Regarding the comment that Avastin only "does not work" - I am skeptical of any statement that is so definitive. Given how Avastin works, it makes sense that it alone could prevent recurrence in a person who is NED. Might be different in a person who is on "maintenance" in order ...

As you can see from my signature, I did Avastin only for nearly 2 years. We discontinued it in May 2011 because I had a very minor GI bleed (over almost before it started and in spite of EGD, small intestine capsule camera study and colonoscopy the location was never found). I was on strong arthriti...

So very sorry. I have been through this a few years ago, and it is so hard. But, you are doing the right thing to not let her get to the point of extreme suffering. My dog, Casey, went downhill very suddenly - Saturday he was found with fluid around his lungs and was given Lasix which made him much ...

Someone asked about targeted therapies - can't seem to find the post.

Here is a great link from NCI explaining this:
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/tre ... fact-sheet

Avastin and Erbitux, for example, are targeted therapies.

Take care,

I've been on Xeloda twice - each time 4000 mg/day. The 2nd time I was having really bad hf syndrome and more fatigue that I expected. We decided to try the 5 days on / 2 days off plan. Those 2 days off felt so good, BUT it didn't give me enough recovery time, so we opted to reduce the dose to 3000mg...

1) Did I work? Took Xelox + Avastin. Infusions on Mon every 3 weeks - Xeloda 14 days on / 7 days off. I went to work on Tuesday post infusion - might have shortened my day a little but I can't remember. Skipped work on Wed. Worked about half time from home on Th/Fr. Not sure if some of your job can ...

The recommendation when taking Xeloda is to take it 20-30 minutes after a meal - that is the way it was tested. That is the way it was tested, and as you say you really can't fast with Xeloda unless you want to stop eating. I and several others set a timer so that we would remember to take it within...

You have a point. You should not tar all oncologists with the same brush. Many are open to all kinds of treatments as they view their main job as curing the patient. All of us Stage 4 patients are different, but oncs are very different also.

Just sayin'

How far apart are your scans? Mine were 2 mo apart when first treated for Stage 4, then 3 and then 4. Long time until I went to 6. If your scans are frequent enough, then you don't really need another test.

I have had Xeloda twice, first after diagnosis along with oxy and Avastin. When I had a lung recurrence 3+ years later, I had removal of met via VATS (easy surgery - is this not an option for you?). I did Xeloda + Avastin for 6 rounds and then Avastin for almost another 2 years. So technically my Xe...

Hi - I have been on Xeloda twice six treatments each time - started at 4000mg/day and reduced after 3 treatments. Xeloda is not without side effects, especially when taking the full dose vs what is used in conjunction with radiation therapy. I don't mean this to be harsh, but it is important to prio...

Re: opinion at a major cancer center - it depends on so many factors. If you are diagnosed 3 the regimen is very standard - for the first go-round there is little need to seek another opinion unless you don't trust the onc you have see initially. Likewise with Stage 4 with solitary liver or lung met...

I have no idea of the cost or what your ins will cover. However, if you want to go this route, Washington Hospital Center in DC is big in the cytoreduction surgery/HIPEC area. In fact Dr. Paul Sugarbaker who is there is the one who invented the procedure. So, this might be another choice. Take care,

I have had multiple scopes where polyps had to be removed "piecemeal" - still here and my GI never thought it was a problem. Since you are so worried (and that is ok), I'd go back to the GI and talk to him/her about your concerns. You should not assume that the actual path examination is &...

Steve - Scary I know. You need to suffer thru the wait for pathology results, much as that sucks, Not to scare you, but GI docs usually know what they are looking at. When I had the diagnostic colonoscopy, my GI doc essentially told me that the path results were important to get, but that there was ...