Question for those of you on avastin

kayandok

I just started avastin every 21 days (400ml). (I will also do 75ml/m2 taxotere and AUC5carbo.) I am curious what dosage others are getting of avastin. I know a couple of you are on avastin maintainance too, so I am curious about how that is working also.

My doctor has purposely given me time between my avastin and chemo to check the side effects. I had my first avastin dose on the 9th and will go into the hospital Monday, 26th, for my first chemo. This is a new combo for me (I have had lot's of carbo and lot's of taxol but never carbo/taxotere) so they want to monitor me. It is the Japanese system, and although I promised I would call or come in the minute I have a reaction, they still will not bend on their policy, that you have to stay 2 nights in hospital for any new chemo or chemo combo you have for the first infusion. Rats! I swear that sleeping in the hospital bed and being bugged every 30 minutes for something can cause cancer or cancer progression!!!!

The good news is that I have been off of chemo for a couple months and actually feeling pretty good. I had a CA125 draw the other day and am crossing my fingers it hasn't gone through the ceiling! I will get results on Monday.

Hugs all around,
kathleen

AnneBehymer

Hi Avastin/Taxol/Carbo
was my drink I finished the taxol/carbo in October but let me tell you staying in the hospital is not a bad ideal if this is your first time. I was in the hospital for my first and second treatment and this is why. they started the taxol and with in 10 minutes I said somethings wrong and I don't remember much more than that but I will tell you what my mom said happen. I was talking when all of the sudden I felt like I could not breath and the room turn silver and then black I said I can't breath and the nurse said just take deep breaths and I was unable to do it at that point that is all I remember. My mom said when I stopped talking my face turned purple and the nurse said I need to get some more stuff and she ran out of the room. My mom said when she did I started having a small (sezuir not sure on the spelling) the nurse came back in with the head nurse (oh by the way this was her first chemo also man did I give her a run for her money)and they started pumping medication in me. I strated coming around my mom and a friend had wet rags and was wiping me down my bed was covered in sweat. After that the nurse called my doctor and he said to restart it at a very slow rate and slowly bring it up when they did that I was fine but scared the hell out of everyone. We did the second round in the hospital just to make sure I would be fine. The Avastin I have just been removed from because it is not working and it looks like I am out of remission. I was on it for 8 months but the past few my numbers hav started to rise everyone is different on the side effects but what seems to be common is the neck pain and Joint pain. It is hard to get up and walk then you are fine and getting out of a car hurts then after a few steps gets better. I am on morphine for the pain I have had it really bad but not all do so please don't go by my reaction. I hope this helps.

Love, Hugs, and Prayers
Anne

antcat

Hospital overnite stays
I was also on Avastin for 6 months. I didn't continue with the Avastin because it didn't seem to make me have any improvements. I do think it's a good idea that you're able to stay in the hospital to make sure there are no side effects. I'm starting carboplatin on Monday and originally had an allergic reaction to it (2 years ago), but I asked my dr. to please try it again and it said it would be done in a hospital setting. He didn't say I had to be inpatient, but with my plan I have a 23 hr. stay so as long as I'm out the next day by 23 hrs., it's fine, so that's what I'm going to do. I was on Taxotere the first time I had cancer and it worked fine. Then my cancer came back & dr. put me on it again, and I guess he lowered the dosage. Even though I went into a 12 mo remission, it came back. So, in 2010 we tried it again, unfortunately, dr. said it didn't work, but I don't know, I had no trust in this oncologist and he gave me a very low dose. Needless to say I changed oncologists. So, good luck and keep us informed.

As far as CA 125, I don't even want that test done anymore. Even when I had the cancer growing, the CA 125 was decreasing. Go figure that.

whiterose

Avastin
I just started on this---Avastin alone. Just finished 8 rounds of carbo/taxol. Developed an allergic reaction to carbo at the end, finished up the last round with just taxol. The dose of Avastin is 1,060 mg., one dose every three weeks. Don't seem to have any reaction to it yet (it's only been 3 1/2 days). I asked the doctor should I go into the hospital for the first infusion, he said they routinely did it at the center. Maybe it's because you're having a combo treatment? Let me know how you're doing, I'd like to compare notes! Good luck.....BTW, we have a digital blood pressure kit and we take my blood pressure every day as high BP is one of the side effects of Avastin. So far, so good.

Edited to add: The first dose of Avastin is infused over an hour and a half period. The second, over an hour. The third they can infuse at 30 minutes. This depends upon how well you tolerate it. I had no problem with the first infusion. The chemo nurse told me that the side effects they commonly see are high PB and protein in the urine.....

Mwee

Hi Kathleen
I haven't had avastin ( as yet ), but just wanted to send along good wishes for great success. I'm glad to hear you're feeling so well after a break.
(((HUGS))) Maria

Tethys41

Good to hear
Kathleen,
It's good to hear you are feeling well and are off chemo right now. You are such an inspiration. The dosage of Avastin is linked to body weight. I don't know how much they can adjust the dosage per kg, but the dose you receive will take into account your body weight.

LoveButterflies

Hi Kathleen, I've been on
Hi Kathleen, I've been on Avastin since August 2011. Initially in combination with Carbo/Taxol for 6 cycles and now on maintenance until October 2012. My initial side effects were bloody and runny nose, joint aches (which I still have) and then mid treatment my BP started going up. Finally under control with meds, but I had to go see a cardiologist to get it under control.

We'll see how it works for me. I know of a few ladies in my clinical trial that have been taken off because it stopped working for them (i.e. recurrence).

I do think going into the hospital is a good idea for your first infusion. Better to be safe than sorry. If something did go wrong, you would have immediate help.

Praying it goes well for you. Please keep us posted.

Carmen

jadav1956

LoveButterflies said:

Hi Kathleen, I've been on
Hi Kathleen, I've been on Avastin since August 2011. Initially in combination with Carbo/Taxol for 6 cycles and now on maintenance until October 2012. My initial side effects were bloody and runny nose, joint aches (which I still have) and then mid treatment my BP started going up. Finally under control with meds, but I had to go see a cardiologist to get it under control.

We'll see how it works for me. I know of a few ladies in my clinical trial that have been taken off because it stopped working for them (i.e. recurrence).

I do think going into the hospital is a good idea for your first infusion. Better to be safe than sorry. If something did go wrong, you would have immediate help.

Praying it goes well for you. Please keep us posted.

Carmen

Hey Kathleen... I am on
Hey Kathleen... I am on maintenance with avastin and taxotere. I had 6 txs of carbo/taxol and 3 of carbo/taxotere because of the shortage of taxol last year. The taxotere seemed to work better for me. It brought my ca125 down to almost normal in 3 cycles. I just started the maintenance tx. I am not sure of the dose, but will find out next tx. I have these every 30 days. The first tx of avastin is an hour and a half, but mine was 30 mins, and the taxotere was an hour. The nurses had to call my onc about the avastin, but he said 30 mns., so that is what happened. I did fine. I have been having some pretty bad joint pain. It has lasted about 4 days, but doing much better. My next tx is April 12, so will find out dose. I am supposed to do this tx for at least a year. Please keep us posted how you are doing, and praying for all of us every day. Oh with the taxotere I also had to have an injection of neulasta the next day. Jackie

whiterose

Avastin Dosage
I just read this, and using these calculations, I figured out my Avastin dosage, and it was the same as what the Dr. recommended:

15 mg. of Avastin per kilogram of body weight

1 pound = 0.454 kilograms

Multiply your weight by 0.454 kilograms, then multiply that by 15.

I believe 15 is the maximum dosage of Avastin per kilogram of body weight, some doctors prescribe different amounts, some as low as 3, some in the middle like 10. Some studies suggest that Avastin works at lower dosages. Also, lower dosages are usually administered every two weeks, higher dosages every three weeks. I get the higher dosage every three weeks.....So, instead of using the '15' figure, plug in '3' or '8' or '10' and you should come up with your dosage.....

Cafewoman53

Hi Kathleen
Right now I am getting Carbo / Gemzar / avastin first week followed by Gemzar alone second week then a two week break then new cycle.
I was on avastin alone last year every three weeks for six rounds and the side effects were much worse then, muscle and joint aches were terrible. This time not much of a reaction except runny sometimes bloody nose and elevated blood pressure,nothing a little blood pressure medication can't handle. Good luck to you!
Colleen

zinaida

I was on Avastin last year.
I was on Avastin last year. After third infusion doctor cancel it. I'am on medication for BP more than 5 years. My blood pressia after Avastin was uncontrolable, I ended in ER. So, please, monitor yours BP more closer. And I hope Avastin will work for you well. (((HUGS))) Zina

kayandok

Thank you for the support!
I am sitting here in the hospital bed, so wishing I could go home. Checked in yesterday, had carbo and taxotere this AM. No problem whatsoever, but will go home tomorrow AM providing nothing else comes up.

I am interested to hear all of your advice and definitely plan on buying a blood pressure device for home. I will go back up to Tokyo to get my avastin on Saturday.

CA125 had already come down 200 points, and that was after only avastin infusion, (3-9) so it seems too fluky and way too soon to celebrate..........BUT I was elated that it had gone down and not up. Looking forward to next draw that will include results from all three agents.

Thanks gals, you are the BEST!!!

Hugs
K

AnneBehymer

kayandok said:

Thank you for the support!
I am sitting here in the hospital bed, so wishing I could go home. Checked in yesterday, had carbo and taxotere this AM. No problem whatsoever, but will go home tomorrow AM providing nothing else comes up.

I am interested to hear all of your advice and definitely plan on buying a blood pressure device for home. I will go back up to Tokyo to get my avastin on Saturday.

CA125 had already come down 200 points, and that was after only avastin infusion, (3-9) so it seems too fluky and way too soon to celebrate..........BUT I was elated that it had gone down and not up. Looking forward to next draw that will include results from all three agents.

Thanks gals, you are the BEST!!!

Hugs
K

do it
I take my blood presure dayly it has helped in knowing when I needed to go on the medication.

Anne

Lisa13Q

kayandok said:

Thank you for the support!
I am sitting here in the hospital bed, so wishing I could go home. Checked in yesterday, had carbo and taxotere this AM. No problem whatsoever, but will go home tomorrow AM providing nothing else comes up.

I am interested to hear all of your advice and definitely plan on buying a blood pressure device for home. I will go back up to Tokyo to get my avastin on Saturday.

CA125 had already come down 200 points, and that was after only avastin infusion, (3-9) so it seems too fluky and way too soon to celebrate..........BUT I was elated that it had gone down and not up. Looking forward to next draw that will include results from all three agents.

Thanks gals, you are the BEST!!!

Hugs
K

Hey
Sorry you're in the hospital, but praying the avastin does the trick for you! It's a great drug. Even though my mother had high BP, the avastin was one of the most tolerable of the chemos for her!!! Many many positive thoughts coming your way!!!!!

Suewalsh

First post
I am new to this discussion board I was diagnosed Dec 7,09. I have had my first dose of avastin about two weeks ago. I experienced tiredness and nausea the second day but have been fine since.