Avastin/Topotecan

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Mwee
Mwee Member Posts: 1,338
edited March 2015 in Ovarian Cancer #1

hi loves, anyone been on this regiment? I've been very fortunate to have been able to tolerate cisplatin/Gemzar for the past 3 1/2 years for my recurrent OVCA and knew it would become less effective with time.  My Onc is changing me to this new regime and I wondering if anyone has had this combo and could tell me how it went for them. I was thrilled to hear that my insurance will pay for this expensive drug. 

((((((( hugs )))))))).   Maria

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  • scatsm
    scatsm Member Posts: 296 Member
    #2
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    Maria, I had avastin

    for 6 rounds, but with gemzar and carboplatin. My BP went way up and stayed that way the whole time, but came back down as soon as i stopped. The only other difficulty for me was the the part where wounds don't heal properly. I had a spot on my belly that didn't heal for over a year. Most people find it very tolerable. I know a woman who has been on it for 5 years as part of a study. I hope it goes easy for you! I've heard Topetecan is fairly easy too. 

    Best,

    Susan

  • wholfmeister
    wholfmeister Member Posts: 315
    #3
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    Me!

    I was on it for a while with no problems.  I haven't been on chemo as long as you, just three years.  So it is a little hard to tell if the fatigue is drug related or just battle fatigue.  My bloodwortk got a little wonky....potassium too high, then platelets too low.  But nothing that wasn't quickly remedied. It was an easy regime, but unfortunately, it didn't bother my cancer one bit.

  • Jue
    Jue Member Posts: 80
    #4
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    Hi Maria , can only comment

    Hi Maria , can only comment on the avastin , just had my 10th treatment it has given me high blood pressure , nosebleeds and achey joints and muscles , and although my numbers are rising slowly I do believe without avastin it would be much worse for me. I'm happy to take the side effects if the cancer is kept under control and let's me go on with life . I'm hoping for you this regime does its job and gets things stable for you . Jue x

  • Mwee
    Mwee Member Posts: 1,338
    #5
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    Thanks so much for your responses

    I'll keep in touch and tell you how is goes for me. (((((Hugs)))))).   Maria

  • seatown
    seatown Member Posts: 261 Member
    #6
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    Avastin--meh

    FYI, I was on Avastin, 1st with carbo & taxol for a short time, then on Avastin only for several months. Unfortunately it did not work for me--CA125 kept climbing. But I had no bad side effects. So who knows--maybe it would have been worse without the Avastin. Good luck--hope it works for you!

  • zenmama
    zenmama Member Posts: 29
    #7
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    Wow - your success with cisplatin!

     I just had my second round of cisplatin last week and it makes me feel awful.  I don't know if I am running out of steam physically or just mentally, but it sure seems to be taking a toll! 

    I can't offer any insight into Avastin (or Topetecan) unfortunately.  Here in Canada it is not an approved treatment unfortunately.

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