Avastin and Camptosar-- Share, please

goldfinch said:

Hi neelic
I was on the camptosar, 5 FU, leucovorin and avastin from Jan to July this year. I got the camptosar, 5FU and leucorin weeks 1-4 and the avastin weeks 1,3, and 5. I had the 6th week off.

My hair thinned significantly. It was bad enough that i decided it was better to get my head shaved and get a wig. I even had to start using eyebrow makeup because it thinned so much. I've been on a reprieve for almost 3 months now and my hair is coming in nicely.
I experienced alternating bouts of constipation and diarrhea from this. I would get constipated the first 3-4 days and then have diarrhea (though this may be from the stool softeners and laxatives i took to try to deal with the constipation). Also, stomach just felt uncomfortable, esp towards the 3rd day or so after chemo. My weight was stable throughout.

I also felt tired. I don't think I realized how tired until just recently. I am finally starting to feel like my normal self. I work 3 days a week. I was able to continue that, but my husband took over cooking and major cleaning. I was able to pick up, do laundry, light weeding and planting, etc, but in small time amts with frequent rests.

I'm not writing this to discourage you. It really was tolerable. I have to admit, though, that if I have to go back on it next week after my Cat scan on tuesday, I will not be a happy camper. It is just soooo nice to finally feel almost normal.

And don't forget, people respond differently to chemos. You and Jana may breeze through this regimen even easier than I have.

Mary

midnte0708 said:

Hi Neelie,
My father is on Avastin, Camptosar, 5FU, and leucovorin. He just finished his 4 "rounds" that he got every other week. They will check him next week to see if tumors are shrinking.
He worked through the whole thing and didn't lose hair. I know he was very weak and tired but nothing to bad to keep him home. (No weight gain either,I believe his weight stayed about the same.)
Good Luck and let us know how you are doing on the new treatment.
Sue

goldfinch said:

neeliec,
I hope i'm over the chemo, but that may be a bit optomistic. We stopped the chemo because after 6 months there was no significant change one way or the other in the multiple small lesions on my lungs (biopsy of the biggest showed rectal ca spread to lungs). Onc called it "stable disease" and suggested the break to see what would happen. He did suggest the possibility that what remained was now scar tissue (please, oh please, oh please!). Will find out Wed when I get the results of the Cat Scan.
Mary

liverpoolgirl said:

i came on the site today to post about the same thing you have posted. My husband who was first diagnosed in Sept 2002 with CRC and went through pre surgury chemo/radiation and post oop chemo, and found out May 2005 that he had multiple mets in his lungs. He was on the FOLFOX w/Avastin meds (3-months worth June - August) but could not deal with the side effects of the Oxiplatin (spelling) so the doc took it out and replaced it with Camptosar, so now he is on Camptosar, Leucovorin, 5FU with Avastin. He has the infusion of the 3 chemos w/Avastin every two weeks and has the pump with more 5fu for 48 hours, as i said he had his first treatment yesterday so we will wait and see what side effects this time. First Scan after 6 weeks on FOLFOX showed 25% shrinkage, and the second scan (12 weeks) showed no change, stable I believe is what the doc said. He has been working every day (Mon-Fri) except the Friday he has his infusion. Keep fighting this Beast
take care
Debbie
aks "the English Chick"