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Avastin-What to expect
Well, the insurance company came through and I will be doing the Avastin. I start tomorrow. I know I have read a lot of stuff on it from all of you, but since I wasn't on it I didn't pay much attention to it all. Could you all tell me what to expect from the Avastin, how to prep for this, what the side effects may be etc.
I am sorry I haven't been here. I am tired ALL of the time, in pain most of the time and some part of everyday is devoted to heaving. I am living like I am dead already and I don't know how to get past that. There is so much stuff reeling in my head but when I try to write about it, it just seems so heavy & difficult. See why I don't write. I don't know how to straighten this out in my own head. Anyway, your help with the Avastin would be appreciated and you can ignore the crazy babblings.
Thanks,
Jan
I am sorry I haven't been here. I am tired ALL of the time, in pain most of the time and some part of everyday is devoted to heaving. I am living like I am dead already and I don't know how to get past that. There is so much stuff reeling in my head but when I try to write about it, it just seems so heavy & difficult. See why I don't write. I don't know how to straighten this out in my own head. Anyway, your help with the Avastin would be appreciated and you can ignore the crazy babblings.
Thanks,
Jan
To the crazy babbler Jan, LOL
You know I am kidding. I don't think you babble at all and am so glad to see your post. I have been thinking of you often. I can't offer advice on the Avastin but wanted to just say I miss you, I think you are a very strong woman and I hope that the Avastin will be as easy on you as possible and do the job! Many hugs for you, Colleen
You know I am kidding. I don't think you babble at all and am so glad to see your post. I have been thinking of you often. I can't offer advice on the Avastin but wanted to just say I miss you, I think you are a very strong woman and I hope that the Avastin will be as easy on you as possible and do the job! Many hugs for you, Colleen
Hey jan,
I too had Avastin by itself once they took the Doxil out of the picture since it was giving me horrible hand/foot syndrome. I had all the same side effects as Becky - BAD fatigue. Nothing else too bad, I think it will be an easy chemo for you. Easy isn't the right word, but it will be EASIER than some of the other drugs you have been on. Keep us posted honey. Love u
I too had Avastin by itself once they took the Doxil out of the picture since it was giving me horrible hand/foot syndrome. I had all the same side effects as Becky - BAD fatigue. Nothing else too bad, I think it will be an easy chemo for you. Easy isn't the right word, but it will be EASIER than some of the other drugs you have been on. Keep us posted honey. Love u
Just to clarify my post a bit: I have been on Avastin alone for three months now so I'm starting to sort out some of what's what with the side effects.
Unlike Becky, I do not seem to be getting fatigue from the Avastin. I was very fatigued after the regular chemo ended for about a month but that has been markedly improved. While I still have to sleep more than usual, I can do most of my regular activities with some moderation. (My joint and muscle pain is the biggest obstacle.) My doctor assured me that fatigue probably would not be a problem with Avastin. Everyone's different but it's not a definite side effect of this drug.
I haven't had the bruising but they did mention that to me as a side effect. Really the only clear effect for me has been the high blood pressure and headaches. I don't know where the joint pain is from.
I forgot to mention that Avastin tends to be given more quickly than other chemo drugs. They started me on 1 1/2 hours, then 1 hour the second time and 1/2 hour the third through the end of the course of treatment. So it's not as huge a time drain as my other chemo was.
All the best.
Unlike Becky, I do not seem to be getting fatigue from the Avastin. I was very fatigued after the regular chemo ended for about a month but that has been markedly improved. While I still have to sleep more than usual, I can do most of my regular activities with some moderation. (My joint and muscle pain is the biggest obstacle.) My doctor assured me that fatigue probably would not be a problem with Avastin. Everyone's different but it's not a definite side effect of this drug.
I haven't had the bruising but they did mention that to me as a side effect. Really the only clear effect for me has been the high blood pressure and headaches. I don't know where the joint pain is from.
I forgot to mention that Avastin tends to be given more quickly than other chemo drugs. They started me on 1 1/2 hours, then 1 hour the second time and 1/2 hour the third through the end of the course of treatment. So it's not as huge a time drain as my other chemo was.
All the best.
Hey Jan...I'm probably one of the only ones who have done Avastin alone because, as the other ladies have said, it's usually given with another drug. Are you having it alone? If they want you to do it with another drug, I would ask for a low dose daily cyclophosphamide...seriously, the pill is like taking nothing - I have no side effects from it at all.
I hate to say this but if your tired already, be prepared for that to get much worse. That was my biggest side effect - fatigue. It was cumulative too, so it worse and worse as we went along. Do you know what dose you'll be having? The standard dose for colon cancer is 5mg/kg of body weight but in the trials they've done with ovarian cancer, they used 10mg/kg (once every two weeks) and some even did 15mg/kg (once every three weeks). I did the 10mg/kg dose once every three weeks simply because it was so expensive.
You may also find you bruise easily...this drug prevents the production of blood vessels so when you bump into something or bang something I found I bruised quite badly. My Dad always joked that he wanted to wrap me in bubble paper to keep me safe when I was on Avastin...
High blood pressure is quite common, but I never once had an issue. I normally have low blood pressure and I think this worked in my favour.
They will test your urine before every treatment too, to check for protein. This drug can cause your kidneys to excrete protein in your urine so they monitor that carefully to make sure they aren't damaging your kidneys.
I found I also had loser bowels...I wouldn't call it diarreah, but I definatley wasn't constipated.
I found that Avastin didn't really mess with my WBC too much, which was nice.
Not really sure what else to tell you...you've been through h*ll and back Jan - I have a feeling this drug will be a walk in the park for you.
I'm so happy that your getting this...I hope to God this will bring you the miracle we're all praying for.
Good luck Jan...I'll be thinking of you :)
Love Becky
I hate to say this but if your tired already, be prepared for that to get much worse. That was my biggest side effect - fatigue. It was cumulative too, so it worse and worse as we went along. Do you know what dose you'll be having? The standard dose for colon cancer is 5mg/kg of body weight but in the trials they've done with ovarian cancer, they used 10mg/kg (once every two weeks) and some even did 15mg/kg (once every three weeks). I did the 10mg/kg dose once every three weeks simply because it was so expensive.
You may also find you bruise easily...this drug prevents the production of blood vessels so when you bump into something or bang something I found I bruised quite badly. My Dad always joked that he wanted to wrap me in bubble paper to keep me safe when I was on Avastin...
High blood pressure is quite common, but I never once had an issue. I normally have low blood pressure and I think this worked in my favour.
They will test your urine before every treatment too, to check for protein. This drug can cause your kidneys to excrete protein in your urine so they monitor that carefully to make sure they aren't damaging your kidneys.
I found I also had loser bowels...I wouldn't call it diarreah, but I definatley wasn't constipated.
I found that Avastin didn't really mess with my WBC too much, which was nice.
Not really sure what else to tell you...you've been through h*ll and back Jan - I have a feeling this drug will be a walk in the park for you.
I'm so happy that your getting this...I hope to God this will bring you the miracle we're all praying for.
Good luck Jan...I'll be thinking of you :)
Love Becky
Hi,
One of my chemo drugs is Avastin. I am also on Oxilaplatin and 5-fu. I have had very little side effects and I have had 10 tretments. I haven't had any headaches. My bloodpressure is up a little but since it is usually on the low side...it is now more in the middle. I am glad your insurance company has approved Avastin. My chemo combination has worked great for me. It is really killing the cancer. Julie
One of my chemo drugs is Avastin. I am also on Oxilaplatin and 5-fu. I have had very little side effects and I have had 10 tretments. I haven't had any headaches. My bloodpressure is up a little but since it is usually on the low side...it is now more in the middle. I am glad your insurance company has approved Avastin. My chemo combination has worked great for me. It is really killing the cancer. Julie
I am so glad that your insurance company has approved the use of Avastin. I am afraid I have little info on it.
I would be praying that the drug would be your miracle drug!
I would be praying that the drug would be your miracle drug!
Jan,
I've been busy doing research on this drug since we spoke a few weeks ago, and it has been all good. One of the side affects is heart problems. That's the only one I'm concerned about. I'm sure you already told your doctor that Daddy's side of the family has heart disease. Daddy himself having a few heart attacks and even me who has mitral valve prolapse. I take Toprol XL (25mg per day) for that and as far as the headaches are concerned, Imitrex usually helps with the migranes when they get really bad. When I feel a headache coming on I pop 2 excedrin extra strength and this helps to avoid the headache all together sometimes. So, just be careful with this treatment. I think this may be your miracle. So, you need to let me know when is a good time to come down and hold your hair for your while you puke.
I love you very much! : ) Flick
I've been busy doing research on this drug since we spoke a few weeks ago, and it has been all good. One of the side affects is heart problems. That's the only one I'm concerned about. I'm sure you already told your doctor that Daddy's side of the family has heart disease. Daddy himself having a few heart attacks and even me who has mitral valve prolapse. I take Toprol XL (25mg per day) for that and as far as the headaches are concerned, Imitrex usually helps with the migranes when they get really bad. When I feel a headache coming on I pop 2 excedrin extra strength and this helps to avoid the headache all together sometimes. So, just be careful with this treatment. I think this may be your miracle. So, you need to let me know when is a good time to come down and hold your hair for your while you puke.
I love you very much! : ) Flick
That's great news, Jan. I posted in reply to an earlier question you posted about Avastin but I'll cut and paste it here so it's easier to access.
I have been on Avastin through a clinical trial for 7 months. I also had taxol/cisplatin for 4 of those 7 months so it's hard to pinpoint exactly what is what with side effects. Avastin is definitely responsible for my high blood pressure - this is a common side effect. It's manageable with drugs and goes away when you go off the Avastin. It took about 3 months to show up. Avastin also gives me headaches a couple of times a week which can be pretty severe, but usually a lot of ibuprofen helps. I've recently gotten some serious joint pain, which may be delayed from the taxol or may be the Avastin. But my energy level is good and continues to improve and there's no nausea, hair loss, mouth sores, etc from the Avastin. There are a few very serious side effects that occur in around 2 to 4 percent of ovca patients taking Avastin (perforated bowel, blood clots, stroke) but I figured that's 96 to 98 percent who don't get those. However, they were very careful to warn me about them and to tell me to call immediately if I had any symptoms
I hope you do well on this treatment. All the best.
I have been on Avastin through a clinical trial for 7 months. I also had taxol/cisplatin for 4 of those 7 months so it's hard to pinpoint exactly what is what with side effects. Avastin is definitely responsible for my high blood pressure - this is a common side effect. It's manageable with drugs and goes away when you go off the Avastin. It took about 3 months to show up. Avastin also gives me headaches a couple of times a week which can be pretty severe, but usually a lot of ibuprofen helps. I've recently gotten some serious joint pain, which may be delayed from the taxol or may be the Avastin. But my energy level is good and continues to improve and there's no nausea, hair loss, mouth sores, etc from the Avastin. There are a few very serious side effects that occur in around 2 to 4 percent of ovca patients taking Avastin (perforated bowel, blood clots, stroke) but I figured that's 96 to 98 percent who don't get those. However, they were very careful to warn me about them and to tell me to call immediately if I had any symptoms
I hope you do well on this treatment. All the best.
Jan, I am so happy your ins. co. has approved Avastin, I'm not on it (yet) but I've heard lots of positive feedback. I know it prevents the cancer cells from building blood vessels and they can't reproduce since there's no blood supply, (good for the little bastards). Best of luck, and please babble away, you've earned it!! .... Jane
Avastin is often used with another chemo drug. My friend is on avastin, doxil and carboplatin. another is on avastin and carbo. and the third i am not sure. perhaps your doctor could look into the multi leg some studies show ovca does best when hit by more than one angle. good luck having not used it can't tell you the effects.
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