A NEW CHALLENGE:

My cancer's resistance to chemotherapy

Adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, which afflicts me, is well known for becoming resistant to chemotherapy. Adenocarcinoma of the pancreas is one of the fastest growing cancers. This means it is always working fast to overcome any obstacles to its growth. This accelerated growth is what allows it to become resistant to chemo so much faster than many other cancers. Sometimes it develops resistance immediately. Sometimes it happens later. But it always seems to happen. We all, of course, hoped that it would be later but that time has come for me.

CT scans this week show that the mass on my pancreas has grown from 2.0 x 1.7 cm to a size of 4.0 x 3.0 cm, which is significant in oncology.

Still there are some options for chemotherapy and other alternative therapies. First, with chemo is to increase the frequency and dosage of the agent Gemcitabine that I was taking. Before I was taking it twice or thrice monthly. The suggestion of my oncologist, Kevin Chang, is to move to a schedule of taking chemo 3 weeks in a row and the forth week off each month.

Gemcitabine is especially damaging to the part of the blood called platelets, which is the element that clots wounds. So to be able to tolerate this chemo schedule I will need to administer subcutaneous injections of Numega. I will need to do this 4 days a week.

How long would this schedule go on? As long as it is effective against the cancer or as long as my body can tolerate the toxic chemo.

Another option is to use a chemo doublet, adding another agent to the base Gemcitabine. This would likely be a platinum based agent. These types of agents have a side effect of neuropathy.

The alternative that I see as the most promising is program of intensive diet, supplements and enzymes as developed by Drs. Gonzalez and Isaacs from Columbia.

There are other alternatives that I am looking at and any new suggestions would be appreciated.

I feel fairly sure that I am going to go with intensive chemo, which will make me sick with side effects about 80% of the time. I will make it, I will beat it again, but it is going to be hard on all of us and our family will need lots of help, prayers and positive thoughts from everyone.

John