Dad Diagnosed with Cancer -- Now What?
Dad Diagnosed with Cancer -- Now What?
Hope your father is recovering.
Dad Diagnosed with Cancer -- Now What?
Here is the update on my dad's condition. He is holding up well. We are using a combination of Radiation Therapy and Oral Chemo tablets (Xeloda). So far, he is responding well and he did not lose any weight (or hair). His Quality of life did NOT suffer significantly. We had a follow-up Barium Meal Swallow exam last week and according to the docs, there is significant progress. Dad also feeling better when swallowing and there is no impulsive cough immediately after swallowing.
Initially I thought of using this forum as a diary to document the roller-coaster ride but later decided not to do it because I was afraid that these potentially painful jottings will remain forver on the web and come back to haunt me, most likely at a time, when I am not ready to re-live the pain. Hence no updates.
Initially I thought of using this forum as a diary to document the roller-coaster ride but later decided not to do it because I was afraid that these potentially painful jottings will remain forver on the web and come back to haunt me, most likely at a time, when I am not ready to re-live the pain. Hence no updates.
Dad Diagnosed with Cancer -- Now What?
Good to hear he is holding up well.
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starbucks_69
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Tue Sep 18, 2007 10:31 am
Dad Diagnosed with Cancer -- Now What?
Hi Vizagdesi,
Good to know he is doing well. I am glad you are there along with other family. That gives him more strength in addition to the treatment. Take some rest & be cool as I know it can get tough in future.
Good to know he is doing well. I am glad you are there along with other family. That gives him more strength in addition to the treatment. Take some rest & be cool as I know it can get tough in future.
Dad Diagnosed with Cancer -- Now What?
We wish your dad all the strength....for getting better.
Dad Diagnosed with Cancer -- Now What?
Sincerely need your help.
My dad (75 yrs old healthy male) with no illnesses (non-diabetic, no-BP, no heart issues etc) and no undesirable habits(non-smoker, non-drinker) was diagnosed with Esophageal cancer six months ago. At that time, we did all the diagnostic tests and the tumor is completely localized to the middle one-third of the esophagus. We took Radiation Therapy along with mild-chemo (Xeloda tablets). Dad was able to hold-up well and after 27 sessions, there was no residual tumor at all. A CT-Scan and a endo confirmed this.
Dad as of now appears very healthy and is very active. He spends a good portion of the day outside the house taking care of our properties or writing books in his area of specialization. On an average day, he travels about 100 kms by car and reads/writes for 3-4 hours.
One month after the last Endo, we did a PeT scan again this week and now the tumor has metastasized to both lobes of the liver, skip/secondary malignancy found at the OG junction and also lymph node involvement (portal, aortic and cervical). The consultant Oncologist (at Indo American Hospitals - Hyderbad)
said that the prognosis was very poor with or without treatment.
We didn't have the heart/guts to disclose the full bad news to parents. On the doc's advise, We only told that about the OG junction recurrence and nothing else. Parents accepted this as it is but are under the hope that it will get cured completely.
Docs of the forum, what is your opinion on the USE OF TAUROLIDINE TO TREAT TUMORS? I have seen a lot of research activity in this area in early 2000's and nothing else again until 2009. There must have been some study that summarily showed the bad side of this apparaently magic potion that stopped further research since 2000 till 2009. I have discussed this option with our oncologist and showed various research articles including this one: "The Evolving Role of Taurolidine in Cancer Therapy "
And here is another article in the world journal of surgical oncology explaining the results in a situation very similar to ours.
All of this is very encouraging and I am ready to push the oncologist harder but not sure if I can even get this drug in India and how to have it administered. I have read that 2% solution would work (see below, pasted from a case study mentioned in the World Surgical Oncology magazine)
"The antineoplastic agent taurolidine was intravenously applied in a 2% solution (Geistlich Pharma AG Wohlhusen, Switzerland) using a port catheter system. The monthly therapy (300 mg/kg/day according 24,9 g taurolidine/day) was given for 5 days in four hours' therapy sessions and 2 hours' intervals. Tumor markers (carcino embryonal antigen-CEA, CA 72-4) were determined at the beginning and at the end of the therapies. Blood counts and biochemistry were examined every day. Disease progression was radiologically followed-up with an abdominal CT-scan every two months."
Questions to the docs of the forum:
(1) Does this Taurolidine work well in real-life? Do you recommend that I push the oncologist again?
(2) Do you know if this is available in India?
(3) Taurine, the active ingredient in Taurolidine is available as dietary supplement tablets. Do you recommend them at this stage?
Thanks in advance for all your help.
My dad (75 yrs old healthy male) with no illnesses (non-diabetic, no-BP, no heart issues etc) and no undesirable habits(non-smoker, non-drinker) was diagnosed with Esophageal cancer six months ago. At that time, we did all the diagnostic tests and the tumor is completely localized to the middle one-third of the esophagus. We took Radiation Therapy along with mild-chemo (Xeloda tablets). Dad was able to hold-up well and after 27 sessions, there was no residual tumor at all. A CT-Scan and a endo confirmed this.
Dad as of now appears very healthy and is very active. He spends a good portion of the day outside the house taking care of our properties or writing books in his area of specialization. On an average day, he travels about 100 kms by car and reads/writes for 3-4 hours.
One month after the last Endo, we did a PeT scan again this week and now the tumor has metastasized to both lobes of the liver, skip/secondary malignancy found at the OG junction and also lymph node involvement (portal, aortic and cervical). The consultant Oncologist (at Indo American Hospitals - Hyderbad)
said that the prognosis was very poor with or without treatment.
We didn't have the heart/guts to disclose the full bad news to parents. On the doc's advise, We only told that about the OG junction recurrence and nothing else. Parents accepted this as it is but are under the hope that it will get cured completely.
Docs of the forum, what is your opinion on the USE OF TAUROLIDINE TO TREAT TUMORS? I have seen a lot of research activity in this area in early 2000's and nothing else again until 2009. There must have been some study that summarily showed the bad side of this apparaently magic potion that stopped further research since 2000 till 2009. I have discussed this option with our oncologist and showed various research articles including this one: "The Evolving Role of Taurolidine in Cancer Therapy "
And here is another article in the world journal of surgical oncology explaining the results in a situation very similar to ours.
All of this is very encouraging and I am ready to push the oncologist harder but not sure if I can even get this drug in India and how to have it administered. I have read that 2% solution would work (see below, pasted from a case study mentioned in the World Surgical Oncology magazine)
"The antineoplastic agent taurolidine was intravenously applied in a 2% solution (Geistlich Pharma AG Wohlhusen, Switzerland) using a port catheter system. The monthly therapy (300 mg/kg/day according 24,9 g taurolidine/day) was given for 5 days in four hours' therapy sessions and 2 hours' intervals. Tumor markers (carcino embryonal antigen-CEA, CA 72-4) were determined at the beginning and at the end of the therapies. Blood counts and biochemistry were examined every day. Disease progression was radiologically followed-up with an abdominal CT-scan every two months."
Questions to the docs of the forum:
(1) Does this Taurolidine work well in real-life? Do you recommend that I push the oncologist again?
(2) Do you know if this is available in India?
(3) Taurine, the active ingredient in Taurolidine is available as dietary supplement tablets. Do you recommend them at this stage?
Thanks in advance for all your help.
Dad Diagnosed with Cancer -- Now What?
msg removed. sorry.