Folfiri + avastin dint work

[bala]

We started second line chemo - Folfiri + avastin for my mom's recurrence of nodes in pelvis, in March. We took 6 cycles (each cycle at every 3 weeks interval because of her counts) and we were monitoring CEA throughout. From 52 it came down to 6 but after 6th cycle it went to 15 and we went for a pet scan. The scan showed progression of disease from stable pelvis nodes to nodules in both lungs. Our onc himself dint expect this and said its difficult to digest, in her case probably the drugs dint work and need to try erbitux based regimen.

Is this quite unusual that while on treatment the disease progresses and avastin based chemo not working? Any suggestions for other options?

Thanks a lot for the inputs
Bala
Son of mom,
May2011 - LAR for rectal tumour
stage3c
June - Nov 2011 - Radiation + chemo(FOLFOX)

[Marian1961]

I'm sorry you have had this news. My brother had progression on FOLFOX, switched to Folfiri. The tumors have been "stable" ---no progression---but the Folfiri has failed to reduce their size and now apparently there is trouble on the adrenal gland. So yes, it's possible for chemo to fail. I don't know how common it is.

[bldblu_2]

The folfiri & avastin worked for my husband for exactly one year and then he started to have progression. I guess at some point this happens with all the drugs. I truly feel that he was lucky it worked for a whole year. He is now taking vectibix and irinotecan, hoping he can get some good time out of that combination. Hang in there.