Avastin/Cytoxan

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formom
formom Member Posts: 1
in Ovarian Cancer #1
My mother was diagnosed with stage 3C epithelial ovarian cancer in October 2010. After optimal debulking, she was treated with 6 rounds (3 ip/3 iv) of carbo/taxol. She recurred about 7 months later and was treated with 6 rounds of carbo/gemcitabine. She recurred again this August (based on steadily rising CA-125)and has just completed 3 of a potential 6 cycles of avastin in combination with daily oral cytoxan. Her CA-125 is continuing to elevate and I'm wondering if it's still reasonable to expect a response to this protocol. She has an appointment on Monday to discuss what's next - continuing for 1 more cycle to see if the number starts to drop or try something else. A recent CT showed omental stranding and nodularity. Has anyone else had such a delayed response to avastin?

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  • rhondanna
    rhondanna Member Posts: 8
    #2
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    avastin/cytoxin
    I have also had multiple rounds of chemotherapy and it has been common for me to find out at chemotherapy number 4 if something is working or not. I find that other cases don't help much in figuring out what might happen with me. I have had a good response to avastin and cytoxin but have had poor responses to many combinations that seemed like sure fire winners with others. I wish your mother (and you) well. I was diagnosed at stage 4 in 2006 and have never been out of chemo. I am happy to be alive, though and that my son is now 11 and not 5 1/2.
  • nancygt
    nancygt Member Posts: 86
    #3
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    defining response
    Like Rhondana, I have had multiple recurrences and probably will never be off treatment, other than short breaks. I had responded to carboplatin/taxol with CA 125 going down to 9 and scans NED. had 3 different radiations and after 2nd recurrence, I had 6 months of Cisplatin/Adriamycin which I found brutal. When my onc told me the tumors had shrunk 30%, I cried thinking that was terrible and he assured me it was an excellent response.He did explain to me that I would never show NEd on a scan again- some tumors disappeared but most just shrunk.Now six months later they are growing again and we are discussing drugs to slow growth,etc. I have learned to quiz him on the expectations for the drugs and what does define success. Right now I am on tamoxifen as we hope to hold disease stable and give my body a break before we decide which of the remaining drugs-quite possibly Avastin- we choose next.
    But I do intend to keep fighting for as long as I can have quality of life and continue to be inspired by my sisters on this website.
  • westie66
    westie66 Member Posts: 642
    #4
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    nancygt said:

    defining response
    Like Rhondana, I have had multiple recurrences and probably will never be off treatment, other than short breaks. I had responded to carboplatin/taxol with CA 125 going down to 9 and scans NED. had 3 different radiations and after 2nd recurrence, I had 6 months of Cisplatin/Adriamycin which I found brutal. When my onc told me the tumors had shrunk 30%, I cried thinking that was terrible and he assured me it was an excellent response.He did explain to me that I would never show NEd on a scan again- some tumors disappeared but most just shrunk.Now six months later they are growing again and we are discussing drugs to slow growth,etc. I have learned to quiz him on the expectations for the drugs and what does define success. Right now I am on tamoxifen as we hope to hold disease stable and give my body a break before we decide which of the remaining drugs-quite possibly Avastin- we choose next.
    But I do intend to keep fighting for as long as I can have quality of life and continue to be inspired by my sisters on this website.

    Avastin
    Hi: I thought Avastin had come off the market in the States for treatment of ovarian cancer. It is coming off in Canada based on results in the States that basically found that the side effects were so bad with it and it wasn't really doing the job expected.
    Cheryl

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