What is PCV?

ksplat · Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 6:18 pm Post subject: What is PCV?

Hi all
I've been researching a tri chemo treatment used for brain tumours. It has been suggested to me that this is called PCV. I need to know what PCV is & has anyone here tried this treatment?

We have a world renowned Head & Neck Cancer Surgeon - Prof Chris O'Brien (Aussie bloke) who is also suffering from a GBMIV he was interviewd on Australia's "60mins" last year, & I read in his transcript about the chemo treatment he received last year for a 6mth period. I wanted to know if anyone out there can tell me the name of the chemo treatments used?

"I am currently having chemotherapy, one drug given intravenously for the first three days of the month and two separate drugs given by tablet for the first 20 days of the month. That treatment will continue for six months depending upon how effective it is."

I also saw an interview just prior to Christmas with Prof Chris O'Brien & he had had a clear MRI toward the end of '07.
I would be very interested to know the names of the chemo treatment so I can let my Bro know.
Thanks & cheers, Angie.
_________________
Brother has GBMIV
Diagnosed Feb 07
46 Yrs young!
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=19227

"Without Faith We Have Nothing"

brainman · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 7:19 am Post subject: Re: What is PCV?

Angie, you are asking the right person about PCV... it is the chemotherapy I took. Each letter stands of a different drug given in a six week cycle because they are so toxic.

C = CCNU or lomustine, is a pill taken at home on Day 1 of the cycle. It made me nauseated and feeling like I had the flue for a couple of days.

P = procarbazine, is a capsule take at home for two weeks starting on Day 8. Its major side effect was to make me feel short of breath because it suppresed the production of red blood cells.

V = Vincristine, is a liquid given via IV on Day 8. I had to stop taking it because it was causing neuropathy in my toes. They are still numb... 15 years after the end of treatment.

After the last Procarbazine pill is taken, you get a 3 week break to recover before starting another cycle. Usually, doctors want to give at least 13 cycles.

PCV is especially helpful for people who have the 1p/19q gene deletion.

Until Tremodar came along, PCV was the gold standard chemotherapy for gliomas. Outside of the US, it is still more commonly available than Tremodar (Tremodal in some countries).

The year after I finished taking PCV, I turned 40 years old. My "friends" were naturally making fun of the "old man". I told them that I did not mind being 40 but I just felt like someone owed me a year... the 13 months on PCV where that bad Razz

. But, here I am... 15 years later Smile

.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
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petrit · Regular Joined: 15 Aug 2007 Posts: 25

Hello Brainman I just saw to that programe with prof Chris OBrien and just wondering regarding PCV is it still better then Temodal , I just cant stop thinking that if temodal was better for sure he would have used for him self .

thanks

petrit

ksplat · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 5:21 pm Post subject: About pcv

Hello Jim
Thanks for the information, it has really helped me, although I still wonder (like Petrit) why Prof O'Brien would choose this treatment which preceeded the "Goldstar" Temodal which is currently used for GBMIV?
Would it be solely due to the fact that he has the 1p/19q gene deletion?
I don't know whether Mark was tested for this prior to being given chemo last March?
Mark has an MRI today & result tomorrow. We will wait....patiently.......& see!!!
Cheers, Angie.
_________________
Brother has GBMIV
Diagnosed Feb 07
46 Yrs young!
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=19227

"Without Faith We Have Nothing"

brainman · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 7:16 pm Post subject: Re: What is PCV?

The 1p/19q gene deletion does help more when the chemotherapy is PCV. But the difference is only a few percentage points. Maybe that was enough to convince Prof O'Brien to go with PCV rather than Tremodar. I understand that Tremodar has less side effect. Since PCV worked well for me, that is what I took when my cancer recurred in 2005. I did not have any side effects that time but I only took one cycle pre-surgery and I only took the CCNU.

I do not know which is really the best. When my cancer recurs, I will talk with my oncologist more in depth about my choices. I do recommend that Mark talk to his own medical team about the PCV option.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

petrit · Regular Joined: 15 Aug 2007 Posts: 25

Hello Angie , Jim . I hope Mark has a clear MRI today. I just wanted to know if Mark started using Ruta 6 yet cos u mentioned other day? Even Prof Chris Obrien is using some homeopathic treatment even he didnt mentioned exactly what kind?

My father uses Ruta 6 for almost 3 months , He is gonna have MRI in 2 weeks time

cheers

petrit

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