avastin Anyone's experience of taxol/carbo and avastin treatment

[clunn]

Seen oncologist surgery not on cards needs to stop spread so added avastin how have any of you done on this combination with side effects

[HopeP]

I had three taxol/ carbo followed by op, then three more taxol/ carbo and Avastin added into the last two of these. Then another 16 Avastin alone. All three weekly.

Developed arthritis in hands and knees.

Had two random 'bleeds', one in leg, one on face, but these went down quite quickly.

CA125 started rising again about half way through, but had no treatment since.

Cancer is now in my lymph nodes so will be back on treatment again soon but not sure when. I think Avastin must have kept my cancer at bay for longer but obviously did not keep it away as long as I would have liked!!

[clunn in reply to HopeP]

Sorry to hear it is in your lymph nodes now will you be be back on avastin or another treatment

[HopeP]

They haven't decided when or what, but pretty sure no more Avastin as I have had one course as first line treatment and I don't think they give it for second line though really not sure?

[Hilsuk]

Dear Clunn ,

yes, like you i've had taxol/carbo and avastin for 18 w for advanced aggressive PPC that was inoperable at presentation ( had seeded all over entire bowel and peritoneum) when presented in June 2013. I finished my main chemo in Dec ( avastin continues for another 12m) . Just had the result from the ' end of chemo pet scan' and amazingly it had ALL gone - all done by chemo alone! Couldnt believe it , ca 125 running 5-6 ( was 770 at start )so currently officially in remission with no evidence of disease. Yes it will be back , Ive been told, but in best place I could be at this stage of treatment, with the same regieme you are being offered and not surgery-i feel and look well . Please don't give up hope , chemo was tough but very manageable -i kept my hair using a cold cap ,and am going to enjoy every day of my remission.

Are you going to have your chemo weekly or 3 weekly ? I had mine weekly and did get tired as nausea from one treatment led straight to the next , and my immune system took quite a battering but this was controlled with immune boosting injections. otherwise it wasnt too bad considering and well worth it. Im now just having avastin every 3w, and although it makes my joints ache and gives me a headache tiredness and nausea for a few days after treatment I'm basically well and able to be active .

Hope your treatment works well for you -good luck , chemo can do wonders -i was stage 3b at diagnosis and had tumour everywhere in my abdomen ( apart from liver )

love

hilary xx

[clunn in reply to Hilsuk]

HI Hilary I was stage 4 my ca125 is 1400 have got four more cycles of taxol/ carbo lets hope I have good results at end of mine and goes into remission

[Hilsuk in reply to clunn]

Fingers, toes and everything else crossed fir you xx

[rjhs]

Hello clunn, I had three carbo/taxol, carbo and then debulking surgery Jan 13 followed by further three carbo/taxol. Very high CA125 which then dropped to 4 and stayed there. I had Avastin with last three sessions of chemo and then stand alone for a further 15 treatments three weekly. The sessions post op with Avastin combo were quite hard going but by itself I found that the best way to describe its affect on me as having a heavy cold; achey, shivers, runny nose and headache. Not nearly as bad as it sounds and quite able to get on with my life all summer. I do think with hindsight that perhaps the last two infusions were too much I had bad colic but overall compared with chemo very doable. Two things; my onc said he had mixed feelings about Avastin as it 'tied people to the hospital' but that does have the psychological benefit of regular checks. Bear in mind that stand alone Avastin is maintenance and part of your remission and not part of your treatment which I something I tended to forget. I had my last Avastin eight weeks ago now and will have a three month check up. Fingers crossed there is some more time yet. Avastin is a first line only treatment here so I can't have it again but I am sure you will find that once the chemo is over the Avastin will be okay. Rita

[clunn in reply to rjhs]

Thanks rjhs

Hopefully side effects won't be too bad and can try get by as normal as possible hope your three month check goes ok x