very effectively and that he should continues providing us with a blood test result called the CA-125 in which made a huge decrease from 6330.5 down to 1765.6.  We were happy seeing that this was a huge jump and a miracle.  Not understanding much about these numbers, I am now concerned that this was not as huge as we'd hoped or thought it to be. Trying to get more information on this, i've been reading on patients experiences in this count.  Many patients being concerned with their CA-125 number being 100 or even 57, not coming close to the thousands mark.  My fathers CA-125 is still standing at 1765.6 although dropping around 5000 points to 1765.6.  Did it go from extremely horrible to just horrible?  Is there a good chance that it will continue to drop in this extreme manner and is it possible to get down to 35?  Or will it pateu at the hundreds, being that it was so high to begin with.  Any information would be appreciated.  Some insight or experience would really help us to cope and understand.  Thank you for taking time to read my post and reply.  god bless DaddysGrl Tue, 15 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT