HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - ~Mighty Oak's 2nd Ixempra Tomorrow & Update On Us~

Lani · 06-05-2009, 02:00 AM

drug used in many types of cancer against weight loss can have anti-cancer effects of its own against breast cancer. It is from 1991 and we may know more now about which breast cancer subtypes it may be appropriate for ie, ER+ vs ER-. PR+ vs PR- and have an inkling as to which it may be more or less likely to be beneficial for, have potential for worsening

My father took it effectively after weight loss from radiation therapy five years ago This past year they offered him the choice of it or a derivative of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. He opted for it again. He was looking for a drug just to help him stop losing weight, help him regain weight, and have few side effects. Decadron has wide-ranging other effects, many of which he may not desire (osteoporosis, stomach ulcers, cataracts (if he takes them long enough) and some cancers have corticosteroid receptors and grow in response to decadron, prednisome and other "corticosteroids" (similar drugs) from my reading. Since he doesn't know if his
tumor is one of those, perhaps you might ask his oncologist if there might be a more specific drug for weight gain. Again there may be reasons that megestrol would be less safe for him (haven't checked out the literature as to whether it is safer in ER+PR+. vs other hormonal subtypes) but perhaps it would be more specific and less likely to result in side effects in the long run. Worth asking?

06-05-2009, 02:00 AM	#2
Lani Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,778	found an old article abstract on the fact that megestrol acetate, a progestin like drug used in many types of cancer against weight loss can have anti-cancer effects of its own against breast cancer. It is from 1991 and we may know more now about which breast cancer subtypes it may be appropriate for ie, ER+ vs ER-. PR+ vs PR- and have an inkling as to which it may be more or less likely to be beneficial for, have potential for worsening My father took it effectively after weight loss from radiation therapy five years ago This past year they offered him the choice of it or a derivative of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. He opted for it again. He was looking for a drug just to help him stop losing weight, help him regain weight, and have few side effects. Decadron has wide-ranging other effects, many of which he may not desire (osteoporosis, stomach ulcers, cataracts (if he takes them long enough) and some cancers have corticosteroid receptors and grow in response to decadron, prednisome and other "corticosteroids" (similar drugs) from my reading. Since he doesn't know if his tumor is one of those, perhaps you might ask his oncologist if there might be a more specific drug for weight gain. Again there may be reasons that megestrol would be less safe for him (haven't checked out the literature as to whether it is safer in ER+PR+. vs other hormonal subtypes) but perhaps it would be more specific and less likely to result in side effects in the long run. Worth asking?