Re: avastin side effects???

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

If anyone is on (or was on) avastin, I would

appreciate hearing from you, how the drug affected you

and what the results were.

My dad has been on avastin since last year (12th

cycle)...overall it's working to decrease or stabilize

his tumors (confirmed by CT/MRI scans). He still has

mets in his lungs and peritonium but they've all

decreased in size. His CEA hoovers around 95-105.

His liver functions and blood work is normal.

However, he still gets regular abdominal pain (usually

around 3-4 am)...he takes oxycontin before going to

sleep for the pain. He is also very fatigued during

the week of treatment. And now, he is starting to

spit out excessive plegm or mucous in the mornings

only. He does not have shortness of breathe or chest

pains.

Are these symptoms of cancer mets or are they side

effects of avastin???

I just wanted to hear others' stories and see if

anyone has the same problems. I don't think his

doctors really know...

God bless All,

Nickie

__________________________________

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[Guest guest]

Are there any new drugs on the horizon waiting for FDA

approval in the near future??? What happen to PTK 787

or ABX-VEG (sp?)???

Since Avastin and Erbitux were approved last spring, I

haven't heard of any new drugs on the pipeline. I

recalled that there were a few other drugs in phase 3

trials along with Avastin, but haven't heard any

updates.

My dad is on Avastin and Xeloda now for the past year

and it's working. But he's exhausted all other

treatments so I am worried that there is nothing new

in the pipeline.

This groups is so knowledgeable that I thought I would

ask everyone here.

My dad gets treatment from Stanford Hospital...on

March 24, there is a cocktail/dinner reception where a

few pioneers of the field will discuss new treatments

on colorectal cancer (there will be

doctors/researchers from UCSF, Stanford, UCLA and

USC). I'm planning to attend...if anyone is

interested, please let me know so I can forward you

the information.

xoxo,

Nickie

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I am on my 4th cycle of Avastin but I don't get any of the side effects you

mention. I don't have mets to the lungs though. Maybe you should get him

checked for some kind of lung infection. Phlegm could mean a lot of things

like a cold or something.

Syd

>

>Reply-To: colon_cancer_support

>To: colon_cancer_support

>Subject: Re: avastin side effects???

>Date: Sat, 5 Mar 2005 17:03:27 -0800 (PST)

>

>Dear Friends,

>

>If anyone is on (or was on) avastin, I would

>appreciate hearing from you, how the drug affected you

>and what the results were.

>

>My dad has been on avastin since last year (12th

>cycle)...overall it's working to decrease or stabilize

>his tumors (confirmed by CT/MRI scans). He still has

>mets in his lungs and peritonium but they've all

>decreased in size. His CEA hoovers around 95-105.

>His liver functions and blood work is normal.

>

>However, he still gets regular abdominal pain (usually

>around 3-4 am)...he takes oxycontin before going to

>sleep for the pain. He is also very fatigued during

>the week of treatment. And now, he is starting to

>spit out excessive plegm or mucous in the mornings

>only. He does not have shortness of breathe or chest

>pains.

>

>Are these symptoms of cancer mets or are they side

>effects of avastin???

>

>I just wanted to hear others' stories and see if

>anyone has the same problems. I don't think his

>doctors really know...

>

>God bless All,

>Nickie

>

>

>

>

>__________________________________

>Celebrate Yahoo!'s 10th Birthday!

>Yahoo! Netrospective: 100 Moments of the Web

>http://birthday.yahoo.com/netrospective/

[Guest guest]

I'm pretty sure we will all be interested in what you learn. Please keep us

posted. Thanks

Syd

>

>Reply-To: colon_cancer_support

>To: colon_cancer_support

>Subject: Re: avastin side effects???

>Date: Sat, 5 Mar 2005 17:13:40 -0800 (PST)

>

>Are there any new drugs on the horizon waiting for FDA

>approval in the near future??? What happen to PTK 787

>or ABX-VEG (sp?)???

>

>Since Avastin and Erbitux were approved last spring, I

>haven't heard of any new drugs on the pipeline. I

>recalled that there were a few other drugs in phase 3

>trials along with Avastin, but haven't heard any

>updates.

>

>My dad is on Avastin and Xeloda now for the past year

>and it's working. But he's exhausted all other

>treatments so I am worried that there is nothing new

>in the pipeline.

>

>This groups is so knowledgeable that I thought I would

>ask everyone here.

>

>My dad gets treatment from Stanford Hospital...on

>March 24, there is a cocktail/dinner reception where a

>few pioneers of the field will discuss new treatments

>on colorectal cancer (there will be

>doctors/researchers from UCSF, Stanford, UCLA and

>USC). I'm planning to attend...if anyone is

>interested, please let me know so I can forward you

>the information.

>

>xoxo,

>Nickie

>

>

>__________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Can't answer all your side effect questions as they were different for Phil

But.... It may well have been the Avastin that disinegrated Phil's tumor. So you

might want to weigh that possibility with the side effects and overall health of

your father.

Do remember that most of the Dr. considered Phil's results extaordinary but

never hurts to ask

[Guest guest]

Hi Nikki...

Glenn was scheduled Friday for his 8th treatment, which includes Avastin.

He continuously suffers from lower abdominal pain, but had this prior to

Avastin. He is very, very fatigued and they say it's the chemo, plus the

disease

itself. Glenn also has bloody mucous from the nose (at times), phlegm, (he

d/n have mets to lungs) and he also has a constant hoarseness when talking,

sometimes worse than others w/ nothing coming out. He had an ENT specialist

look down there, who said, No cancer in throat, so symptoms are from Chemo.

I would definitely make sure dr. knows of your Dad's symptoms. Drs. need to

know everything, so they know whether to keep a person on the Avastin or any

other chemo. I would want to rule out anything additional going on in

lungs, like we did with throat. It was a relief when ENT scoped throat and

found

no disease. When was Dad's last CT. Scan checking everything??

Lots of hugs and prayers, Donelle

Caregiver to Glenn

Colon resection 6/03, 3 of 22 removed lymph nodes cancerous.

Infection set in at surgical site...Open wound for 2 months, chemo for 8

months

Mets to Liver found 4/04, inoperable; one tumor too close to artery and vein

Chemo infiltration to chest 8/04 with severe side effects including severe

pain and muscle damage (permanent??)

10/04 Severe lower ab pain unable to eat, colon shut down, hospitalization

w/morphine 8 days. Sent home with basically no diagnosis. Possibly the cancer

causing the pain.

Ascites (Fluid build-up) and Paracentesis (draining) on a regular weekly

basis

11/09/04 on 5FU/Leu/Oxaliplatin/Avastin " cocktails " 46 hr. infusions

Mid Dec. 04 - CT. Scan shows largest tumor on liver has reduced 1/3,

remaining 11 tumors stable; no growth. Chemo is working...Yippee!!

02/05 Continued bi-wkly Ascites and Paracentesis may mean chemo no longer

working.

Emergency CT. Scan performed.

All tumors have reduced in size, so chemo is working!!! Yippee!!

CT. Scan found a blood clot in the vein/artery (?) going in to the liver,

which " probably " is the reason for the continued Ascites pain and problems.

MRI scheduled for 3/10 and then GI Dr. will decide whether to treat with

blood thinners or surgery.

TRYING TO KICK BUTT with this darn disease!!!

In a message dated 3/5/2005 8:03:45 PM Eastern Standard Time,

snobunnie1992@... writes:

Dear Friends,

If anyone is on (or was on) avastin, I would

appreciate hearing from you, how the drug affected you

and what the results were.

My dad has been on avastin since last year (12th

cycle)...overall it's working to decrease or stabilize

his tumors (confirmed by CT/MRI scans). He still has

mets in his lungs and peritonium but they've all

decreased in size. His CEA hoovers around 95-105.

His liver functions and blood work is normal.

However, he still gets regular abdominal pain (usually

around 3-4 am)...he takes oxycontin before going to

sleep for the pain. He is also very fatigued during

the week of treatment. And now, he is starting to

spit out excessive plegm or mucous in the mornings

only. He does not have shortness of breathe or chest

pains.

Are these symptoms of cancer mets or are they side

effects of avastin???

I just wanted to hear others' stories and see if

anyone has the same problems. I don't think his

doctors really know...

God bless All,

Nickie

[Guest guest]

Hi Donelle,

Thank you for your response, and my prayers are with

you and Glenn. My dad seems to have the same symptoms

as Glenn -- he had abdominal pain (lower right side)

before starting avastin but avastin seems to make it

worse. His doc says it is caused by both the drug and

his cancer. My dad has a very large met in his right

peritonium in the subcutenaeous tissue (near skin

surface) of his right abdomen. My dad also has lung

mets. All the mets are decreasing in size as compared

to scans last year so we know the Avastin is working.

His liver mets are gone completely.

Overall, I think Avastin is a great drug and very

effective for someone as late stage as my dad.

My dad has extreme fatigue like Glenn, and he gets

very depressed. His doc is also concerned with the

protein level in his urine...he had to cancel

treatment twice because the protein in the urin was

over 1+. Sometimes I heard that avastin causes kidney

problems (ie, the protein in the urine) and treatment

must be stopped.

I hope avastin continues to work for Glenn.

Prayers and thoughts,

Nickie

--- Grandmommyandme@... wrote:

>

>

>

> Hi Nikki...

>

> Glenn was scheduled Friday for his 8th treatment,

> which includes Avastin.

> He continuously suffers from lower abdominal pain,

> but had this prior to

> Avastin. He is very, very fatigued and they say

> it's the chemo, plus the disease

> itself. Glenn also has bloody mucous from the nose

> (at times), phlegm, (he

> d/n have mets to lungs) and he also has a constant

> hoarseness when talking,

> sometimes worse than others w/ nothing coming out.

> He had an ENT specialist

> look down there, who said, No cancer in throat, so

> symptoms are from Chemo.

>

> I would definitely make sure dr. knows of your Dad's

> symptoms. Drs. need to

> know everything, so they know whether to keep a

> person on the Avastin or any

> other chemo. I would want to rule out anything

> additional going on in

> lungs, like we did with throat. It was a relief

> when ENT scoped throat and found

> no disease. When was Dad's last CT. Scan checking

> everything??

>

>

>

> Lots of hugs and prayers, Donelle

> Caregiver to Glenn

>

>

>

>

>

> Colon resection 6/03, 3 of 22 removed lymph nodes

> cancerous.

> Infection set in at surgical site...Open wound for 2

> months, chemo for 8

> months

> Mets to Liver found 4/04, inoperable; one tumor too

> close to artery and vein

> Chemo infiltration to chest 8/04 with severe side

> effects including severe

> pain and muscle damage (permanent??)

> 10/04 Severe lower ab pain unable to eat, colon

> shut down, hospitalization

> w/morphine 8 days. Sent home with basically no

> diagnosis. Possibly the cancer

> causing the pain.

> Ascites (Fluid build-up) and Paracentesis (draining)

> on a regular weekly

> basis

> 11/09/04 on 5FU/Leu/Oxaliplatin/Avastin " cocktails "

> 46 hr. infusions

> Mid Dec. 04 - CT. Scan shows largest tumor on liver

> has reduced 1/3,

> remaining 11 tumors stable; no growth. Chemo is

> working...Yippee!!

> 02/05 Continued bi-wkly Ascites and Paracentesis may

> mean chemo no longer

> working.

> Emergency CT. Scan performed.

> All tumors have reduced in size, so chemo is

> working!!! Yippee!!

> CT. Scan found a blood clot in the vein/artery (?)

> going in to the liver,

> which " probably " is the reason for the continued

> Ascites pain and problems.

> MRI scheduled for 3/10 and then GI Dr. will decide

> whether to treat with

> blood thinners or surgery.

> TRYING TO KICK BUTT with this darn disease!!!

>

>

> In a message dated 3/5/2005 8:03:45 PM Eastern

> Standard Time,

> snobunnie1992@... writes:

>

>

> Dear Friends,

>

> If anyone is on (or was on) avastin, I would

> appreciate hearing from you, how the drug affected

> you

> and what the results were.

>

> My dad has been on avastin since last year (12th

> cycle)...overall it's working to decrease or

> stabilize

> his tumors (confirmed by CT/MRI scans). He still

> has

> mets in his lungs and peritonium but they've all

> decreased in size. His CEA hoovers around 95-105.

> His liver functions and blood work is normal.

>

> However, he still gets regular abdominal pain

> (usually

> around 3-4 am)...he takes oxycontin before going to

> sleep for the pain. He is also very fatigued

> during

> the week of treatment. And now, he is starting to

> spit out excessive plegm or mucous in the mornings

> only. He does not have shortness of breathe or

> chest

> pains.

>

> Are these symptoms of cancer mets or are they side

> effects of avastin???

>

> I just wanted to hear others' stories and see if

> anyone has the same problems. I don't think his

> doctors really know...

>

> God bless All,

> Nickie

>

>

>

>

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

__________________________________

Celebrate Yahoo!'s 10th Birthday!

Yahoo! Netrospective: 100 Moments of the Web

http://birthday.yahoo.com/netrospective/