The Reading Room: An Article on Avastin

Shayenne
Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I just read this article which kind of scared me, because I'm on Avastin:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33026327/ns/health-cancer/


What do you think ? will Avastin be stopped all together? should it be? I'm kind of nervous of heart failure now.


Hugsss!
~Donna

Comments

  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    #2
    Avastin?
    Hey Donna

    Avastin made my heart skip beats after a while of taking it - it continued for awhile and it was a little scary, had to "catch" yourself when you breathed out, heart on the downswing as it were.

    Onc said it was nothing related, but it happened after I took it for awhile.

    I've read the reports too and there is reason for concern - we seem to have to rob Peter to pay Paul.

    I would do it for awhile though, it chokes off blood supply to the tumors...combined with Oxy or Folfiri, it makes for a good one-two punch...but just keep an eye on it and if things get funny tell the onc immediately.


    "Roar"
    -Craig
  • KFen725
    KFen725 Member Posts: 108 Member
    #3
    My mom's experience with Avastin
    Hmm… this is really an interesting article. I do know that in my mom’s case (dx Stage IV June of this year), she was only to do Avastin for two treatments before her blood pressure SKYROCKETED to awfully high levels and the onc immediately took her off of the Avastin. I know that it does good things, but like Craig said, it feels to me like robbing Peter to pay Paul. I feel pretty ok with my mom being taken off of it.
  • Betsydoglover
    Betsydoglover Member Posts: 1,248 Member
    #4
    Avastin & Heart Failure
    This Avastin report is scary, but here’s my take:

    1) This study was done on early stage BC patients. It’s not even clear that adjuvant chemo is necessary in such cases, so the threshold for the study was set really low – 6 patients out of 200 – i.e. 3%. Five of those 6 patients have recovered which is great.

    2) It has long been known that Avastin in combination with drugs like Adriamycyin can cause congestive heart failure. Most breast ca patients take this drug. Not at all clear how this study was done, but this may be a factor.

    3) Those of us who are Stage IV have to have a much greater tolerance for severe side effects – otherwise none of us would be getting any life saving drugs.

    4) This study is scary, but I am more sure that Avastin is preventing a recurrence than I am worried about congestive heart failure.

    Betsy
    Diagnosed Stage IV, liver met, 5/05
    Sigmoid colectomy, 6/05
    Six cycles of Xeloda/oxaliplatin/Avastin – 7/05-12/05
    NED from 10/05 – 11/08
    Right lung wedge resection 4/09 *via VATS)
    NED since – most recent scan on 9/22/09
  • serrana
    serrana Member Posts: 163 Member
    #5
    Betsydoglover said:

    Avastin & Heart Failure
    This Avastin report is scary, but here’s my take:

    1) This study was done on early stage BC patients. It’s not even clear that adjuvant chemo is necessary in such cases, so the threshold for the study was set really low – 6 patients out of 200 – i.e. 3%. Five of those 6 patients have recovered which is great.

    2) It has long been known that Avastin in combination with drugs like Adriamycyin can cause congestive heart failure. Most breast ca patients take this drug. Not at all clear how this study was done, but this may be a factor.

    3) Those of us who are Stage IV have to have a much greater tolerance for severe side effects – otherwise none of us would be getting any life saving drugs.

    4) This study is scary, but I am more sure that Avastin is preventing a recurrence than I am worried about congestive heart failure.

    Betsy
    Diagnosed Stage IV, liver met, 5/05
    Sigmoid colectomy, 6/05
    Six cycles of Xeloda/oxaliplatin/Avastin – 7/05-12/05
    NED from 10/05 – 11/08
    Right lung wedge resection 4/09 *via VATS)
    NED since – most recent scan on 9/22/09

    avastin and heart failure
    Betsy
    After your lung resection did you go on chemo? If so what kind?
    I am just post resection and wonder if I can avoid more chemo
    Serrana
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #6
    serrana said:

    avastin and heart failure
    Betsy
    After your lung resection did you go on chemo? If so what kind?
    I am just post resection and wonder if I can avoid more chemo
    Serrana

    Avastin........
    I have posted this before but Avastin is also used in the field of eye care...It starves the blood clots in the eye that lead to high blood pressure and vision loss in the eye itself and actually lowers the pressure against the clot allowing the vision to sometimes clear. It is being used routinely in mostly elderly patients...it is injected by a needle into the eye behind the cornea and then massaged in easily with a sterile Q-Tip to assure that it does not "bunch up" in one place....I watched this procedure done on my mother.....usually 3 times will tell the tale, they normally stop if after 3 injections you see no difference in vision...
  • Betsydoglover
    Betsydoglover Member Posts: 1,248 Member
    #7
    serrana said:

    avastin and heart failure
    Betsy
    After your lung resection did you go on chemo? If so what kind?
    I am just post resection and wonder if I can avoid more chemo
    Serrana

    Chemo after lung resection
    Hi Serrana - Yes, I decided to do 6 cycles of Xeloda and Avastin (forgot to include that). I'm done with Xeloda now (Yay - 2 weeks off and already starting to feel much better!), but we plan to continue Avastin only for a while now (apparently Avastin only following Avastin in combination with chemo is currently "in vogue"). It's really a personal decision. According to my oncologist, the official data would say there is no reason to do chemo following removal of a solitary lung nodule. But, the only really good data regarding surgical removal of mets comes from liver resections. So, she also said that most experts would also say, "but let's go ahead and do a little chemo". I decided that I could tolerate Xeloda for 4 months (she felt that I did not need oxaliplatin or Irinotecan, which sounded great to me!) and that I would never forgive myself if I recurred soon and had elected not to do it.

    So, good luck with your decision. I think this is an area, like most things with Stage IV crc where there is no single right answer.

    Betsy
  • Janet3
    Janet3 Member Posts: 59
    #8
    Avastin
    It's important to remember that all drugs have side effects. And like Craig and Betsydoglover said, it's like robbing Peter to pay Paul. If you read the insert that comes with any drug (including over the counter meds) you could easily be scared senseless. Also, remember the media only reports the bad stuff because it gets more attention. You have to really know alot about how the study was conducted, etc to make a fair judgement/decision. That being said, you have to be diligent in being your own advocate. Learn as much as you can about drugs before deciding to use them. The final decision should be made based on whether or not the benefit outweighs the risk and are you willing to do it. Pay attention to any new symptoms that develop when you begin a new med.
    I really appreciate your posts. You have provided me with a great perspective and insight that helps with caring for my mom. I always feel better and like I've learned to be a little more compassionate when I read your posts/replies. Thank you.
    You will remain in my thoughts and prayers.
    Janet

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