2nd Cycle with Avastin

fighting_ big_c
fighting_ big_c Member Posts: 64
in Colorectal Cancer #1

Hi everyone. I have been praying for everyone here in this board, I hope we all hanging in there. My mom just celebrated her 67th birthday and we threw her a party. She got emotional when she blew her cake. I got carried away but I tried to hold my tears as I did not want to stir emotions from her well wishers. Just an update, my mom is starting her 2nd cycle tomorrow morning. Just like I mentioned before, her oncologist will start her with Avastin as she had right hemicolectomy last Feb 21. Can I hear some pointers about Avastin?

Comments

  • karguy
    karguy Member Posts: 1,020 Member
    #2
    avastin

    When I did avastin,I also did other chemos at the same time,oxiplaton,folfox,5fu.My hair did not fall out,but it got very thin,and stop growing.I lost my appettite,but I could eat soup,rice,and fruit.I would eat a fruit bowl,then sleep during infusion.If I ate a lot of carbs,crackers,etc. on the day of chemo it would raise my blood sugar way high to the point I would get dizzy.I was also tired alot,so I would rest when I could.A lot of liquids also helped.Good luck.

  • fighting_ big_c
    fighting_ big_c Member Posts: 64
    #3
    karguy said:

    avastin

    When I did avastin,I also did other chemos at the same time,oxiplaton,folfox,5fu.My hair did not fall out,but it got very thin,and stop growing.I lost my appettite,but I could eat soup,rice,and fruit.I would eat a fruit bowl,then sleep during infusion.If I ate a lot of carbs,crackers,etc. on the day of chemo it would raise my blood sugar way high to the point I would get dizzy.I was also tired alot,so I would rest when I could.A lot of liquids also helped.Good luck.

    Thank you.

    My mom is receiving Oxalipatin and Xeloda pills of 3,300 mg/day. Tomorrow she starts the Avastin, and I hope the side effects will be tolerable for her.

  • Chelsea71
    Chelsea71 Member Posts: 1,169 Member
    #4
    I strongly suspect that she
    I strongly suspect that she will not notice any difference in terms of side effects once the Avastin has been added. Good luck.
  • smokeyjoe
    smokeyjoe Member Posts: 1,425 Member
    #5
    Chelsea71 said:

    I strongly suspect that she
    I strongly suspect that she will not notice any difference in terms of side effects once the Avastin has been added. Good luck.

    I did Avastin with my folfiri

    I did Avastin with my folfiri chemo.....I didn't notice any other side effects other than the usual ones I got with Folfiri.   But,  I had a  scan and they  think there may be a blood clot in a tumor ... they couldn't make out what it was on scans.   I am prone to blood clots and have been on blood thinners for over two years.    So, maybe that is a result of the Avastin,  who knows....they couldn't really tell from the scans what is going on in that spot ..... something different, could be a clot but it wasn't clear.   I'm off it now, and am on a folfox without avastin.  

  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    #6
    Avastin...

    Have her watch out for heart arrythmias or the heart beating out of rhythm....hard time catching her breath etc.

    Most people fare well with it.....though the drug manufacturer does say that prolonged use of the drug can lead to congestive heart failure....they do not indicate how long of a time that would take for that condition to take hold. 

    I've got a heart tic from taking that drug...it was bad and scary for awhile...now, it's troubling but I'm used to it.  I'm the only one I know here who got that side effect, but still.....never had it prior to taking it.....took about 11 doses of it.

    Just have her be diligent and be cognizant of it.....

    Best of luck with it.

     

  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #7
    2 years of Avastin here

    Never had a physical side affect from it, except maybe my heart might have been an issue, but we will never know for sure. Keep an eye on the blood pressure, it can raise it and a stroke can ensue.

    also make sure with all that combination that her protein levels are checked (urine sample) each time as protien levels can be an issue and it should be checked before each chemo infusion day.

    I'm sure her Birthday was a wonderful day with you.

    Winter Marie

     

  • AnnLouise
    AnnLouise Member Posts: 276 Member
    #8
    fighting_ big_c said:

    Thank you.

    My mom is receiving Oxalipatin and Xeloda pills of 3,300 mg/day. Tomorrow she starts the Avastin, and I hope the side effects will be tolerable for her.

    Happy Birthday to your Mom......

    I had the same chemos as your mom, xeloda(3500 mgs), oxaliplatin, and avastin ....avastin did not seem to add any side effects. As she goes on in her treatment make sure she stays hydrated....it is so easy to get dehydrated without even realizing it. Good luck with everything and wishing your mom the best! ~ Ann

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