GTX chemotherapy is usually used for the treatment of pancreatic cancer in the metastatic stage. In chemotherapy treatment, the various drugs or chemicals are used to slow down or stop growth of cancer cells. Metastatic pancreatic cancer  is the 10th most common cancer. Patient with pancreatic cancer suffer from pain and asthenia.

GTX chemotherapy is a combination of three chemotherapy drugs which include gemcitabine, docetaxel and Xeloda.

Gemcitabine was earlier considered as a single agent for the standard treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer. However, combination chemotherapy was found to be more effective than single drug chemotherapy. . Chemotherapy regimen includes include gemcitabine, docetaxel and Xeloda. GTX chemotherapy is an effective and well tolerated therapy for metastatic pancreatic cancer.

It is usually given as a first line therapy to patients detected with advanced cancer of pancreas. This chemotherapy treatment is given along with radiation in order to shrink the size of the tumor so that they become operable.

GTX chemotherapy is given in cycles. In many cases, about three cycles for about given over a period of 9 weeks. In the initial stages, the induction chemotherapy can be given to make the treatment more effective. Chemotherapy treatment cycle comprise of treatment period and rest period. Each treatment period is followed by rest period. Rest period allows patient to recover from side effects associated with chemotherapy.

Patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer are treated with GTX chemotherapy. Some doctors give chemotherapy regimen for GTX as follows: gemcitabine (750 mg/m2 p.o.) given on days 1 to 14 of treatment cycle with gemcitabine (750 mg/m2) and docetaxel (30 mg/m2) on days 4 and 11 of treatment cycle is administered intravenously. Cycles are repeated every 21 days.

GTX Chemotherapy Side Effects

Chemotherapy usually stops growth of rapidly increasing cancerous cells. However, chemotherapy drugs also damage some normal body cells which cause some unpleasant side effects. However each patient reacts differently to chemotherapy treatment. Some patients experience few side effects, while others may have more. The side effects mentioned below are some of the common side effects that the patients may experience. Some people can have side effects that are not mentioned here. In case you have any doubt, do consult your doctor. If your doctor prescribes you any medicine to avoid any side effect, you must take them even if you do not experience them.

The side effects associated with chemotherapy include nausea, vomiting, low appetite, and low resistance to infection, anemia, sickness, hair loss, memory loss and sore mouth. If the patient has s mall cut, the bleeding does not stop very easily. Chemotherapy in fertility is also a common side effect of chemotherapy. However, it is quite temporary and usually goes away after the treatment is over.

Chemotherapy also causes low blood cell count. It causes susceptibility of infection. In some rare cases neurotoxicity chemotherapy can also be seen. Most of these side effects are temporary and will disappear once the treatment is over. However, do not ignore any of the side effects and contact your doctor immediately if you have fever more than 100 degrees C or your side effects do not go away in spite of taking medicines.

The GTX chemotherapy regimen has a potential advantage in the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer. It has produced an excellent response rate and superior survival for patient with an extremely poor prognosis.