Doxil and Avastin

[Mkpeters]

Hi everyone my mother in law is starting Caylex and Avastin and i just needed some input on what to expect from treatment. Her main worries are will she lose her hair, get blisters, extreme nausea, diarrhea, exhaustion? This is her third line treatment stage IV. thank you so much for any feedback

[Kryssy]

Hi.

Sorry your mum-in-law is worried but she has you looking out for her. Let's hope we can give you some answers here but the main thing to remember that everyone is different and she may not get anything in the way of side effects or she may get some or many. It's a bit of a lottery. I have Avastin and it gives me a bit of pain in already weakened muscles i.e. pelvis, lower back and occasionally between the shoulder blades if I'm hunched up at the computer for some time. It's manageable and I rarely need a painkiller. I wear an off the peg shoulder brace now during the day to combat the hunch ache and it's working a treat. Hardly a day with pain now. I've been lucky with Avastin and Carboplatin but unlucky with Taxol and Taxotere. I hope mum-in-law gets away without anything too severe.

Kryssy xx

[lorraine71-Australia]

HI, As Kryssy said that every one is different I can not advice you on Avastin but I have had caeylx, 6 treatment for 3rd line and I did get blisters, rush and very dry skin, this was all controlled by my oncologist with steroid cream for the blisters and lots of moisturizer for the rush and dry skin. I've just finished 8 round of carbo/caelyx for 5th line treatment with very few effect and good results..remember your mum could end up with few effects or no effects, I wish her all the best..Take care Lorraine xx

ps I did not lose my hair on caelyx

[Katsmum]

Hi there - I have just had six rounds of doxil (caelyx) and no hair loss to speak of! Dry skin especially hands and feet and quite breathless a couple of weeks after each session due to low red cells. Aches and so on in the feet and knees but nothing that a bit of paracetamol couldn’t sort out so I wish your mum in law all the best and a smooth ride though as has been said we all react differently. Sending love and hugs!

Jane xx