Cancer maintenance treatment

[Ina3]

Hi everyone.

My dad just did PET and good news is that the cancer has not progressed neither in lungs nor in the brain. But they found quite a big inflammation/ adenoma in the brain causing my dad a memory loss. Doctors say that it could be from the radiotherapy.

For now, doctors said to continue with Keytruda, Zometa, Alimta and they added Bevacizumab.

Wanted to see if anyone has been on this treatment and what was the outcome.

[Cici145]

Yes my mom was in the same situation. Inflammation secondary to successful radiotherapy to her brain. She was started on Avastin and in has been very successful. The inflammation is almost gone and her cognition is as good as ever. Avastin does have side effects though. High blood pressure has been tough but not unmanageable. My mom cannot tolerate Keytruda unfortunately but has been well maintained on maintenance chemo. There is very real hope that the Avastin will take care of the inflammation for your dad as it did for my mom. We were told the inflammation is a side effect in targeted brain radiotherapy that occurs in up to 30% of patients. Hang in there. Prayers up for your dad.

For reference she was Dx St4 NSCLC 1/18. Targeted Brain radiotherapy 1/18. Adverse reaction to Keytruda 3/18 with bilateral lung failure. Chemo cocktail started 5/18. Maintenance chemo started 9/18. Fingers crossed and prayers up every day that it continues to go well.

[Ina3 in reply to Cici145]

Thanks. Prayers for your mom too. What maintenance chemo does your mom having?

[LemonDropsDreamToo]

Hi Ina3, are you in the UK?

My mum had just started chemo for NSCLC and Brains Mets, to hear your dad has responded has given me hope, what treatment did he start with? Xx

[Ina3 in reply to LemonDropsDreamToo]

We started with Zometa, Paklitaxel and Carboplatin. He had very good results but after 3 months it grew again but not much. After that doctors changed Carboplatin with Cisplatin, removed Paklitaxel and added Pemetrexed. He has also been doing Keytruda. He only did two cycles of Cisplatin.

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Dear Ina3

It is encouraging that your Dad has had a positive response to some of the treatment and hopefully the new medication will help.

This link is from cancer research UK on Bevacizumab (Avastin) : cancerresearchuk.org/about-...

We have a lot of information on our website which you may find useful at roycastle.org

If you wish to discuss anything you can call us on our Freephone nurse led helpline number on 0800 358 7200

All the very best

The Roy Castle Support Team