Pulmonary Embolism while on Avastin - anyone else?

[jhocno197]

Two weeks ago, we found out that my husband had a pulmonary embolism, likely due to the Avastin he was getting alongside FOLFIRI. This thing is kicking his butt...fatigue, pain, no endurance for anything, really. Thankfully he was able to sit & be present at our daughter's fifth birthday party yesterday, but that's about all he can do - and usually not for very long. Anyone else go through this? How long did it take you to feel 'better' (not that he has felt well for many months now, but it hasn't been this bad)? He is taking Xarelto and the clots are dissolving, so there's some steps in the right direction. He has been so stoic through almost everything, but he said yesterday he was feeling despair .

[ilivebyfaith]

Reading your signature, my dh too was misdiagnosed at first, diagnosis initially was hereditary anemia and hematologist even told us not to worry as its not anything like cancer. 2 weeks after, I rushed him in the hospital thinking it was appendicitis and 2 ct scans and 1 colonoscopy after, the diagnosis came out and alas, our lives were changed, his dx was stage iv colon ca with mets to liver and lungs.

My dh is still kinda new with avastin, he received his 7th infusion last week together with folfirinox. He hasn't experienced embolism (thank goodness) although its something I keep a close eye on, as its included in one of the adverse effects of avastin.

Hope someone in the board will pitch in. Hoping your dh will feel better the soonest.

[GrouseMan]

No problems here with Avastin. My wife has been on it 21 months now with the only known side effect to hit her was a rise in Blood pressure. Her BP was low to begin with because she has been a lifetime distance runner. So a low dose Ace inhibitor manages to keep it easily in the normal range. She experiences fatigue of course, but chalks that up to the 5FU and the fact she is finding it harder to train for races as it takes longer to work your way back to the longer distances, between treatments. I think she is actually thinking about giving up running the longer distances now. Confine herself to 5 K events.

I am not sure Avastin is the source of your troubles. The other drugs your DH is on are actually pretty hard on ones heart as well.

Regards

GrouseMan

[Mastan]

Hi I developed a large PE at the end of February. I was on FOLFIRI with Avastin. It was my 23 rd cycle of the meds. Don't know that Avastin itself is the cause. I had previously developed a DVT while on 5FU during initial rad treatments to the primary tumor. I am reasonably sure the clots are due to the chemo. I was off chemo for several years and never got a clot. Recovery from the PE has been very slow. I am not yet fully recovered. When I was first released from the hospital I had to use bottled oxygen all the time. Even now I still sleep with oxygen but I dont use it during the day. I missed about 3 weeks of work after first diagnosed with the PE and was off of chemo for at least a month. Your husband will recover but it is a slow process.

Good luck,

Mark

[Redtexa5]

I had a PE on FOLFOX no Avastin used. From what my Onc said about 20% of cancer patients get blood clots during treatment and they are not sure why.

It sucks but the treatments they have will work, but it will take time.

[canadiandaughter]

My dad had them after about 16 rounds of straight folfiri. He's on heparin shots 2x a day. Recent scan shows they are all gone but will continue shots while on chemo. He had terrible chest pains and very tired. Feels better now. Still tired from chemo but manageable