Question 1

what information is on the abraxane label?

Accepted Answer

Black box warning?: Abraxane is a powerful drug for the treatment of some cancers.  Like most chemotherapy meds, it can have serious side effects.  See this description of how and when to use it, and when not to, including "Black Box warnings" here.  https://medicalpolicies.amerigroup.com/medicalpolicies/guidelines/gl_pw_c189660.htm

Question 2

what are the different side effects of abraxane and taxol (paclitaxel)?

Accepted Answer

Chemotoxicity: ABRAXANE is an  Injectable suspension of paclitaxel , a derivative of Taxol  formulated as albumin-bound nanoparticles with a mean particle size of approximately 130 nanometers and sodium acetyltryptophanate . Toxicity of taxol and abraxane are similar and present with numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness in  hands or feet; Sudden chest pain or discomfort, wheezing  dry cough, Low WBC and fever.

Question 3

diagnosed with stage 4 pan can. treated w/gemcitabine/abraxane combo. pretreatment ca19-9 was 486. now ca19-9 is in normal range.  what does this mean?

Accepted Answer

Temporary control: Stage 4 pancreas cancer only be managed with chemo, that is Folfieri (FOLFOX+ Irinotecan). Following this Gemzar (gemcitabine) + Abraxane gives best control   as noted by normal Ca19.9  used for monitoring  Follow up with serum markers and PET/CAT essential since increase in Ca19.9 suggests need for experimental trial with immunotherapy.

Question 4

is abraxane or taxol (paclitaxel) better for neuropathy?

Accepted Answer

Not really: Abraxane is a derivative of Taxol.  It is employed after recurrent or metastatic pancreas cancers have failed Gemzar (gemcitabine) adding about 8 wks to the overall survival in these patients. The drug,protein-bound paclitaxel is an injectable formulation of paclitaxel, It has almost the same extent of neuropathy.

Question 5

what does it mean the edges are fading on a tumor?  3b nsclc.  26 rounds of rad, 6 chemo.  going to more aggressive abraxane/carboplatin starting 3/3.

Accepted Answer

Tumor Border notes: First, God bless you and your family for your fight. Keep up your spirits if you can.

Tumor border (and size) on CT can help us guess tumor activity but after XRT, fibrosis is hard to separate from viable cells. MRI and esp. PET may be better. These days with "biologic" treatments like Avastin, (bevacizumab) even these modalities may not be prognostic. 
An HT oncologist may give different insights.

Question 6

after 39 rounds of radiation,  starting full strength abraxane/carboplatin on 3/3.  what are the side effects and is it effective for 3b nsclc?

Accepted Answer

Difficult to answer: In a limited space, the common side effects of Abraxane &amp; Carboplatinum include nausea, vomiting, weakness, indigestion, diarrhea, mouth sores, headache, muscle or joint pain, numbness/tingling/burning of the hands/feet, dizziness, infections, anemia, hair loss, low blood counts making you prone to infection, bleeding. In Stage 3B, only about 8% of people survive 5 yrs, WITH  radiation then chemo.

Question 7

3b squamous nsclc.  radiation shrunk tumor by more than half.  begin abraxane/carboplatin on 3/3/  is this effective?  is it the preferred course?

Accepted Answer

Good choice : I m sorry about your cancer. This regimen is very likely to help and get you some more good time.

Question 8

after taxol (paclitaxel) reaction for 3b squamous nsclc, husband is on weekly treatment, 2 wks abraxane, then 1 w/ abraxane/carboplatin.  is it normal & effective?

Accepted Answer

Yes its a good alter: If your husband has allergy to Taxol, (paclitaxel) then using Abraxane as an alternative is a good decision. This treatment works well in about half (50%) of the patients, not in the others. You will know within 6 to 8 weeks of chemotherapy treatments.

Question 9

i am on abraxane.  tumor markers started climbing after two months.  dr. wants to add avastin (bevacizumab).  is this a good option? mets to abdomen, bones & liver.

Accepted Answer

Not a good idea: Rising tumor markers often predict tumor progression. But this is soft evidence. A more definitive way to confirm lack of response(progression) is by means of repeating Imaging studies(like X-rays/CT scan or PET scan) and compare them with prior study. If the tumor size has increased, then Abraxane is no longer useful for you. Treatment should be changed . Adding Avastin (bevacizumab) would not help the situati

Question 10

severe lumbar pain (disc(s) bulging) for 2 weeks w/metastatic 3- breast cancer. any concerns with having tencentric centric immunotherapy & abraxane on monday & an epidural cortisone l4, l5, & l5-s1 on thursday morning? is there infection risk?

Accepted Answer

: if you are in active chemotherapy/radiation then its not a good idea for have an epidural steroid injection. We sometimes do the injections if the radicular pain is significant.

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Doctor answers about:

Abraxane medication

A member asked:

What information is on the abraxane label?

A member asked:

What are the different side effects of abraxane and taxol (paclitaxel)?

A member asked:

Diagnosed with stage 4 pan can. treated w/gemcitabine/abraxane combo. pretreatment ca19-9 was 486. now ca19-9 is in normal range. what does this mean?

A member asked:

Is abraxane or taxol (paclitaxel) better for neuropathy?

A member asked:

What does it mean the edges are fading on a tumor? 3b nsclc. 26 rounds of rad, 6 chemo. going to more aggressive abraxane/carboplatin starting 3/3.

A member asked:

After 39 rounds of radiation, starting full strength abraxane/carboplatin on 3/3. what are the side effects and is it effective for 3b nsclc?

A member asked:

3b squamous nsclc. radiation shrunk tumor by more than half. begin abraxane/carboplatin on 3/3/ is this effective? is it the preferred course?

A member asked:

After taxol (paclitaxel) reaction for 3b squamous nsclc, husband is on weekly treatment, 2 wks abraxane, then 1 w/ abraxane/carboplatin. is it normal & effective?

A member asked:

I am on abraxane. tumor markers started climbing after two months. dr. wants to add avastin (bevacizumab). is this a good option? mets to abdomen, bones & liver.

A member asked:

Severe lumbar pain (disc(s) bulging) for 2 weeks w/metastatic 3- breast cancer. any concerns with having tencentric centric immunotherapy & abraxane on monday & an epidural cortisone l4, l5, & l5-s1 on thursday morning? is there infection risk?

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