Topic: Metformin-Anyone on this trial?

Nov 21, 2012 07:30 PM purple32 wrote:

wow zoo!

I am on metformin , but not in trial.

Mine never changed that much. Metformin is known for NOT causing serious drops in blood sugar in fact!

If you are not at significant risk for LE , you may want to ask your DR about a home glucose meter and test now and then.  Be SURE to test  on your ' non affected' side.

Nov 29, 2012 05:42 PM purple32 wrote:

Well I brought up the topic of Metformin with my oncologist and he pushed it aside as still under multiple studies and not conclusive yet.....

There are really no good ' conclusions' on anything!  Nobody is claiming it as a cure, and it is a relatively harmless drug.

Why not call him on Monday and  message that you have thought it over and you would like a trial run or it if he wouldnt mind prescribing.

couldnt hurt to just ask!

My endo dr gave it to me and my PCP said it was harmless at best.

Good Luck!

Nov 29, 2012 08:08 PM purple32 wrote:

Exactly, outfield!
Good reason to ask the PCP I guess  :>)

Dec 3, 2012 10:06 AM IsThisForReal wrote:

That's quite a difference in rates!

Dec 3, 2012 04:19 PM, edited Dec 3, 2012 04:21 PM by cp418

www.medpagetoday.com/

Maybe try the home page link above - then under Specialties select Hemaology/ Oncology to find this article.

Dec 3, 2012 09:26 PM MENA1954 wrote:

after reading about Medformin, I looked into it and I notices that in the NYC are 3 hospitals are involved in this trial and tha tmy Oncologist is in charge of all the studies.  I am looking forward to our appointment on the  December26  to discuss this trial with her.

How does it affect all the people that DO NOT have raised glucose levels?

Mena

Dec 4, 2012 09:31 AM cp418 wrote:

Metformin May Improve Survival Rate Of Patients With Ovarian Cancer.

CBS News (12/4) reports on a study published online in the journal Cancer finding that metformin, "a common diabetes medication...may be used in the prevention or treatment of ovarian cancer." Explaining the study, "Dr. Elizabeth Poynor, a gynecologist and cancer specialist" appeared on "CBS This Morning." She said that while the study found "that women who had ovarian cancer who took Metformin for diabetes actually had a 20 percent better survival rate from the disease than women who did not take Metformin," yet "it's not yet known why this is the case." Poynor pointed out that a number of studies have looked "at Metformin with different cancers, such as prostate cancer, pancreas cancer, colon and breast cancer. It may have widespread implications to many different types of malignancies."

        HealthDay (12/4, Marcus) explains that metformin "is derived from French lilacs. It's typically prescribed to lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes but has shown promise as a potential anticancer agent in recent prostate, colon, pancreas, brain and breast cancer studies, as well as in lab experiments with ovarian cancer cells." The study in question "evaluated the medical records of ovarian cancer patients who had received their cancer diagnosis between 1995 and 2010. Sixty-one patients were taking metformin at the time of their cancer diagnosis while 178 patients -- the control group -- weren't on the medication." It found that "67 percent of the women using metformin had not died within five years of their diagnosis, while only 47 percent of the control group had survived that long."

        MedPage Today (12/4, Fiore) reports that the study's authors concluded, "Metformin is worthy of clinical trials in ovarian cancer."

        WebMD (11/30, Boyles) reports, "The study is just one of dozens under way worldwide examining the drug -- which costs just pennies a pill -- as a treatment for breast, colon, prostate, pancreatic, and ovarian cancers."

        Fox News (12/3, Grush) reports on its website, "As for why the diabetes drug is so protective against cancer, the researchers cannot say for sure – but there are a few theories." One is that it "seems to inhibit the energy supply to the cell," and "may be acting on the cancer stem cells."

Dec 4, 2012 11:05 AM cp418 wrote:

www.reuters.com/article/2012/1...

www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-5...

Dec 4, 2012 08:59 PM, edited Dec 4, 2012 09:05 PM by IsThisForReal

Yes, statins are used for cholesterol.

Interesting links!

Dec 4, 2012 10:57 PM purple32 wrote:

katylynn

Wait until you are at a higher dosage. I have the real deal heer and bloating etc .. very real.  That is all I notice.  (GI symptoms)

Good Luck.

Dec 5, 2012 08:52 PM kks_rd wrote:

The study about metformin and ovarian cancer sounds very promising. I'm a bit of a numbers geek.. the P-value made me actually say OMG out loud!

Thanks to the person who posted about bloating, etc. I have never had major GI symptoms but over the past year have had more discomfort/ gas/ bloating. I thought it was part of my "new normal" post-chemo but maybe not!!

Dec 14, 2012 07:51 AM cp418 wrote:

www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCo...

Metformin Role in Breast Cancer Still Unclear

Dec 14, 2012 09:31 AM Maggs09 wrote:

Thank you for sharing above articles.
I'm about to start Metformin "off label" upon approval from my onc.
I already filled Rx, but waiting a couple of weeks as I just started Tamoxifen. My onc suggested to start with Tamoxifen first, see how I'm handling SE, and few weeks later - add Metformin.
I'm also doing rads, today will be #3.
How often do you get your blood checked when on trial?

Dec 15, 2012 06:30 PM Maggs09 wrote:

Ossa, do you remember what are they checking?
My dr wants me to do blood work in a month and then another in 3 months....
Can't remember what tests....

Dec 17, 2012 01:37 PM whaevah wrote:

I am starting in 10 days, had to do the pregnancy test today. How's that for a waste of time and money... LOL!