Gemcitabine Chemotherapy

For those who can use gemcitabine chemotherapy, brand name: Gemzar, which is used to treat metastatic breast cancer, ovarian, lung, pancreatic and other cancers. I started with a group yahoo news and articles in medical journals on a little known side effect called TMA, which is deadly but preventable and treatable.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Gemcitabine_induced_TMA

My mother lived for six years after being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. She still had a good quality of life, and needed only a relatively low dose of drugs against pain. She did not die from cancer, but a little-known side effect of chemotherapy, gemcitabine induced by TMA. This side effect occurs more often than previously thought, and it is diagnosed and treated. All patients must now monitor gemcitabine gemcitabine induced TMA, especially older women who have difficulty tolerating gemcitabine, as my mother.

How do I share this information with people who need them?

I'm sorry to hear that your mother died and perhaps something potentially treatable. it is even more tragic. I understand that you want to do something, so that others need not go through the same.
TMA, thrombotic microangiopathy, is estimated to occur in 0.3% of patients taking gemcitabine. It is very rare. increase blood pressure was the first symptom in most patients.
Unfortunately tt is not always treatable.
Why not contact the associations of cancer and may encourage doctors to publish on this subject, or cancer organizations to give a grant to study someone TMA. To cancer patients aware of this rare disease is probably not going to help much, I think. Most can not discriminate and will not be helped and become even more neurotic neurotic. But the fact that physicians more aware could be more effective, and publications or research is often useful! So far, only three items of gemcitabine and TMA can be found on Medline!

It may have escaped your attention that one of the common side effects "of cancer is death!

Given that the possible side effects are quite tolerable gemacitabe in a large population of patients!

I'm sorry for your loss, but it is not six years 'extra mom' with these risks than six years without Mom? The world is not perfect yet, if you want a perfect world you were born too soon!