Doxil and Avastin

[Sashay2020]

Hello all, has anyone had Doxil and Avastin together after front line recurrence? If so, how did you tolerate that combo? Thank you

Sashay

[delia2]

Hi Sashay. Are you having a recurrence? I take it you would be classed as platinum resistant if so. I had doxil and carbo. I’ve never had Avastin but it sounds like the most prevalent side effects of it are raised blood pressure and joint pain. I found doxil tolerable. You need to moisturize feet and hands several times a day for the first week and use gentle toothpaste and mouth rinse. My platelets tanked each cycle but recovered by the next time. Regarding your lung nodules I have them too and they have followed them on PET scans. They are unchanged over the past two and a half years. Good luck with your treatment!

[Sashay2020 in reply to delia2]

Thanks, Delia. I’m hoping I have not recurred. Doc wants to do a needle biopsy on lung nodules, and says if cancer has metastasized to lungs, I will be on new chemo. I just want to stay off chemo as long as I can. I’ve been off less than four months. I’ve had benign nodules fir year. Think I hunt up old CDs from previous CT scans. Thanks much for sharing your experience. Sashay

[Cbyrdie]

I’m currently on this combo and just had my second monthly dose of Doxil with avastin yesterday. My regimen is monthly Doxil and bimonthly avastin I’ve found the side effects to be almost non existent for the Doxil . I have been on and off of avastin the last two years and the side effects I’ve had from that are stuffy nose and joint pain. I’m aware that my ca125 is and will rise for at least the first three treatments. Best of luck with you treatment❤️

[Sashay2020 in reply to Cbyrdie]

Thank you so much, Cbyrdie. I am heartened by your response. Sashay

[AlaNtO]

Sashay Doxil I presume is a taxol. If so just bear in mind that many having it get tolerant to it and it loses effectiveness. What happens is that the cancer cells build up a protein that attacks the chemo. There are treatments to overcome this. Whilst the taxols are very effective one must be careful you do not get overdosed. This may be avoided by the nurses and oncologist doing bloods at least weekly and monitoring your white and red cells. Your weight and body mass (size not weight) and your blood pressure must also be measured each week. I went onto Avastin which I found ineffective and also very expensive (we do not have NHS to pay for it here). No side effects compared with the early stages of Paclitaxel which I found quite brutal. Hang in and let the drugs work and above all make sure those tests are done. Make sure you have the ear and trust of your Oncologist and tell him everything. I found a diary of my daily experience very useful for the consultations. Best wishes and take it easy.

[Sashay2020 in reply to AlaNtO]

Thanks for responding, Doxil is one of the brand names for doxorubicin, an antibiotic used to treat certain cancers. Taxol was part of my front-line chemo. I was wondering how tough it is to take doxorubicin and Avastin at the same time. I’m hoping to avoid additional chemo until I take a little trip in April. I’m scheduled to receive my second COVID vaccine shot in time for my body to build antibodies before my trip. 🤞🏽Sashay

[AlaNtO in reply to Sashay2020]

Sorry I dont have experience with both . Avastin yes but I felt it did nothing and Paclitaxel which worked for a while. but not taken simultaneously. Best bet is to ask the Oncologist or nurses if someone is and then ask if it is okay to talk about it.

[Sashay2020 in reply to AlaNtO]

Good idea. Thank you much.

[Cbyrdie in reply to AlaNtO]

Two very different types of chemo. I’m not sure which country you are in but I applied for a grant fir avastin through my oncologist office that paid for it

[Sashay2020 in reply to Cbyrdie]

I’m in the US. My Medicare insurance should pay the bulk of it. 🤞🏽But even the copay can be a lot. 💸 Thanks so much fir the tip, Cbyrdie. Sashay