My first Avastin treatment.

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apullmanjr
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Aug 31, 2020 7:05 pm

My first Avastin treatment.

Postby apullmanjr » Mon Aug 31, 2020 7:35 pm

I have stage 4 colon cancer. I started my first cycle of chemo 2 weeks ago. I had chemo today and they added Avastin. What can I expect from the treatment? Does all stage 4 colon patients get this? Thanks in advance! I just joined and this is my first post. Thank you!

Dwe3114
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Apr 22, 2020 1:27 am

Re: My first Avastin treatment.

Postby Dwe3114 » Tue Sep 01, 2020 2:24 am

Avast I was given to me the same time as oxaliplatin. So Avastin was unremarkable compared to that monster.

Starz26
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Jun 23, 2020 11:55 pm

Re: My first Avastin treatment.

Postby Starz26 » Tue Sep 01, 2020 7:27 am

All patients have different symptoms and different degrees of those symptoms. When they added Avastin to my CHEMO the new side effect seems to be stomach pain / cramps. I also was only able to eat bland foods. I did not have those symptoms after the other treatment. could be just timing or the Avastin.

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betsydoglover
Posts: 978
Joined: Mon Aug 14, 2006 2:31 pm
Facebook Username: Betsy Lindh Williams
Location: Maryland - outside DC

Re: My first Avastin treatment.

Postby betsydoglover » Tue Sep 01, 2020 6:18 pm

I initially had Xeloda/oxaliplatin/Avastin. It seemed to me that the Xeloda and oxaliplatin were responsible for the side effects. Later I was on Avastin only for almost 2 years - no observable side effects other than nasal congestion.
Betsy
diag. Stage IV, 5/05, liver met
lap sigmoid colectomy, 6/05
6 cycles Xeloda/oxaliplatin/Avastin (NED after 2)
11/08 9x13mm right lower lobe lung nodule; removed via VATS 4/09
NED
6 cycles Xeloda + Avastin
Avastin only 10/09-5/11
Still NED 06/18

Rikimaroo
Posts: 436
Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2016 8:48 pm
Location: Florida

Re: My first Avastin treatment.

Postby Rikimaroo » Wed Sep 02, 2020 8:38 am

Avastin has literally on side effects on me. One time it did cause blood clot in my neck, which they prescribe medication for, but so far never again. I am on Avastin/Xeloda treatment now which literally no side effects; however everybody is different and side effects vary.
RC T3N1M0 12/16
MSS - NRAS Mutation
Chemo Rad, CCR - W&W 5/2017
Recurrence 11/2017
CT Scan 11/2017 Liver Met 5.5cm Stable, Stage IV
LAR/Liver Resect 4/2018
Reversal 10/18
CEA highest 500, lowest .8 throughout process, waiting for latest
Recurrence left vesical/pelvic sidewall - 10/7/2019 resect perm bag,
CEA rise Feb/May 3.7, 8.8, 30, Recurrence in Pelvic
CEA 40 right now, but was 57, so folfiri to beat it back down.
Lots of chemo for the past 4 years.

Rock_Robster
Posts: 1027
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2018 5:27 am
Location: Brisbane, Australia

Re: My first Avastin treatment.

Postby Rock_Robster » Wed Sep 02, 2020 9:23 am

Avastin typically has very mild side effects when compared to cytotoxic chemotherapy. Many people report none at all; others might experience increased minor spontaneous bleeding like nosebleeds or bleeding gums after brushing. Some nausea and increased fatigue is also not uncommon.

A very small proportion of cases (<1%) could experience a serious internal/intestinal bleed which is an emergency, so just keep an eye out for any blood in your stool or serious digestive pain.

Good luck!
Rob
41M Australia
2018 Dx RC
G2 EMVI LVI, 4 liver mets
pT3N1aM1a Stage IVa MSS NRAS G13R
CEA 14>2>32>16>19>30>140>70
11/18 FOLFOX
3/19 Liver resection
5/19 Pelvic IMRT
7/19 ULAR
8/19 Liver met
8/19 FOLFOX, FOLFOXIRI, FOLFIRI
12/19 Liver resection
NED 2 years
11/21 Liver met, PALN, lung nodules
3/22 PVE, lymphadenectomy, liver SBRT
10/22 PALN SBRT
11/22 Liver mets, peri nodule. Xeloda+Bev
4/23 XELIRI+Bev
9/23 ATRIUM trial
12/23 Modified FOLFIRI+Bev
3/24 VAXINIA (CF33 + hNIS) trial

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GrouseMan
Posts: 888
Joined: Mon Aug 12, 2013 12:30 pm
Location: SE Michigan USA

Re: My first Avastin treatment.

Postby GrouseMan » Wed Sep 02, 2020 11:03 am

It has a tendency to raise ones blood pressure. Usually they prescribe a BP med. My wife was on an ACE inhibitor (Lisinopril) at the lowest dose while on Avastin. Her BP was always low because she was very athletic and was a runner. So the worst side effect from Avastin was the blood streaks in the Kleenex from her nose in the morning after getting up and blowing it. Some people experience headaches from it - probably due to the elevated BP.

Avastin has become a pretty routine thing to add to FOLFOX now a days. I think it pretty clearly is helpful to use. Back when my wife started it in 2013 it was just starting to be used routinely by some oncologists. Now I would be surprised if it wasn't added to one's Folfox by the second or third infusion.

Good luck

GrouseMan
DW 53 dx Jun 2013
CT mets Liver Spleen lung. IVb CEA~110
Jul 2013 Sig Resct
8/13 FolFox,Avastin 12Tx mild sfx, Ongoing 5-FU Avastin every 3 wks.
CEA: good marker
7/7/14 CT Can't see the spleen Mets.
8/16/15 CEA Up, CT new abdominal mets. Iri, 5-FU, Avastin every 2 wks.
1/16 Iri, Erbitux and likely Avastin (Trial) CEA going >.
1/17 CEA up again dropped from Trial, Mets growth 4-6 mm in abdomen
5/2/17 Failed second trial, Hospitalized 15 days 5/11. Home Hospice 5/26, at peace 6/4/2017

Monimom
Posts: 49
Joined: Wed Jan 08, 2020 6:15 pm

Re: My first Avastin treatment.

Postby Monimom » Tue Sep 08, 2020 8:16 am

Hi, My husband is also on Avastin, he started his chemo out with Folfox and avastin. now he is on Xeloda for 2 weeks and he gets Avastin every 3rd week, his side effects are runny nose/eyes(only mildly), stomach pain for a couple days after infusion (tylenol helps) and he initially had nose bleeds , but very tiny amounts. the Oxaliplatin caused the worst of his side effects, he has coldness & neuropathy in his toes and fingers, hopefully it goes away, winter is coming.
Best wishes
Moni : )
Oct 2019 56 yo Husband DX'd
Stage 4 MCC
Colon thickening w/ apple core 3.9 cm area
Liver mets both lobes 10.4 x 7.6 cm & 9.3 x 7.7cm
innumerable small lesions
Oct 2019 Liver Biopsy
CEA Dec '19 . 3,028
Dec 2019-present 5FU, Avastin & Oxaliplatin
Jan '20. CEA 1861.8
Feb '20 CT mets 9.4cm x 6.5 & 8.0 x 6.7 cm
April '20 CEA 411.1
May '20 CT mets 8.6cm x 6.3 & 5.7 x 6.1 cm
Colon unchanged

samll
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2020 6:07 am

Re: My first Avastin treatment.

Postby samll » Fri Dec 04, 2020 6:08 am

Hi, My husband is also on Avastin, he started his chemo out with Folfox and avastin. now he is on Xeloda for 2 weeks and he gets Avastin every 3rd week, his side effects are runny nose/eyes(only mildly), stomach pain for a couple days after infusion (tylenol helps) and he initially had nose bleeds , but very tiny amounts. the Oxaliplatin caused the worst of his side effects, he has coldness & neuropathy in his toes and fingers, hopefully it goes away, winter is coming.
Best wishes
Moni : )


he's really lucky to get so little side effects
Hi there

zephyr
Posts: 363
Joined: Thu Aug 18, 2016 7:31 am

Re: My first Avastin treatment.

Postby zephyr » Fri Dec 04, 2020 1:36 pm

Increased blood pressure seems to be pretty common, based on what I've heard from my oncologist and other patients, and can be dangerous if you don't keep an eye on it. It took about a year for it to hit me.

Nasal congestion is common too.

If you get hurt, it will probably bleed more (sometimes a LOT more) and take longer to heal.

I took something called fruit anthocyanins to help protect my blood vessels while I was on Avastin. One of my doctors recommended it.
Nov-2009 Early stage CRC, routine colonoscopy
2010-2014 F/U colonoscopies, all clear
Jun-2016 CRC during F/U colonoscopy, surgery, Stage 4, KRAS, MSS
Aug-2016-May-2018 Folfox, 5FU, Folfiri & Avastin
Aug/Sep-2018 YAG laser surgeries (Germany), 11 nodules removed
Nov-2018 clean CT scan
Mar-2019 New lung nodules
Apr-2019 Dec-2020 Xeloda/Avastin, SBRT, cont. Xeloda/Avastin
Mar-2021 Forfiri/Avastin
Mar-2022 Ablation & Thoracotomy
Feb-2023 Folfiri & Avastin
Nov-2023 Xeloda & Avastin


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