Metronomic chemotherapy: Low-dose chemotherapy for advanced cancers

Anyone used this form of chemo or heard of it?  

Metronomic chemotherapy: Low-dose chemotherapy for advanced cancers

http://health.yahoo.com/topic/cancer/treatment/article/mayoclinic/7057AC36-2A5D-9994-ED6D8091AAB1AF47

Rachael

[freshair]

That's an interesting article and also I found an article below that about BrainSuite. Now when they remove tumors in the Brain they have a new sophisticated MRI in the surgery room projecting a constant large picture. So much new technology coming out

[RAS50]

Helen- glad you are having no symptoms.  I'm also praying this works for you!  Thank you for all of your support, answering all my questions and sharing your personal experiences.  Rachael

[vfc]

Rachel,

If there is likely microscopic disease in your abdomen I don't think Avastin will be much of a help. However it can kill the 2cm tumor you have.

My experiencing with Avastin was good in the sense that it killed my liver metastasis(tumors around 2-3cm in size) and a long-lasting tumor next to the iliac artery (greater than 3cm). However, it did nothing against minute cancer cells in my abdomen. That's the problem I'm facing now. Bowel obstruction caused by the microscopic disease.

Maybe you should do first a PET scan to help to clarify that you have microscopic disease in the abdomen.

I think the key point in your decision is to determine if there really is microscopic disease. I don't know how can you be absolutely sure without having an exploratory surgery (PET scan could help). But, since there already is a 2cm tumor the surgery would be used to also remove it, provided that it can be removed and you know it prior to surgery.

Having said that, I'm now a firmly believer (after so many toxic chemos) that "patients have been living longer than they did in the past because of better and more aggressive surgery" and that "surgical skill is a more important determinant of prognosis than the aggressive nature of the cancer or its stage at diagnosis".

However, if there is VERY likely microscopic disease, surgery won't help and will only delay the chemo. And since microscopic cells were already found on your omentum in the past that is likely the case. So, you can always rely on Avastin to deal with your 2cm tumor.

As for testing the biopsy cancer cells to see which chemo drug might work best, it seems that it ONLY works with "fresh" cancer cells, cells not yet subject (and resistant) to any anti-cancer drugs.

So, if I were you (and surgery was ruled out) I would ask about the following synergic (Avastin and Gemzar are modulators or potentiators of Alkylating agents) chemo combinations:

1. Metronomic chemotherapy: slow acting Alkylating agent (Cyclophosphamide, Melphalan, Chlorambucil... well-tolerated oral drugs) on daily basis + Gemzar + Avastin;

2. Carbo or Cisplatinum (they are also alkylating agents) + Gemzar + Avastin;

3. If everything else has been rejected do what your onc. has suggested: Doxil + Avastin.

Make sure you don't take Gemzar in isolation. Gemzar can work by itself but, in case it works, it will be much more effective in combination with an alkylating agent. Moreover, when in combination, Gemzar should be taken always simultaneously.