Re: Request for Abuelopop: Tell us about getting Avast...

[Guest guest]

I live in Miami,the oncology group has an Md. who was a part of the original

trial.

It was a blind study. You did not know if you were receiving the Veg F as it

was called

or a placebo. Six months into it(in conjunction with 5FU+LV+Camptosar a scan

revealed only pinpoints in my liver.) The study was opened,and I was told yes

I was

receiving the study med. I received it for six more months. It worked for

about 10

weeks and then the tumors progressed to both lobes. I was started on Oxy+5FU+

LV and the Avastin. This was in Nov. I have lost weight,had hair thinning,but

no lash or brow loss. The doseages were reduced because I had a rather severe

reaction.

I will be 73 in March,first dx May of 1999. My onc said,there was no cure but

he

thought it could be controlled. Avastin is presetly being used in pancreatic

and

other cancer treatments. The protien in the urine has to be tested,my

hemogl.is good

my rbc a little low and I receive the treatments every 20 days. It takes

about 3 and

1/2 hours,then I go home with the pump for approx 46 hours(I have a double

port)

and return to have it disconnected. There is a middle visit for cbc counts

and if they

are good I repeat the series again. Yes I have had tingling in hand and feet,

a slight

rah that lasts about two days and I feel lousy for 4 to 5 days afterwards but

gradually

it goes away. I do get premeds before treatmet and I follow a brat or white

diet for

4/5 days or wish I had. I am generally in good health,I have had elevated B/p

and Cholesterol but it is controlled by medication(chemically induced) I

haved learned to

pace myself and the only bad part now is a lower back pain that comes and

goes.

I don't like to take to much Vioxx because I get a little dizzy. Two tylenol

help and

I have found if I move and stretch a little it helps. The study originated in

Broward(neighboring) county but the oncologist had an office and a practice

there.

About 15 started,now they are using it in other cancer studies. To date I

have not

had radiation,liver resection or other surgery. I do have skin cancer,it is

clear right now

I had a cyst removed about 14 months ago. One port actually burst through my

skin.

One disadvantage is the port sites are subject to infection and sometimes I

feel like

I ache all over(like flu) after the Avastin but that disappears. It did

work,when the

chemo was stopped,the effects lasted for a period of time and blood tests and

a C.A.T.

revealed the new tunors. I had both a P.E.T and a C.A.T. in mid Dec. Mixed

results.

But I have had four treatments of the Oxy/5FU/LV/Avastin since then and one

previous. We did discuss Xeloda but the oncologist wanted me to finsh the Oxy

before he tried something new, They pay for the medication(Avastin) but not

the scans or x-rays. Some insurances will not cover study meds. Sometimes

reactions

differ in men and women and it appears that if you have received radiation

there

is a different protocol. We wrote to the company, every 6 week or so they

uprgade their programs and we have to sign new consent forms. There are as far

as

I am

aware six studies presently being conducted with Avastin. That's about all I

can think

to say. It may definitely hold hope and there are a number of similar

products on

or about to be in the marketplace soon.

[Guest guest]

I live in Miami,the oncology group has an Md. who was a part of the original

trial.

It was a blind study. You did not know if you were receiving the Veg F as it

was called

or a placebo. Six months into it(in conjunction with 5FU+LV+Camptosar a scan

revealed only pinpoints in my liver.) The study was opened,and I was told yes

I was

receiving the study med. I received it for six more months. It worked for

about 10

weeks and then the tumors progressed to both lobes. I was started on Oxy+5FU+

LV and the Avastin. This was in Nov. I have lost weight,had hair thinning,but

no lash or brow loss. The doseages were reduced because I had a rather severe

reaction.

I will be 73 in March,first dx May of 1999. My onc said,there was no cure but

he

thought it could be controlled. Avastin is presetly being used in pancreatic

and

other cancer treatments. The protien in the urine has to be tested,my

hemogl.is good

my rbc a little low and I receive the treatments every 20 days. It takes

about 3 and

1/2 hours,then I go home with the pump for approx 46 hours(I have a double

port)

and return to have it disconnected. There is a middle visit for cbc counts

and if they

are good I repeat the series again. Yes I have had tingling in hand and feet,

a slight

rah that lasts about two days and I feel lousy for 4 to 5 days afterwards but

gradually

it goes away. I do get premeds before treatmet and I follow a brat or white

diet for

4/5 days or wish I had. I am generally in good health,I have had elevated B/p

and Cholesterol but it is controlled by medication(chemically induced) I

haved learned to

pace myself and the only bad part now is a lower back pain that comes and

goes.

I don't like to take to much Vioxx because I get a little dizzy. Two tylenol

help and

I have found if I move and stretch a little it helps. The study originated in

Broward(neighboring) county but the oncologist had an office and a practice

there.

About 15 started,now they are using it in other cancer studies. To date I

have not

had radiation,liver resection or other surgery. I do have skin cancer,it is

clear right now

I had a cyst removed about 14 months ago. One port actually burst through my

skin.

One disadvantage is the port sites are subject to infection and sometimes I

feel like

I ache all over(like flu) after the Avastin but that disappears. It did

work,when the

chemo was stopped,the effects lasted for a period of time and blood tests and

a C.A.T.

revealed the new tunors. I had both a P.E.T and a C.A.T. in mid Dec. Mixed

results.

But I have had four treatments of the Oxy/5FU/LV/Avastin since then and one

previous. We did discuss Xeloda but the oncologist wanted me to finsh the Oxy

before he tried something new, They pay for the medication(Avastin) but not

the scans or x-rays. Some insurances will not cover study meds. Sometimes

reactions

differ in men and women and it appears that if you have received radiation

there

is a different protocol. We wrote to the company, every 6 week or so they

uprgade their programs and we have to sign new consent forms. There are as far

as

I am

aware six studies presently being conducted with Avastin. That's about all I

can think

to say. It may definitely hold hope and there are a number of similar

products on

or about to be in the marketplace soon.

[Guest guest]

I live in Miami,the oncology group has an Md. who was a part of the original

trial.

It was a blind study. You did not know if you were receiving the Veg F as it

was called

or a placebo. Six months into it(in conjunction with 5FU+LV+Camptosar a scan

revealed only pinpoints in my liver.) The study was opened,and I was told yes

I was

receiving the study med. I received it for six more months. It worked for

about 10

weeks and then the tumors progressed to both lobes. I was started on Oxy+5FU+

LV and the Avastin. This was in Nov. I have lost weight,had hair thinning,but

no lash or brow loss. The doseages were reduced because I had a rather severe

reaction.

I will be 73 in March,first dx May of 1999. My onc said,there was no cure but

he

thought it could be controlled. Avastin is presetly being used in pancreatic

and

other cancer treatments. The protien in the urine has to be tested,my

hemogl.is good

my rbc a little low and I receive the treatments every 20 days. It takes

about 3 and

1/2 hours,then I go home with the pump for approx 46 hours(I have a double

port)

and return to have it disconnected. There is a middle visit for cbc counts

and if they

are good I repeat the series again. Yes I have had tingling in hand and feet,

a slight

rash that lasts about two days and I feel lousy for 4 to 5 days afterwards

but gradually

it goes away. I do get premeds before treatmet and I follow a brat or white

diet for

4/5 days or wish I had. I am generally in good health,I have had elevated B/P

and Cholesterol but it is controlled by medication(chemically induced) I

haved learned to

pace myself and the only bad part now is a lower back pain that comes and

goes.

I don't like to take to much Vioxx because I get a little dizzy. Two tylenol

help and

I have found if I move and stretch a little it helps. The study originated in

Broward(neighboring) county but the oncologist had an office and a practice

there.

About 15 started,now they are using it in other cancer studies. To date I

have not

had radiation,liver resection or other surgery. I do have skin cancer,it is

clear right now

I had a cyst removed about 14 months ago. One port actually burst through my

skin.

One disadvantage is the port sites are subject to infection and sometimes I

feel like

I ache all over(like flu) after the Avastin but that disappears. It did

work,when the

chemo was stopped,the effects lasted for a period of time and blood tests and

a C.A.T.

revealed the new tunors. I had both a P.E.T and a C.A.T. in mid Dec. Mixed

results.

But I have had four treatments of the Oxy/5FU/LV/Avastin since then and one

previous. We did discuss Xeloda but the oncologist wanted me to finsh the Oxy

before he tried something new, They pay for the medication(Avastin) but not

the scans or x-rays. Some insurances will not cover study meds. Sometimes

reactions

differ in men and women and it appears that if you have received radiation

there

is a different protocol. We wrote to the company, every 6 week or so they

uprgade their programs and we have to sign new consent forms. There are as far

as

I am

aware six studies presently being conducted with Avastin. That's about all I

can think

to say. It may definitely hold hope and there are a number of similar

products on

or about to be in the marketplace soon.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your reply Nick. I am sure many here on the board value

you sharing your experience with us.

Best Regards,

Ed