I just have to share this....

CypressCynthia · February 2011

Avastin is now being used to treat retinopathy of prematurity. This is the condition that causes blindness in extremely premature infants. Their eye vessels grow too fast and tortuously and can detach their retinas. This is usally treated fairly effectively with laser surgery. But now, some brilliant person has discovered that 1 injection of avastin treats this condition more effectively than laser surgery. Somehow, it makes me smile to think that my premies are benefitting from one of our therapies. I'll send the link later--rushing to work!

Gabe N Abby Mom · February 2011

It makes me smile to think
It makes me smile to think that anyone can benefit from our treatments, but especially those little babies struggling to make it in this world. I always wonder about the people who think "maybe we'll try a cancer medicine for this"...

Hugs,

Linda

Ritzy · February 2011

Thanks for sharing this
Thanks for sharing this Cynthia. It is remarkable when something like this is discovered and can help those sweet babies. Have a good day at work!

Sue

ladyg · February 2011

This is one good thing that
comes from treatment. I don't know if you know it or not but they also use Avastin to treat macular degeneration. My mother has been having the injections for about 2 yrs. She gets one every 6 to 8 weeks. If it were not for this she would probably have lost her vision by now. When her dr. told us about the treatment he said that they had discovered by accident that the vision of cancer patients improved when being treated with Avastin.

Hugs,
Georgia

carkris · February 2011

ladyg said:
This is one good thing that
comes from treatment. I don't know if you know it or not but they also use Avastin to treat macular degeneration. My mother has been having the injections for about 2 yrs. She gets one every 6 to 8 weeks. If it were not for this she would probably have lost her vision by now. When her dr. told us about the treatment he said that they had discovered by accident that the vision of cancer patients improved when being treated with Avastin.

Hugs,
Georgia

oh that is so awesome. glad
oh that is so awesome. glad to know that Avastin is helping. Dr. Folkman who pioneered this drug was a doctor at my hospital. I always felt bad because he died suddenly of a heart attack and he would have been in line for a Nobel prize, but it is not awarded posthumously. He was such a good man.

RE · February 2011

SWEET!
How wonderful, thank you for sharing this very uplifting information!

RE

chenheart · February 2011

Thank you for sharing good
Thank you for sharing good news with us that is also making you smile! YAY!!!!

Findingout · February 2011

That's really interesting...
That's really interesting... had no idea. I heard some types of chemo are proving effective for rheumatoid arthritis.

KathiM · February 2011

Cool!
You know, when I was treated for my colorectal cancer, Avastin was just about to be released by the FDA...now, well....WOW!

(Methyltrexate is used by non-cancer migraine sufferers!)

Dutch hugs, Kathi

VickiSam · February 2011

KathiM said:
Cool!
You know, when I was treated for my colorectal cancer, Avastin was just about to be released by the FDA...now, well....WOW!

(Methyltrexate is used by non-cancer migraine sufferers!)

Dutch hugs, Kathi

wonderful news !
Thanks for sharing, C.C.

MyTurnNow · February 2011

Thanks for sharing this
Thanks for sharing this GREAT news. You always have such informative posts, Cynthia. I'm also smiling thinking about your little babies.

lynn1950 · February 2011

What an interesting thread.
What an interesting thread. Not just how Avastin can help the very youngest, but also the very oldest. And some of us in-between. Plus a little history. Thanks everyone for your posts. xoxoxox Lynn