Anyone have experience with Gemcitabine?

[lemons]

This is the systemic treatment they've selected. It apparently has less overall side effects than the others available within the trial, but I've heard the infusion is super painful (although short).

[Norticprincess]

I've had ones in the same class, but not that one. They weren't too bad - but the side effects got worse the more times I had them. Do you have a port/picc/hickman? or are they doing it by IV? The central line infusions tend to be less painful than the IVs.

[lemons]

H had his port removed last March and doesn't want another so he'll have it thru IV. The chemo nurses said they'd "dilute" the chemo with saline to make it less painful rather than giving saline before/after.

[Norticprincess]

If it is too bad the first time, he can always change his mind. The PICC is an easy one to put in. You are awake for it.

[lemons]

That's good to know. They said the infusion would be about 40 min on cycle days 1 and 8. Then a week off and repeat. We don't know how many repeats there will be...or when he'll actually start it. Could be more of his current treatments if scan showed progress.