Avastin

fancynancy
fancynancy Member Posts: 20
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
I've been on several different chemo's and I seem to get various side effects from each. l I've had Doxil, Gemsar and Taxol. I am now on Avastin. Which is not Chemo. It seems to be helping. My markets have gone down.

Has anyone else used Avastin?

Comments

  • nancy591
    nancy591 Member Posts: 1,027 Member
    #2
    Avastin
    I have not used avastin but I hear it has shown promise with ovarian cancer. Potential problem could be bowel issues. Unsure if they will use it for me in the future because I had an illeostomy last year due to the advanced ovca with bowel obstruction. I no longer have the illeostomy. Good luck. How are the side effects?
  • fancynancy
    fancynancy Member Posts: 20
    #3
    nancy591 said:

    Avastin
    I have not used avastin but I hear it has shown promise with ovarian cancer. Potential problem could be bowel issues. Unsure if they will use it for me in the future because I had an illeostomy last year due to the advanced ovca with bowel obstruction. I no longer have the illeostomy. Good luck. How are the side effects?

    Avastin
    So far the side effects have not been bad. My blood pressure has gone up - and I have headaches (not terrible) - Hope that's my only problem.

    Thanks for your good wishes. Hope whatever your therapy is - it works for you.We have to have hope.
  • Susan523
    Susan523 Member Posts: 231 Member
    #4
    Yes, I've had Avastin
    Hi, Nancy,

    yes, I just finished 6 rounds of Carbo/Taxol + Avastin. My CA actually went UP during the first 3 treatments, and I got very scared. My doctor said "let's just stick with it for now and see what happens". At that time my CA was at 71 (up from 53.5) My lab uses a CA test where 3.5-17.0 is "normal".

    Well, after the 4th treatment, my CA dropped from 71 to 29! And then down to 11, and then 6.1 It's stable at 6.1 exactly for 2 months now. (yes, I called to make sure it wasn't a mistake that the CA was exactly the same!)

    My main complaint with Avastin is the headaches & runny nose. My doctor gives me Vicodin Elixir for the headaches. Sometimes it works, and other times it just seems to take the edge off. In fact, my last treatment was Feb 9th, and I have one of those headaches right now; but they are not as frequent, and I talked to my nurse this morning, and she said I should 'go get my eyes checked'(??) I don't think that eyesight would cause a runny nose!
    But she said my headaches should be gone by now~

    The biggest scare with Avastin is the possibility of a bowel protrusion. My doctor said they 'think' it is caused when a tumor is on the intestine, and once the Avastin stops the blood from reaching that tumor, it dies and breaks off; leaving a hole in the bowel. Thank God that didn't happen to me; and they haven't had it happen very often from what I've been told by my Dr and the chemo nurses.

    So I am now in "remission" for the 4th time in 4 years; thanks to AVASTIN! I know how lucky I am. And I sure hope it works as well for you as it has for me! Give it time, and hang in there.

    Sending prayers you way~
    ~Susan
  • rockchicksurvivor
    rockchicksurvivor Member Posts: 45
    #5
    Susan523 said:

    Yes, I've had Avastin
    Hi, Nancy,

    yes, I just finished 6 rounds of Carbo/Taxol + Avastin. My CA actually went UP during the first 3 treatments, and I got very scared. My doctor said "let's just stick with it for now and see what happens". At that time my CA was at 71 (up from 53.5) My lab uses a CA test where 3.5-17.0 is "normal".

    Well, after the 4th treatment, my CA dropped from 71 to 29! And then down to 11, and then 6.1 It's stable at 6.1 exactly for 2 months now. (yes, I called to make sure it wasn't a mistake that the CA was exactly the same!)

    My main complaint with Avastin is the headaches & runny nose. My doctor gives me Vicodin Elixir for the headaches. Sometimes it works, and other times it just seems to take the edge off. In fact, my last treatment was Feb 9th, and I have one of those headaches right now; but they are not as frequent, and I talked to my nurse this morning, and she said I should 'go get my eyes checked'(??) I don't think that eyesight would cause a runny nose!
    But she said my headaches should be gone by now~

    The biggest scare with Avastin is the possibility of a bowel protrusion. My doctor said they 'think' it is caused when a tumor is on the intestine, and once the Avastin stops the blood from reaching that tumor, it dies and breaks off; leaving a hole in the bowel. Thank God that didn't happen to me; and they haven't had it happen very often from what I've been told by my Dr and the chemo nurses.

    So I am now in "remission" for the 4th time in 4 years; thanks to AVASTIN! I know how lucky I am. And I sure hope it works as well for you as it has for me! Give it time, and hang in there.

    Sending prayers you way~
    ~Susan

    Avastin
    I am currently on Avastin along with Pemetrexed. Those are the drugs I am getting for chemo. I get headaches alot here lately but so far not too bad, thank god!

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