Has anyone received avastin for metastatic ovarian cancer after initial treatment with surgery and chemo

[Urmi]

[LouiseOvacome My Ovacome Team]

Hi Urmi,

We know of quite a few ladies who have received Avastin in the second line setting, hopefully one will be along shortly, but it would be helpful if you could expand your question a bit more.

The news and status of the situation is that after trialing Avastin in relapse, Roche have just this week received a licence for its use in platinum sensitive disease (That is recurrence which occurred with a 6 month or more remission) There is also positive data on its use in earlier relapse, however a licence has yet to be approved in that scenario.

Have you been offered Avastin, or are you hoping to be? Did you want to know about the pros & cons?

Any additional info. you can give will help us to be able to help you.

L x

[Whippit in reply to LouiseOvacome]

Dear Louise, we know that Avastin is given in Spain. The guidelines on its use as you describe is only applicable to the UK.

xx Annie

[Urmi in reply to LouiseOvacome]

In March 2011 my Mum was diagnosed with stage 1c clear cell ovarian cancer (platinum sensitive). The resection margins were clear. the result came as a shock as all the scan and biochemical indications were that this was a benign tumour. She had less extensive surgery than if the clinical team had a high index of suspicion re malignancy. She then had 6 cycles of Crboplatin (dose reduced because of side effects) with curative intent. In September this year, routine follow up showed a slightly elevated CA125, CT scan showed that she had mets to omentum and a few other places. Her Oncologist recommended treament with Carboplatin, Paclitaxel and Avastin. She has had 4 cyckes of CArboplatin and Taxol. A few weeks ago, we discovered the funding for Avastin has been rejected by the cancer drugs fund as she does not fulfil the criteria for use of Avastin in ovarian cancer in this country. Her Oncologist has appealed against this decision and we await the results of the appeal.

I have a couple of questions

1. who should I write to with respect to appealing against this decision

2. Does the licence that Roche has been granted this week add weight to the argument that Mum should receive Avastin as part of her treatment

3. How have other ladies received Avastin in the second line setting? Is it a postcode lottery or is there a fair and transparent appeals process that needs to be followed?

My Mum is very fit and wants to live and I think that Avastin will give us a but more precious time with her

Your help would be greatly appreciated

Best wishes

Urmi

[LouiseOvacome My Ovacome Team in reply to Urmi]

Hi Urmi, <br style=""> <br style=""> First I'm sorry to hear of your Mums relapse. The licence which has been given in the last week is a European wide licence and takes us to the place that we were a few months ago with Avastin in the first line. <br style=""> <br style=""> It has been grated a licence in specific circumstances, however the EMA website doesn't give the specifics <br style=""> <br style=""> ema.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp... <br style=""> <br style=""> The licence essentially gives permission to the Drugs company to market the drug to health providers for use in specific circumstances. For the drug to be available for prescribing in the UK on the NHS then it either needs to be approved by NICE (A lengthy process which takes about 18 months) or to speed through innovation for cancer treatments the government has allocated ring fenced funding for non NICE approved drugs, called the Cancer Drugs Fund. <br style=""> <br style=""> This is a fund shared between the 10 strategic health authorities in England. Each strategic health authority operates in similar way but there may be variations in their specific guidelines. (Which is the case for Avastin in first line) <br style=""> <br style=""> The process for getting CDF approval for 1st line Avastin was between 4 and 8 months, however some Oncologists were able to access Avastin even before the licence was granted. <br style=""> <br style=""> If your Mums oncologist isnt successful in the appeal, please do call us, as we have some other routes which are too convoluted to type out now! <br style=""> <br style=""> It is worth noting that there is no Cancer Drugs Fund for Scotland or Wales, and there the clinicians have to make an individual funding request, which it has to be said is not likely to be successful. We are planning a lobby on the 28th November to draw this and other matters to the attention of the MPs, so if you are free to come to London, Please keep it in the diary and watch the Blogs for more details. <br style=""> <br style=""> I hope that answers your questions, but please do post again. Its a real 'hot topic' with lots of interest. <br style=""> <br style=""> Good luck <br style=""> <br style=""> L x

[HopeP]

I would be grateful too for more info on Avastin as I am about to receive this after 3 x chemos, (paclitaxel and carboplatin) a total hysterectomy and three more chemos.

My oncologist is planning on a year of Avastin, I have 3c g3 cancer which started in my Fallopian tube.

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My oncologist has said that I would benifit from Avastin but as mentioned above there is no Cancer drug fund for Wales and I would only get this drug if I paid for it myself. Unfortunately I won't be able to go to London on 28th as I have my post op follow up that day. I too have had TAH and 6 cycles carbo/taxol. I am in the process of contacting my MP and AM as no one in the Cardiff area I am lead to believe has received funding for Avastin.

Good luck with your treatment and keep us posted,

Best wishes

Chris x