Avastin & Xeloda for Maintenance Chemo treatments
seems like we're going from an Offensive game plan to a Defensive game plan.
Does anyone have experience, thoughts, opinions or facts to share?
thank you
Joe
Comments
-
Joe
That was what I did after surgery. I had to cut out the Xeloda after a while because I couldn't afford it anymore, my onc was disappointed in that. But stayed on the Avastin until just about 3 months ago, when I was going to get some root canal work done and a colonoscopy. Then I ended up having a stent put in (calcium build up)and on blood thinners so have continued to be off the Avastin.
Keep an eye on the blood pressure, take the medication daily if it turns out you need it (I happened to not take my blood pressure daily, which is a bad thing to do)otherwise you can be a candidate for stroke(also, I don't know if the Avastin raised my blood pressure as it was high before I went on Avastin, but after heart stent put in, my blood pressure has dropped to completely normal, but I am not on the Avastin either, so I can't be sure)just make sure to keep eye on it. I was on Avastin for two years.
Winter Marie0 -
ask?
Avastin plus Xeloda is a perfectly good "cocktail". But you might want to ask your onc why the switch. Maybe the Avastin/Xeloda combo is considered sufficient/effective for "mop up" chemo after surgery, whereas the previous combo was designed to shrink tumors before surgery?
I was on Avastin/Xeloda for awhile. I had no side effects from Avasin. Xeloda was very convenient and I had no side effects for a while but eventually had sore feet (soles of feet).
Good luck!
Tara0 -
thanks TarataraHK said:ask?
Avastin plus Xeloda is a perfectly good "cocktail". But you might want to ask your onc why the switch. Maybe the Avastin/Xeloda combo is considered sufficient/effective for "mop up" chemo after surgery, whereas the previous combo was designed to shrink tumors before surgery?
I was on Avastin/Xeloda for awhile. I had no side effects from Avasin. Xeloda was very convenient and I had no side effects for a while but eventually had sore feet (soles of feet).
Good luck!
Tara
yes, you nailed it... the first 24 rounds of chemo with the other forumula was to reduce and hit the cancer hard. it worked.
i had about 100 micor spots on my liver and 10 spots that were about 5x7x3cm and another 20 that were smaller.
today, i have 5 spots on my liver and all five are fairly small. But, he says that the past two CT scans have had NO MORE CHANGE.
we reduced it like crazy each of the fist 2 - 8 week sessions, but it has stopped "reducing".
next, my side effects from Eritux and Oxalyplatin have kicked my butt. I could take more, but the docs say it's enough and now its time for a change.
I don't like the idea of going from an aggressive Offensive plan to a mild defensive plan. It feels wrong. But, maybe its the right thing.
He did finally tell me that we now treat this cancer as a chronic desease like diabetes or other like problems. Learn to live with it and deal with it in the best way.
seems strange as my goal has been to beat this sh@t. But it doesn't sound like that's gonna happen.
yesterday wasn't a good day. very hard to hear the truth from a doc.... but he answered all of my questions in his honest opinion and experience.
thanks for your help.
Joe0 -
OFfensive/ defensivejoemetz said:thanks Tara
yes, you nailed it... the first 24 rounds of chemo with the other forumula was to reduce and hit the cancer hard. it worked.
i had about 100 micor spots on my liver and 10 spots that were about 5x7x3cm and another 20 that were smaller.
today, i have 5 spots on my liver and all five are fairly small. But, he says that the past two CT scans have had NO MORE CHANGE.
we reduced it like crazy each of the fist 2 - 8 week sessions, but it has stopped "reducing".
next, my side effects from Eritux and Oxalyplatin have kicked my butt. I could take more, but the docs say it's enough and now its time for a change.
I don't like the idea of going from an aggressive Offensive plan to a mild defensive plan. It feels wrong. But, maybe its the right thing.
He did finally tell me that we now treat this cancer as a chronic desease like diabetes or other like problems. Learn to live with it and deal with it in the best way.
seems strange as my goal has been to beat this sh@t. But it doesn't sound like that's gonna happen.
yesterday wasn't a good day. very hard to hear the truth from a doc.... but he answered all of my questions in his honest opinion and experience.
thanks for your help.
Joe
I am not sure if that is how I would think about it. In truth for many with stage 4 it is about managing the illness and accepting that cure is not the aim may be part of coming to terms with the illness. I have been through that process and those conversations with the doc and they are some of the hardest. But I think that in truth it is that difficult balance between acceptance and hope- how much do hold onto hope of cure and how much do we accept this isn't curable and focus on quality and disease management. It is a different balance for each person to get right for them and I am not here to tell you where you balance sits.
Avastin and zeloda is still an aggressive approach and I have done it for 6 months. The benefit is for me it was very well tolerated and quality of lifeon it was good. In that phase I was told my cancer could not be cured (now shifted due to new operative option) and so quality of life was critical. Yes, you feel you can take more side effects but for what gain? I am not certain the erbitux and oxaliplatin will necessarily be considered a stronger cocktail and even if it is does that justify the loss of quality due to side effects.
It is a game of balancing and weighing up all the pros and cons (many of which can only be guessed at) and deciding with your team the best way to go. Hard decision and difficult adjustments- no real answers as only you can say what they are.
steve0 -
Not defensive at all I'm on that and after the first round CEAsteved said:OFfensive/ defensive
I am not sure if that is how I would think about it. In truth for many with stage 4 it is about managing the illness and accepting that cure is not the aim may be part of coming to terms with the illness. I have been through that process and those conversations with the doc and they are some of the hardest. But I think that in truth it is that difficult balance between acceptance and hope- how much do hold onto hope of cure and how much do we accept this isn't curable and focus on quality and disease management. It is a different balance for each person to get right for them and I am not here to tell you where you balance sits.
Avastin and zeloda is still an aggressive approach and I have done it for 6 months. The benefit is for me it was very well tolerated and quality of lifeon it was good. In that phase I was told my cancer could not be cured (now shifted due to new operative option) and so quality of life was critical. Yes, you feel you can take more side effects but for what gain? I am not certain the erbitux and oxaliplatin will necessarily be considered a stronger cocktail and even if it is does that justify the loss of quality due to side effects.
It is a game of balancing and weighing up all the pros and cons (many of which can only be guessed at) and deciding with your team the best way to go. Hard decision and difficult adjustments- no real answers as only you can say what they are.
steve
Dropped in a 55 % which is a huge drop for only one round! ( my CEA has been very very liable until today).
So good combo but a bit aggressive with stomach.0 -
winter marieherdizziness said:Joe
That was what I did after surgery. I had to cut out the Xeloda after a while because I couldn't afford it anymore, my onc was disappointed in that. But stayed on the Avastin until just about 3 months ago, when I was going to get some root canal work done and a colonoscopy. Then I ended up having a stent put in (calcium build up)and on blood thinners so have continued to be off the Avastin.
Keep an eye on the blood pressure, take the medication daily if it turns out you need it (I happened to not take my blood pressure daily, which is a bad thing to do)otherwise you can be a candidate for stroke(also, I don't know if the Avastin raised my blood pressure as it was high before I went on Avastin, but after heart stent put in, my blood pressure has dropped to completely normal, but I am not on the Avastin either, so I can't be sure)just make sure to keep eye on it. I was on Avastin for two years.
Winter Marie
your words are
winter marie
your words are always so full of goodness.
thank you so much for sharing and for your input.
truly appreciate your feedback and good words.
my best
Joe0 -
thanks Steve!steved said:OFfensive/ defensive
I am not sure if that is how I would think about it. In truth for many with stage 4 it is about managing the illness and accepting that cure is not the aim may be part of coming to terms with the illness. I have been through that process and those conversations with the doc and they are some of the hardest. But I think that in truth it is that difficult balance between acceptance and hope- how much do hold onto hope of cure and how much do we accept this isn't curable and focus on quality and disease management. It is a different balance for each person to get right for them and I am not here to tell you where you balance sits.
Avastin and zeloda is still an aggressive approach and I have done it for 6 months. The benefit is for me it was very well tolerated and quality of lifeon it was good. In that phase I was told my cancer could not be cured (now shifted due to new operative option) and so quality of life was critical. Yes, you feel you can take more side effects but for what gain? I am not certain the erbitux and oxaliplatin will necessarily be considered a stronger cocktail and even if it is does that justify the loss of quality due to side effects.
It is a game of balancing and weighing up all the pros and cons (many of which can only be guessed at) and deciding with your team the best way to go. Hard decision and difficult adjustments- no real answers as only you can say what they are.
steve
Steve
thanks so much for your straight forward feedback and for sharing your thoughts and experience. Your post is so helpful. thanks so much.
you are 100% correct... I had visions of being cancer free one day, but I've known that isn't the goal as the goal is to manage the cancer, not kill it.
i guess i've had high hopes, but need to focus in on the reality of it all.
your comments about side effects really hit home. Good stuff.
thanks again for your help.
my best
Joe0 -
great newspepebcn said:Not defensive at all I'm on that and after the first round CEA
Dropped in a 55 % which is a huge drop for only one round! ( my CEA has been very very liable until today).
So good combo but a bit aggressive with stomach.
thanks Pepe.
glad these drugs are doing so well for you. I hope to have good results as well.
thanks again for sharing and for all you do on this blog.
UdaMan!
thanks
Joe0 -
I am on Xeloda right now, ajoemetz said:thanks Steve!
Steve
thanks so much for your straight forward feedback and for sharing your thoughts and experience. Your post is so helpful. thanks so much.
you are 100% correct... I had visions of being cancer free one day, but I've known that isn't the goal as the goal is to manage the cancer, not kill it.
i guess i've had high hopes, but need to focus in on the reality of it all.
your comments about side effects really hit home. Good stuff.
thanks again for your help.
my best
Joe
I am on Xeloda right now, a bit of nausea. Avastin will be added i the next couple weeks.0 -
4 or 5 easy piecesjoemetz said:thanks Steve!
Steve
thanks so much for your straight forward feedback and for sharing your thoughts and experience. Your post is so helpful. thanks so much.
you are 100% correct... I had visions of being cancer free one day, but I've known that isn't the goal as the goal is to manage the cancer, not kill it.
i guess i've had high hopes, but need to focus in on the reality of it all.
your comments about side effects really hit home. Good stuff.
thanks again for your help.
my best
Joe
NB: A 5FU compound (Xeloda) and VEGF inhibitor (Avastin), first two. Sounds to me like the remaining chemo treatment decision is whether to add a COX2 inhibitor, as has been batted around the boards this week. In other places they also like to add an immune stimulator, like the mushroom extracts or other active beta glucan.0 -
thanks nanaNana b said:I am on Xeloda right now, a
I am on Xeloda right now, a bit of nausea. Avastin will be added i the next couple weeks.
thanks for the info on nausea for you. I've heard that will be first.
have had plenty of that over the past 7 months.
keep us posted on how you feel and any other info to share.
thanks again for posting0 -
thanks Tanstaafl!tanstaafl said:4 or 5 easy pieces
NB: A 5FU compound (Xeloda) and VEGF inhibitor (Avastin), first two. Sounds to me like the remaining chemo treatment decision is whether to add a COX2 inhibitor, as has been batted around the boards this week. In other places they also like to add an immune stimulator, like the mushroom extracts or other active beta glucan.
this is excellent info and I plan to bring these up to my onc during the next visit... or better yet, i just might jot him an email.
everyone is so helpful here, and I appreciate this so much.
thanks!0 -
avastin and xelodajoemetz said:thanks Tanstaafl!
this is excellent info and I plan to bring these up to my onc during the next visit... or better yet, i just might jot him an email.
everyone is so helpful here, and I appreciate this so much.
thanks!
12 rounds of avastin, xeloda and oxy, so no more oxy for colon cancer mets. Continuing on avastin adn xeloda only, hoping it will keep things stable, but like you very worried.0 -
less worriedbelindahill said:avastin and xeloda
12 rounds of avastin, xeloda and oxy, so no more oxy for colon cancer mets. Continuing on avastin adn xeloda only, hoping it will keep things stable, but like you very worried.
belinda
thank you for your note. the more i learn, the axiety and concern is reduced greatly.
during your 12 weeks of this chemo cocktail, have you gained or lost weight
I'm looking forward to getting it started after my sergury.0 -
new chemo joemetzjoemetz said:less worried
belinda
thank you for your note. the more i learn, the axiety and concern is reduced greatly.
during your 12 weeks of this chemo cocktail, have you gained or lost weight
I'm looking forward to getting it started after my sergury.
My husband has had 6mthS (8 cycles) then 3mth break, then 4 cycles, he has another 4 cycles, but only of avastin and xeloda, no more oxy. NICE guidelines only allow 12 cycles. He has been on chemo since aug 2010.0 -
Avastin & xeloda
This was the first course used by my doc after confirming lung mets. I received 6 months treatment ending last August. She said there were many more treatment options available to us after this round, as needed. One year later and my nodules are still stable with not much evidence of disease progression. She will continue to monitor (scans every 3 months) and put me back on treatment when she thinks it is time. I am very fortunate to have had a year's break and am hoping for longer;) next scans are in August. I am also extremely grateful to be part of the Cancer Treatment Centers of America family.
How I tolerated these drugs. I have always had a hard time with Xeloda. Worsening as the number of courses taken (started it in 2007) has increased. The last one was the hardest, having to wear soft booties and gloves to protect my hands and feet, and having a constant feeling of nausea. The Avastin was not bad, but started causing some headaches. I did not experience any blood pressure problems. As a side note, my insurance refused to pay for Avastin, said it was "experimental". I applied to Genentec for assistance and they will cover all future drugs I need, that they manufacture, free of charge.
I realized my cancer had progressed to treatable and not curable when my lung resection/biopsy confirmed my original appendix cancer had spread to my bloodstream and settled in my lungs. Everyone's body is different. Every break is different. But I think anything is possible!
Best to you on this next round;)
Julie0 -
good stuffJulie061 said:Avastin & xeloda
This was the first course used by my doc after confirming lung mets. I received 6 months treatment ending last August. She said there were many more treatment options available to us after this round, as needed. One year later and my nodules are still stable with not much evidence of disease progression. She will continue to monitor (scans every 3 months) and put me back on treatment when she thinks it is time. I am very fortunate to have had a year's break and am hoping for longer;) next scans are in August. I am also extremely grateful to be part of the Cancer Treatment Centers of America family.
How I tolerated these drugs. I have always had a hard time with Xeloda. Worsening as the number of courses taken (started it in 2007) has increased. The last one was the hardest, having to wear soft booties and gloves to protect my hands and feet, and having a constant feeling of nausea. The Avastin was not bad, but started causing some headaches. I did not experience any blood pressure problems. As a side note, my insurance refused to pay for Avastin, said it was "experimental". I applied to Genentec for assistance and they will cover all future drugs I need, that they manufacture, free of charge.
I realized my cancer had progressed to treatable and not curable when my lung resection/biopsy confirmed my original appendix cancer had spread to my bloodstream and settled in my lungs. Everyone's body is different. Every break is different. But I think anything is possible!
Best to you on this next round;)
Julie
Julie
your note is very encouraging to me. Thank YOU for sharing and posting.
I wish you continued success in your treatments.
my best
Joe0 -
good stuffJulie061 said:Avastin & xeloda
This was the first course used by my doc after confirming lung mets. I received 6 months treatment ending last August. She said there were many more treatment options available to us after this round, as needed. One year later and my nodules are still stable with not much evidence of disease progression. She will continue to monitor (scans every 3 months) and put me back on treatment when she thinks it is time. I am very fortunate to have had a year's break and am hoping for longer;) next scans are in August. I am also extremely grateful to be part of the Cancer Treatment Centers of America family.
How I tolerated these drugs. I have always had a hard time with Xeloda. Worsening as the number of courses taken (started it in 2007) has increased. The last one was the hardest, having to wear soft booties and gloves to protect my hands and feet, and having a constant feeling of nausea. The Avastin was not bad, but started causing some headaches. I did not experience any blood pressure problems. As a side note, my insurance refused to pay for Avastin, said it was "experimental". I applied to Genentec for assistance and they will cover all future drugs I need, that they manufacture, free of charge.
I realized my cancer had progressed to treatable and not curable when my lung resection/biopsy confirmed my original appendix cancer had spread to my bloodstream and settled in my lungs. Everyone's body is different. Every break is different. But I think anything is possible!
Best to you on this next round;)
Julie
Julie
your note is very encouraging to me. Thank YOU for sharing and posting.
I wish you continued success.
thanks again.
my best
Joe0 -
Hey Joe...joemetz said:thanks Tara
yes, you nailed it... the first 24 rounds of chemo with the other forumula was to reduce and hit the cancer hard. it worked.
i had about 100 micor spots on my liver and 10 spots that were about 5x7x3cm and another 20 that were smaller.
today, i have 5 spots on my liver and all five are fairly small. But, he says that the past two CT scans have had NO MORE CHANGE.
we reduced it like crazy each of the fist 2 - 8 week sessions, but it has stopped "reducing".
next, my side effects from Eritux and Oxalyplatin have kicked my butt. I could take more, but the docs say it's enough and now its time for a change.
I don't like the idea of going from an aggressive Offensive plan to a mild defensive plan. It feels wrong. But, maybe its the right thing.
He did finally tell me that we now treat this cancer as a chronic desease like diabetes or other like problems. Learn to live with it and deal with it in the best way.
seems strange as my goal has been to beat this sh@t. But it doesn't sound like that's gonna happen.
yesterday wasn't a good day. very hard to hear the truth from a doc.... but he answered all of my questions in his honest opinion and experience.
thanks for your help.
Joe
I was on Avastin when I was dx in Feb 2004 (along with FOLFOX) and that cocktail shrunk my liver tumors. I've been on Erbitux and Irrinotecan since sometime in late 2005. That what's kept the mets mostly stable for me.
Try to keep in mind that NO MORE CHANGE beats things growing any day. I've been dealing with my cancer as a chronic thing with the hope of being cured still alive. If it doesn't happen, so be it. My quality of life is not bad at all. I can certainly deal with it. There's always something new (or a different application of something old...) in the works.
One never knows what will happen.
Hang in there...
-phil0
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