Thank you all for replies..
Actually yesterday doc here advised below tabs for one month.

I have purchased the below tabs and my father went to home town now.

Tab Geftinat ==> 250mg daily ( 0-1-0)
Tab Methotrexate ==> 2.5mg (Mon to Fri) (0-1-0)
Tab Calcium Leucovorin ==> 15 mg (Sat and Sun) (1-0-1)

Kindly advise.

Thanks
Rahul

Doc has started palliative chemotherapy for maintenance.

Gefitnat is Gefitinib/Iressa - Not too many studies on effectiveness on OC. My dad was also on this but 500 mg daily. The side-effects may include nausea, vomiting, anorexia, dehydration, skin reactions/scaling of skin, diarrhea etc.

Methotrexate or MTX - is again chemotherapeutic agent, historically most frequent drug used which kills cells by masquerading as folic acid and turning off DNA and RNA synthesis necessary for life. Side-effects may be Loss of appetite, Sores in mouth and on lips, Diarrhea, blood in urine/stool/vomit,headache, fever (due to immuno-suppression). 2.5 mg is kind of low dose. Infact the combination is relatively new for me to comprehend.

Calcium Leucovorin is given as MTX Leucovorin Rescue to prevent good cell damage especially white matter, sheaths, bone marrow and gastrointestinal mucosa cells.

Remember to follow the dosage, review with doc. You need to take good care of your father, please keep in mind that the treatment is not curative in intent. Unfortunately, in India, we do not have enough clinical trials so it is almost end of line unless you decide to go for second opinion abroad.

Hi Eshwar

Hope you are doing good...!!

It's been 4 months now with below tablets. Actually there is significant weight loss and hameglobin also dropped to 7.8 in yesterday blood test report.
I am going to visit doc today but my father did not came and he is in home town only...he is not having enough stamina to walk also... I am worried now...

Kindly advise.


Tab Geftinat ==> 250mg daily ( 0-1-0)
Tab Methotrexate ==> 2.5mg (Mon to Fri) (0-1-0)
Tab Calcium Leucovorin ==> 15 mg (Sat and Sun) (1-0-1)

Thanks
Rahul

Hello Eshwar & Rahul

Hope you are doing well..!!

My father at age 74 ,was having on EARLIER stage right side Vocal Code throat cancer before a year. He survived from it by radiation therapy, after 6 months of treatment again in PET scan recurrence of tongue cancer, doctors prescribed oral chemo therapy, dose of Gefitinib 250 mg everyday.. coz as per Doctors at this age other chemo & operation are not possible. After 1 month taking medicine cancer was totally disappeared, as per radiation oncologist , he was also surprised , he said his response is very good... But after a month he was having pain in left side he used to take 4 pain killer in a day still he can not make it out...Now when we show the surgical oncologist he said its not gone, its just stop. And pain is roaming around everywhere..!! As per Doctors recurrence is always danger. We are very much on worry...taking 4-5 Dyclopara also effect kidney in future... Even he was not able to drink water, when he was eating something or drinks anything he gets IRRITATION & COUGH. Now IRRITATION & COUGH are decreased & he used to take 2-3 pain killer a day. Pain-clinic Doctor's also prescribed Dyclopara & Morphine 5-6 in a day but till now he didn't take... But now one new problem has started, He is having pain & some like a cramps in whole body.
Here i would say that he sleep whole day & used to get at 5-6 o clock in evening, after he is going to bed at 2 or 3 AM & still he can't get sleep till morning, what i mean to say his totally sleeping system has become odd...
what to do can't understand...what is exact status that also can't know coz doctor said no need to do PET Scan, one Medical Oncologist said his response is good so no need to do any Scan. Surgical Oncologist said Don't want to give him trouble in this age to doing any Scan. Radiation Oncologist said his response is good & Decease is not appear in tongue rt now but in same place in Vocal Code it feels, might be it is coz of post radiation but decease is there & coz of his good response he can survive life long...
So confuse from all Doctors & can't understand what to do...Rt now whole body crams & pain is the worry for us....

Thxs & Wish U all Good Luck....

If the cancer is still there chemo will not cure it. He really should have the surgery assuming it hasn't spread, I would look into having another ENT give you an opinion. Best of luck.

Thxs Cheryld for your reply

But as per doctors opinion age is big factor to can't do surgery. They suggested that at 74 of age it is risky & not tolerable for patient... And also take second opinion of Doctor in TATA MEMORIAL in Mumbai India, They said line of treatment is going ok & Palliative cares & medicine required so i am in tension...can't understand what to do ??

Hi Rahul, I am doing fine. Incidentally I had been away from forums for quite some time and somehow felt today that maybe someone might be waiting for my response.

It seems like cachexia has started to set in for your father. Discuss with doctor for protein rich, hyper-caloric feeding and nutritional intervention as well as use of corticosteroids to stimulate his appetite. If you have not started Prosure, please do that as soon as possible. I hope doctor has also given him some antioxidant capsules as well.

Take care of your father.

Hi Soofy, sorry to hear about your father.

Your father is also on palliative maintenance with Gefitinib 250 Mg. For pain relief, dyclopara is probably no more sufficient, discuss with doctor about Tramadol/Ultramed. You may have to later progress to Paracodeine.

If he finds difficult to swallow, ask doctors about using Fentanyl transdermal (Skin) patch or equivalent to help him with pain. Doctors may need to perform some evaluation before using it. If he has had weight loss, he also needs dietary intervention.

Take care of your father.

Hello Ehwar & All

going through very tough phase... It is swelling like small ball in father's tongue...continues saliva coming throu mouth ,not able to shut the mouth, also swelling in lips...

Blessings to you hopefully you can find something to comfort him... Hugs