CancerCompass message board discussion started by Sweetmelisa on 10/13/2006 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,7251,0.htm Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ lynn, I was diagnosed with gallbladder cancer last year they did surgery and raditation and chemo and after 4 months of having no signs it is back and now they say they cant do anything. can you tell me what you have found that works i am just lost. thank you melissa Sweetmelisa Fri, 13 Oct 2006 00:00:00 GMT Don't know if this will help anyone, but I recently came across this article. http://healthnews.uc.edu/news/?/2258/ Investigational Drug May Halt Gallbladder Cancer CINCINNATI-A new drug shown effective in patients with renal (kidney) cancer may also improve the survival and quality of life of patients with advanced gallbladder cancer, a rare but quick-to-spread disease that is difficult to diagnose and treat. Led locally by Malek Safa, MD, at the University of Cincinnati (UC), this national, phase-2 clinical trial will determine whether an oral medication recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of advanced renal cancer can also effectively slow gallbladder cancer growth in patients who would not benefit from surgery. The gallbladder-located behind the liver-stores bile, a fluid made by the liver to help digest food in the stomach and intestines. Gallbladder cancer is difficult to diagnose because it starts deep in the organ and grows outward, so it often goes undetected until it's very advanced. "Gallbladder cancer is a sneaky disease because patients usually don't show signs or symptoms until it has already spread to other parts of the body," explains Dr. Safa, assistant professor of medicine and director of the gastrointestinal medical oncology program. "The disease doesn't appear as a mass like most cancers-it's more like a tissue thickening, so it's hard to detect and often misdiagnosed as gallstones," he adds. "Those who are lucky enough to detect the cancer early usually do so when they go into surgery to have their gallbladder removed for other reasons." The investigational drug-known as BAY 43-9006 while in testing-works by inhibiting multiple proteins in the cancer cell that are linked to tumor development. By blocking these proteins, scientists believe they can slow the progression of the cancer and improve the patient's quality of life and chances for survival. Surgery is the only curative treatment option for gallbladder cancer. Because the gallbladder is close to the liver and other organs, many patients are ineligible for it because their cancer has already spread to surrounding tissue and cannot be eliminated with surgery. Average survival for patients with advanced gallbladder cancer that cannot be treated surgically is three to six months, Dr. Safa says. "If this investigational drug proves effective," he adds, "it will give patients who cannot have surgery new hope for prolonged survival." Study participants nationwide will receive the drug orally twice a day until the treatment is no longer effective. Researchers will track patient response to the drug by taking frequent blood samples and X-ray scans every eight weeks. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 8,500 American men and women will be diagnosed with gallbladder cancer and about 3,260 will die from the disease in 2006. This study is sponsored by the Southwest Oncology Group, a research division of the National Cancer Institute. To learn more, call the UC Cancer Center clinical trials office at (513) 584-7698. Katiek Wed, 18 Oct 2006 00:00:00 GMT Melissa - I just saw your message, and my heart goes out to you. This is such a difficult disease, with so much discouraging news for so many folks. I don't know what to tell you, but I would ask whether or not you felt confident about your doctors' knowledge of the disease and your current state. Gallbladder cancer is so rare that many oncologists lack experience working with it. Have you asked your doctors about their prior experience? And, if you trust what they say about further treatment not being indicated, then ask yourself what you want to do with the time you have. I am doing what I can to keep my stress down, and I'm trying to eat healthy and I'm drinking Essiac tea, which is good for overall detox. When I was first diagnosed, now almost 5 months ago, I thought a lot about dying and what was important. I'm happy to have a reprieve, but I know that the cancer is still in me. If you have specific questions, or think there are other ways I can help, do let me know. I have a blog where I write regularly about my experience with gallbladder cancer. www.dahlborg.blogspot.com Best wishes and heartfelt prayers to you, Lynne Archivist Fri, 20 Oct 2006 00:00:00 GMT My sister in law has had her gall bladder removed and also had a resection done on her duodenum to hopefully releve some of her pain caused by the sweeling lymph nodes. The cancer had spread from her gall bladder to her lymph nodes. Karen is in her 2nd round of treatment. Round 1 Xeloda and radiation: Round II chemo gemcitabine drip. Karen is feeling better, went back to work this past week but will be reveiving another treatment next week that will most likely keep her feeling poorly for the nextr week or so. Prior to the gemcitabine Karen had weaned herself off of her pain meds and is now concerned that the pain has returned with the gemcitabine. We hope the pain means that the chemo is working in her stomach area where her cancer was first found. Following her first round of treatment the subsequent cat scan revealed a new spot, believed to be cancerous, in a lymph node near her clavical. I am not sure if this helps define what works or not but did want you to know of her treatment package. Melissa, we will keep you in our prayers. Ksakathy117 Sun, 05 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT ksakathy117- I am a GBC patient trying to collect case histories to share with others about what works and what doesn't. If you would like to share your sister-in-laws experiences, please go to www.gbcsurvey.blogspot.com to read more about me and find my email address. Woody B. Woodyb Mon, 27 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT Melisa-I sent you the February update of my survey, but it was returned.  Do you have a new email address?Woody Woodyb Fri, 09 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT