Re: -Joe (Question re Avastin?)

[Guest guest]

Hi Joe,

I think you mentioned in an earlier email that you are on Avastin with Xeloda.

My dad has been on this regimen since June last year and it's worked remarkably

well (CEA stable, lung mets decreased and peritoneal mets stable). His blood

work and liver functions are normal.

At first there is no side effects other than the usual fatigue. Now, after 14

cycles every 3 weeks, he gets more abdominal pain/contractions during the first

week affter infusion, particularly bad at night (around 3-4am). He also gets

hot flashes, immediately followed by cold chills/sweats during this first week

after infusion.

Do you or anyone you know suffer these same symptoms? Do you think they are

caused by Avastin or his tumors?

I've asked his Onc many times but nobody seems to know the cause. His Onc

thingks it's a combination of the tumors and Avastin.

Just wanted to get your thoughts and experiences on this... Best of luck!!

Kind regards,

Nickie

Joe Savage JSAVAGE@...> wrote:

You're probably right. I was receiving Decadron and I never

associated the dose of steroids with the improvement in my

arthritis. All this time I was giving 5-FU the credit.

You stick around, you learn.

-joe-

> > > This has been bugging me for a while....Does anyone know why

> some

> > people

> > > have to return to the hospital 3 days in a row for their

> > Folfox/Avastin

> > > treatments?

> > >

> > > Glenn goes the first day (which is a Friday) and has blood

> work,

> > then they

> > > order the chemo mixed, if counts are o.k. and bring it up.

> While

> > we are

> > > waiting they start the anti-nausea/fluids and the he has a 3+

> hr

> > drip and he is

> > > sent home with the pump and his tiny bag of chemo. He does

not

> > have to return

> > > to the hospital on Saturday; and on Sunday, they send out a

> Home

> > Nurse to

> > > disconnect the pump at the 46th hour.

> > >

> > > It just seems so inconvenient that people have to travel so

far

> or

> > even if

> > > it's close, go to the hosp. 3 days in a row. Maybe Glenn has

a

> > different pump

> > > or something?? Anyway, I count our blessings on this one!!

> And

> > wish so

> > > badly for those of you that have to go 3 days in a row that

you

> > didn't have to

> > > do that!!!

> > >

> > > Lots of hugs and prayers, Donelle

> > > Caregiver to Glenn

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

It's probably too soon for me to give a valid opinion since I have

just started my second cycle of Xeloda and have only had two

infusions of Avastin. All I can do is compare it to the reactions I

had when I was getting 5-FU via pump. I have some modest

constipation and feel somewhat more lethargic when I am taking the

Xeloda. I haven't had any other pains, cramps, etc. that seem to be

related to the Xeloda or Avastin. I haven't had any nose bleeds or

other minor bleeding from the Avastin either. Of course, as the

titer of 5-FU and Avastin slowly rises I may find other effects that

I just don't notice right now.

Thanks for the kind thoughts.

-joe-

> > > > This has been bugging me for a while....Does anyone know why

> > some

> > > people

> > > > have to return to the hospital 3 days in a row for their

> > > Folfox/Avastin

> > > > treatments?

> > > >

> > > > Glenn goes the first day (which is a Friday) and has blood

> > work,

> > > then they

> > > > order the chemo mixed, if counts are o.k. and bring it up.

> > While

> > > we are

> > > > waiting they start the anti-nausea/fluids and the he has a

3+

> > hr

> > > drip and he is

> > > > sent home with the pump and his tiny bag of chemo. He does

> not

> > > have to return

> > > > to the hospital on Saturday; and on Sunday, they send out a

> > Home

> > > Nurse to

> > > > disconnect the pump at the 46th hour.

> > > >

> > > > It just seems so inconvenient that people have to travel so

> far

> > or

> > > even if

> > > > it's close, go to the hosp. 3 days in a row. Maybe Glenn

has

> a

> > > different pump

> > > > or something?? Anyway, I count our blessings on this

one!!

> > And

> > > wish so

> > > > badly for those of you that have to go 3 days in a row that

> you

> > > didn't have to

> > > > do that!!!

> > > >

> > > > Lots of hugs and prayers, Donelle

> > > > Caregiver to Glenn

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

[Guest guest]

It's probably too soon for me to give a valid opinion since I have

just started my second cycle of Xeloda and have only had two

infusions of Avastin. All I can do is compare it to the reactions I

had when I was getting 5-FU via pump. I have some modest

constipation and feel somewhat more lethargic when I am taking the

Xeloda. I haven't had any other pains, cramps, etc. that seem to be

related to the Xeloda or Avastin. I haven't had any nose bleeds or

other minor bleeding from the Avastin either. Of course, as the

titer of 5-FU and Avastin slowly rises I may find other effects that

I just don't notice right now.

Thanks for the kind thoughts.

-joe-

> > > > This has been bugging me for a while....Does anyone know why

> > some

> > > people

> > > > have to return to the hospital 3 days in a row for their

> > > Folfox/Avastin

> > > > treatments?

> > > >

> > > > Glenn goes the first day (which is a Friday) and has blood

> > work,

> > > then they

> > > > order the chemo mixed, if counts are o.k. and bring it up.

> > While

> > > we are

> > > > waiting they start the anti-nausea/fluids and the he has a

3+

> > hr

> > > drip and he is

> > > > sent home with the pump and his tiny bag of chemo. He does

> not

> > > have to return

> > > > to the hospital on Saturday; and on Sunday, they send out a

> > Home

> > > Nurse to

> > > > disconnect the pump at the 46th hour.

> > > >

> > > > It just seems so inconvenient that people have to travel so

> far

> > or

> > > even if

> > > > it's close, go to the hosp. 3 days in a row. Maybe Glenn

has

> a

> > > different pump

> > > > or something?? Anyway, I count our blessings on this

one!!

> > And

> > > wish so

> > > > badly for those of you that have to go 3 days in a row that

> you

> > > didn't have to

> > > > do that!!!

> > > >

> > > > Lots of hugs and prayers, Donelle

> > > > Caregiver to Glenn

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

[Guest guest]

It's probably too soon for me to give a valid opinion since I have

just started my second cycle of Xeloda and have only had two

infusions of Avastin. All I can do is compare it to the reactions I

had when I was getting 5-FU via pump. I have some modest

constipation and feel somewhat more lethargic when I am taking the

Xeloda. I haven't had any other pains, cramps, etc. that seem to be

related to the Xeloda or Avastin. I haven't had any nose bleeds or

other minor bleeding from the Avastin either. Of course, as the

titer of 5-FU and Avastin slowly rises I may find other effects that

I just don't notice right now.

Thanks for the kind thoughts.

-joe-

> > > > This has been bugging me for a while....Does anyone know why

> > some

> > > people

> > > > have to return to the hospital 3 days in a row for their

> > > Folfox/Avastin

> > > > treatments?

> > > >

> > > > Glenn goes the first day (which is a Friday) and has blood

> > work,

> > > then they

> > > > order the chemo mixed, if counts are o.k. and bring it up.

> > While

> > > we are

> > > > waiting they start the anti-nausea/fluids and the he has a

3+

> > hr

> > > drip and he is

> > > > sent home with the pump and his tiny bag of chemo. He does

> not

> > > have to return

> > > > to the hospital on Saturday; and on Sunday, they send out a

> > Home

> > > Nurse to

> > > > disconnect the pump at the 46th hour.

> > > >

> > > > It just seems so inconvenient that people have to travel so

> far

> > or

> > > even if

> > > > it's close, go to the hosp. 3 days in a row. Maybe Glenn

has

> a

> > > different pump

> > > > or something?? Anyway, I count our blessings on this

one!!

> > And

> > > wish so

> > > > badly for those of you that have to go 3 days in a row that

> you

> > > didn't have to

> > > > do that!!!

> > > >

> > > > Lots of hugs and prayers, Donelle

> > > > Caregiver to Glenn

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >