Avastin for Stage III cancer

markatger · March 2006

Hi all,

I have a question for those who had stage III disease (lymph node involvement). Did you receive Avastin? I received Avastin for 4 rounds in beginning of my treatment because they thought I was stage IV(liver mets). I had liver resection which showed a beinign tumor in lmy liver which means i was likey never Stage IV(although oncologogist won't guarantee that I never had mets that were wiped out by pre surgery chemo.

So now he won't give me Avastin for remainder of my treatments. He says I may get into wranglings with my insurance company because Avastin is mainly used to treat Stage iV metastatic disease.

Anyone out their get Avastin for stage III disease?

Thanks,
Maria

DK2006 · March 2006

Hi Maria!
What great news!!! How awesome to know that chemo is working! There is a clinical trial being run by the National Surigical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) for stage 2 and 3 colon cancer. There are 2 arms, Folfox with and without Avastin. In this clinical trial the oxaliplatin and avastin are paid for by the study. Maybe you can get into this study. I am in this study for stage 3a colon cancer and I'm in the group not getting the avastin. The avastin is randomized, so there's no telling who will get the avastin. I'm not surprised to hear that the insurance will not pick up the cost of the avastin since they still don't know how effective avastin is on colon cancer for stage 2 and 3.
Can I ask if your liver function tests were normal before you started chemo? Anyway, this is great news about your colon cancer. Way to go!!
Donna

suezav · March 2006

Hi Maria
My daughter (age 23) was also thought to have stage 4 and received Avastin at the beginning of her treatment. It with was thought she had distant lymph node involvement. During surgery, it was discovered that the wrong set of lymph nodes had been biopsied during a transrectal ultrasound and the positive nodes were local to the tumor. After surgery and radiation with 5-fu, she's now doing 8 more folfox but without Avastin. Her onc said she doesn't need it because her disease is not metastatic. I asked several times if she could have it because the surgeon said that he could see during surgery that it was very obvious that the chemos were doing their job. How do they know it wasn't the Avastin that was working so well? The onc said that it hasn't been proven to have any advantage for stage 3. It is only being used in clinical trials and has some side effects. Nothing about insurance was ever mentioned. We have top docs at a top cancer center so we are going with what they're telling us. I. too, would be interested to hear from others who are receiving the Avastin. Lots of good luck to you.. Susan

CAMaura · March 2006

Hi Maria - I am stage III but did not have Avastin; I had Folfox. Avastin was offered to me within a clinical trial at Stanford University, but I turned the trial and Avastin down. My onc feels that it is a risky drug and I agree. I appreciate everyone's enthusiasm for the results, but I am not chemo-happy in any way. I know....the rebel and maverick, but that is okay. Folfox was hard enough. The side effects from Avastin are severe enough that the FDA is having a hard time with the current clinical trial. I have worked with the FDA in a professional capacity - been on the other side of clinicals trials, regulatory affairs and getting things approved...I am happy that they are concerned because I know that drug companies like to downplay side effects and their statisticians will do anything to make a drug look okay. This is life and death on both sides - from chemo and from cancer...so the debate will go on forever. Most importantly, I thrilled to hear that your tumor was benign. All the best to you and I hope you feel comfortable with your current treatment - Maura

ccartwri · March 2006

I was stage 3 and never received avastin. asked for it at NIH but they will not give to me because only being used on stage 4.
claudia

markatger · March 2006

Thanks so much everyone for all the great info. Its very helpful and makes me feel more at ease that I'm not getting Avastin.

Best wishes,
Maria

musiclover · March 2006

Did you have Avastin first, then the resection? Did they do a biopsy of the spot on the liver before the resection? I'm asking because they either made a mistake with the biopsy or just assumed you had a cancerous tumor and gave you chemo and surgery anyway. So happy you are doing well and thanks in advance for the info. Kathryn

Susanbm · March 2006

I have Stage III cancer(with lymph node involvement) and am taking AVASIN through a clinical trial. As of right now, AVASTIN is only approved for Stage IV. With this clinical trial and others like it, they hope to determine if it would be beneficials to include AVASTIN with the standard chemo regimen. I began my chemo in April, 05, Leucovorin,oxaliplatin, 5-FU and AVASTIN. I completed the chemo portion in October,2005 but the AVASTIN will continue until April, 06, a full year. During my chemo, I did not have any side effects that they could specifically point to the AVASTIN. I did develope a blood clot in my left arm but my doctor says most likely it was caused by my port, not the AVASTIN. However, since I have completed the chemo the AVASTIN has caused me quite a lot of bone and joint pain, to the point where I was going to quit the trial. Pain pills and anti-inflamotory medicine didn't work so we tried a steroid dose package which knocked the pain out in just a couple of days. I've had 2 more treatments since then and while the pain is not yet severe, I feel it coming back. I've only got 4 treatments to go so I will try to hang in there. My doctor said it was completely up to me as to whether to stay in the trial or quit. I feel a responsiblity to my fellow cancer fighters to complete the trial if at all possible. This is my first post and actually my first time to the Cancer Surviors Network. God Bless all of you and keep you strong.

Avastin for Stage III cancer

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