Anyone that has used Avastin?

[lizper]

Hi Ladies, I'd like to know if there is anyone who has had Avastin and how this has worked for you. Tks Liz.

[Helmar]

As Becky"s Oncol. explained to her re Avastin, so my Oncol. has said pretty much the same to me. If there is a little spot of cancer on the bowel, the Avastin attacks the tumour and leaves a hole...thus a perforation. I suppose if one has a bowel clear or any tumour, then it wouldn't be a problem. Apparently it's only 1 or 2  % of patients that are affected, but if you happened to be in that percentage, then it's not fun.
Wishing everyone well who is on this drug at the moment....hugs....Helen..

[Tybear]

my oncologist explained it as (bear with me here....) if you have a tumor that's, say, intertwined with your bowels and the Avastin starts shrinking it away, because Avastin impairs the bodies ability to make new blood vessels (and, therefore heal a wound), instead of your body naturally healing the hole left behind, it can't. I guess that's why there such a concern too, with the bodies lack of ability to heal wounds while your on this drug. I have noticed that the few scrapes and scratches I've gotten, they scab over in a really dark scab and it lasts for weeks. I have a scratch from my cat from well over a week ago and I know that if I picked at it, it would bleed and bleed and bleed.
The nurses at my infusion clinic have said that they have yet to have someone who has suffered from really serious side effects, with high blood pressure being the most common one.
Becky

[alanpvegas]

Avastin is a good drug to use, but here is why the trial with OvCa patients was stopped:  The patients were priarily on their third (+) chemo so they were 'heavily pretreated' is the word used by oncologists.  This means the lining in the bowels were probablly so irritated or gone it made avastin look bad due to the perforations.

So I would say if this is your first line chemo, yeah it's probablly good. But anything further it's hard to tell how your body would react.  The science is promising it's just that side effect which is life threatening.

I'm not sure why that oncologist would say it has to do with the amount of tumors/cancer in the bowels...maybe something new came out?  But the bowel perforation reason was from the company itself so....

[crecco]

  I too was concerned about the bowel perforation that I had been hearing about. So I did ask my onc about it before we ever started it. He explained that it was more of a problem if there was a lot of cancer in the bowels  to begin with. Since my liver is the biggest concern, then he wasn't to worried. I hope this help to ease some fears.
         Love Chris

[Jen Y]

Hi. My mother will soon begin daily Cytoxan plus Avastin every two weeks. Platinum + 5FU did not work for her, and she has also tried 4 other regimens.

I recently purchased a 2007 medical article about the risk of bowel perforations associated with avastin therapy in ovarian cancer. It gave a summary of published studies involving the drug, and the response rates and disease free intervals were encouraging.

In summary, the article said that strong evidence for defining risk factors is lacking, but the stats showed that patients who had undergone recent surgery or had bowel obstructions were at higher risk. Pelvic radiation treatment also raised the risks, as well as what Becky stated- the more chemo previously received (i think this causes micro-wounds to the colon and avastin adds to the pressure on these already fragile areas). The heavily pre-treated part makes me worry about my mom since my family has sort of pushed her towards going for one last treatment. The article did say that on balance, the risks were worth the potentially good outcome. High blood pressure and headaches were cited as side effects.

Becky- I'm about your age, and I can't even imagine what you must be going through. You're unbelievably brave, and I'm pulling for you.  

And I'm buoyed by the good results Chris had. Chris, I hope your numbers continue to plummet!

Jen

[Tybear]

Hi there...I have just recently started Avastin as well as Cyclophosphamide. I don't have my CT scan until March 25th, and won't know if it's working until I get the results of that. I will have had 4 treatments by then...I just had my third one tonight. I have had little to no side effects...this has been a walk in the park compared to the other chemo's I've done! I have to pay out of pocket for it, just over $6000.00 per treatment - I hope this won't be a waste of money for me and my family. The CA125 test was never a good marker for me...I have no idea what it's at and I'm honestly not even sure they  test it anymore...
The bowel perforation thing is very concerning...my doctor told me I was at moderate to high risk for it. I gather the more chemo you've had in the past and the more involved your colon is with disease, the more at risk you are. My blood pressure has been high (for me) and it was suggested tonight by my chemo nurse, to talk to my doctor about it. It was 137/90, but usually I have very low blood pressure. It has me a little concerned...
I'll know more after the 25th of March...I'll post as soon as I get my results! I honestly feel in my gut this isn't going to work, but I'm glad I'm trying it.
Becky

[Helmar]

Hi ladies.... I'm also interested in hearing about Avastin, as my Oncol. has suggested that this could be the next chemo for me. I've heard that it can cause bowel perforation.... is that an issue with either of you girls?

Chris.. that's great news... a really good reduction in the CA.125. How many treatments are scheduled for you?
Wishing you both all the best...hugs...Helen...

[crecco]

I just recently started avastin with abraxane. And I am very pleased to tell you that so far it has been great. Very few side effects and best of all, I just recieved the results form my first CA since starting it and the numbers are down to 315 from 613. If by chance you are getting ready to start this yourself, I hope it works just as well for you.
          Love Chris