Avastin warriors - Any advice?

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pog451
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Avastin warriors - Any advice?

Postby pog451 » Wed Sep 19, 2012 6:47 am

No more fooling around - Sh!ts getting real.

After my disastrous scan last week, Im starting chemo again this Friday already - Folfox + Avastin. First two in a vein but then a port and out-patient.

I got on well with Xeloda, so im hoping the 5-Fu is gong to be as kind. The Oxi is discussed so often I think Im prepared for the cold sensitivity and the neuropathy. Im going to be having weekly infusions which my onc thinks reduces the side effects. Any tips and tricks (or warnings) for the Avastin?

GI issues and nausea will have to be taken as they come. Keep hydrated I will have tattooed on my hand (not really). Anything I am missing?

BTW:- Andy. Ntmu.
09.11 Dx @ 46, uT3uN1M0 G2
11.11 radio+Xeloda
01.12 LAR
03.12 Xeloda
09.12 Liver mets, 2 LN
09.12 Folfox+Avastin
02.13 Resection
04.13 Folfox & Avastin
11.13 Local recurrence
02-07.14 FOLFIRINOX
08.14 Re-rediation
Left us 28.05.2015

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StarGirl
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Joined: Tue May 31, 2011 4:57 pm

Re: Avastin warriors - Any advice?

Postby StarGirl » Wed Sep 19, 2012 7:11 am

Just be aware of any bleeding--I started having bad nosebleeds and (after 3 treatments of the Avastin) was taken off it. Make sure you let your oncologist know about any unusual bleeding (IF it happens to you). Best of luck to you!
DX 03/31/2011
Stage IV Rectal Cancer with mets to liver
6 rounds of 5FU, Oxaliplatin
3 rounds of Avastin
PET scan 07/15/2011 shows liver mass inactive

SoConfused
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Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2012 2:40 pm

Re: Avastin warriors - Any advice?

Postby SoConfused » Wed Sep 19, 2012 9:12 am

I have never heard of weekly infusions of Oxaliplatin ... is this a new protocol? I am curious to learn more about the reasoning behind it.

As far as Avastin, it has been rather easier on me than most other drugs along this journey. Like StarGirl mentioned, be prepared for possible nosebleeds, elevated blood pressure and delayed wound healing. It may also cause cardiovascular symptoms so be aware of that as well. Good luck- I hope this regimen proves very successful.
Stage IV CC

NWgirl
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Location: Battle Ground, Washington

Re: Avastin warriors - Any advice?

Postby NWgirl » Wed Sep 19, 2012 9:25 am

I had the nose bleeds with Avastin but they weren't too bad. I had no other issues with it. The oxi was the hardest drug for me to deal with - it just made me very nauseas and tired.
Belle - "Don't Retreat - Reload"DX 10/07 Stage III Rectal
Surgery 11/07; 27 of 38 nodes
Perm Colostomy 8/11
12/10 recurrence lungs & LN's
VATS Jan 2011
Radiation Oct 2013
Chemo for Life
2012 Colondar Model

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Anji
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Location: Kentucky

Re: Avastin warriors - Any advice?

Postby Anji » Wed Sep 19, 2012 10:46 am

Larry had nosebleeds from the first infusion of Avastin. They didn't get really bad until about the 6th one. Blood pressure elevation is something to watch for...Larry started BP meds after his second infusion....and palpations during the infusion. Nothing too horrible, and he ended up receiving 8 treatments before he was taken off of it because of a blood clot. Hope this helps!

Anji
Anji
Wife to Larry, Stage IV Colon Cancer, with mets to liver
Diagnosed 1/10 at age 44
Folfiri + Avastin 2/10 to 7/10
Liver resection and ablation 9/10
Numerous mets to lung and liver 1/11
Folfox + Avastin 2/11 to 6/11
Folfiri + Vectibix 6/11 to ???

Bob in Watson
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Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2011 1:04 pm

Re: Avastin warriors - Any advice?

Postby Bob in Watson » Wed Sep 19, 2012 12:51 pm

I have been on Xeliri with Avastin since December, 2011. The Avastin causes some minor nasal bleeding, but no other bleeding issues. The nasal bleeding has only once resulted in what I would call a minor nosebleed, easily stopped with tissue. I was already on BP medication when I started and my BP has varied, but never high enough to prevent a chemo cycle or require modification to the BP prescription. i have not noticed any changes in healing of minor wounds, etc. All in all, Avastin has had negligible side effects for me.

I would watch for bleeding which is difficult to stop. The MD will monitor your BP, but may recommend use of an in home device to check it between appts.

Bob

ams5796
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Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2009 10:07 am

Re: Avastin warriors - Any advice?

Postby ams5796 » Wed Sep 19, 2012 3:21 pm

I had no issues with Avastin until the eleventh treatment. My kidneys started to shut down. Absolutely, make sure your health care professionals are doing urine tests before each Avastin infusion. When I went for my eleventh infusion I was so weak and so lethargic they decided to try to figure out what was up with me. I was then admitted to the hospital. Luckily, there was no permanent damage to my kidneys.



Ann
Stage 3C (or 4?) Rectal Cancer 01/07
2/10 lung mets
3/11 VATS
6/11 VATS
7/13 lung met
2/14 SBRT
NED 8/14
5/17 scan and MRI found treated spine met

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Bev G
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Facebook Username: Bev Golde
Location: Quechee, VT

Re: Avastin warriors - Any advice?

Postby Bev G » Wed Sep 19, 2012 3:44 pm

Best of luck with your chemo. I think the Avastin works OK for most people. The only problem I had with it is that I was only off it for 28 days before my liver resection, and I don't think that was long enough, as it took me 7 months to heal.

SoConfused, I think the advantage of weekly OXI would be that each dose is cut in half. That's what I would guess, anyway. It sort of sounds like a good idea to me. Unless one had to have the 5FU pump every week, and I can't think of any good reason for that!!

Best of luck, Pog.

Bev
58 yo Type1 DM 48 years
12/09 Stage IV 2/22 nodes + liver met, colon resec
3 tx FOLFIRI, liver resec 4/10
9/10 6 mos off chemo, Neg PET&CTC CEA nl
2/11 finished total 10 rounds chemo

9/13 ^17th clean PET/CT NED for now

Traffic_Dude
Posts: 52
Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2012 2:35 pm

Re: Avastin warriors - Any advice?

Postby Traffic_Dude » Wed Sep 19, 2012 11:01 pm

I just started Avastin myself so this thread is great. Thanks too all who share their stories!
Tim

Angiemarie2000
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Location: Eden Prairie, MN

Re: Avastin warriors - Any advice?

Postby Angiemarie2000 » Thu Sep 20, 2012 12:54 am

ams5796 wrote:I had no issues with Avastin until the eleventh treatment. My kidneys started to shut down. Absolutely, make sure your health care professionals are doing urine tests before each Avastin infusion. When I went for my eleventh infusion I was so weak and so lethargic they decided to try to figure out what was up with me. I was then admitted to the hospital. Luckily, there was no permanent damage to my kidneys.



Ann


Ann, is the urine test tell you something other than what the blood test for the kidneys show you?


Pog,
As for the avastin side effects for me After 4 treatment: my nose has some blood that I only see when I plow my nose. But after 2 treatments I developed a blood clot in my lung and had to endure shots in the tummy twice a day, until I got the pill form of bloodthinners. I still take avastin and the blood thinner (which has its own side effects) and I go in 3 weeks to see if I have gotten anymore.

I was also warned about colon perforation (holes in the intestines)

BOL

Angie
5/12- @ 37 DX IV KRASmt
5/12- R. Hemi
6/12- Folfox/avastin-(Bad Reaction)
6/12- xeliri-7rds
CEA-DX @ 80 then 11,10,7,14,25,210,340,540,900
12/12-R. Ovary removed
01/13- folfox 4 rounds
03/13- folfox failed, in liver failure, starting regorafebin.

pog451
Posts: 799
Joined: Thu Oct 13, 2011 6:11 am
Facebook Username: andrew.morgan

Re: Avastin warriors - Any advice?

Postby pog451 » Thu Sep 20, 2012 3:02 am

Thanks guys, useful stuff.

Ill have to look out for the nosebleeds because I have a somewhat "petite" (read small n stubby) nose that I had to have widened a decade or more ago ago and I still do tend to "overblow" my nose which can lead to nosebleeds anyway if I have a sniffle. Ill just have to make sure I use plenty of saline nose spray and blow gently. Blowing my nose gently after my resection with damaged stomach muscles will have been good practice ;-). No history of BP issues and apart from a bit of a belly Im in reasonable shape, so Im feeling good about this.

As far as I know ATM Ill be having everything weekly, including a 24hr pump (once I have my port). My Onc says he used to do 2-weekly protocols but has had better results with the weekly and half the dose. We will see.

Wish me luck and good cancer-killing for everyone else starting or continuing on a similar protocol.

Andy
09.11 Dx @ 46, uT3uN1M0 G2
11.11 radio+Xeloda
01.12 LAR
03.12 Xeloda
09.12 Liver mets, 2 LN
09.12 Folfox+Avastin
02.13 Resection
04.13 Folfox & Avastin
11.13 Local recurrence
02-07.14 FOLFIRINOX
08.14 Re-rediation
Left us 28.05.2015

ams5796
Posts: 2298
Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2009 10:07 am

Re: Avastin warriors - Any advice?

Postby ams5796 » Thu Sep 20, 2012 5:29 am

Ann, is the urine test tell you something other than what the blood test for the kidneys show you?


Yes, Angie, the urine test was looking for high levels of protein in the urine. If the protein is high treatment should should be stopped or delayed until it comes down.


Ann
Stage 3C (or 4?) Rectal Cancer 01/07
2/10 lung mets
3/11 VATS
6/11 VATS
7/13 lung met
2/14 SBRT
NED 8/14
5/17 scan and MRI found treated spine met

Bob in Watson
Posts: 15
Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2011 1:04 pm

Re: Avastin warriors - Any advice?

Postby Bob in Watson » Thu Sep 20, 2012 7:16 am

Ann is right about the urine testing. I forgot to mention I have mine tested before each infusion. High protein is definitely a no-go. I have not had a problem yet, but I am right at the 11 cycle mark, so it may be coming.

Bob

kac
Posts: 34
Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2012 11:08 am
Facebook Username: Kim Annette Carlson
Location: Canada

Re: Avastin warriors - Any advice?

Postby kac » Thu Sep 20, 2012 9:06 am

I have gotten a few slight nose bleeds, my blood pressure has gone up a bit. So far no protein in the urine. I just finished my 12th treatment.
"I'm betting that I'm just abnormal enough to survive."

Angiemarie2000
Posts: 573
Joined: Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:29 pm
Facebook Username: Angela.boles
Location: Eden Prairie, MN

Re: Avastin warriors - Any advice?

Postby Angiemarie2000 » Thu Sep 20, 2012 11:29 pm

They have never tested my urine, adding more to my list to ask that onc of mine :D
5/12- @ 37 DX IV KRASmt
5/12- R. Hemi
6/12- Folfox/avastin-(Bad Reaction)
6/12- xeliri-7rds
CEA-DX @ 80 then 11,10,7,14,25,210,340,540,900
12/12-R. Ovary removed
01/13- folfox 4 rounds
03/13- folfox failed, in liver failure, starting regorafebin.


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