I’ve been reading the good news that has been posted by Debs in Cornwall and others re progress being made with avastin and chemo. This is really good news - though I was wondering how do we know whether it’s the avastin that’s working or the chemo or both. Perhaps it doesn’t matter but what works and what doesn’t - it’s just I am curious.
Geraldine
hI Geraldine,
at my meeting last week with onc he said to begin with avastin is used with chemo then chemo is stopped and just avastin is used. Not much info is coming thruogh
maybe someone who has been on avastin longer than the eight weeks that I have can answer your question. Onc did say that the little buggers learn to stand up to chemo and fight back but with avastin the get choked. Ijust hope that everyone has the chance to choke the little so and sos.
Hope you are keeping well.
Love DebsinCornwallxxx
Thanks Debs - I didn’t ask my onc. the detail and searching around web sites doesn’t tell that much. Glad you are doing well - quite agree lets hope those little buggers choke! How long can you take avastin for? Is is like herceptin ie for as long as it works and for as long as the side effects are ok? Or is it all too soon to tell whilst Nice take so long deciding?
Geraldine
My understanding is as long as it is working you carry on taking it. I am sure this is one of the reasons NICE are dragging their feet.
Debsxxx
My onc. told me you could take Avastin for up to a year - I’m not sure why but that’s what he said. I don’t know how long BUPA are going to fund it for me so I’ll just have to see.
Anne x
Hi
I started on Taxotere and Avastin but had very bad reaction to 5th Tax, so continued on Avastin alone for next 11 months until I had further progression.
As I was on a trial, it was unblinded at this stage. I was then put on Capecitabine with double dose Avastin. Now on 2nd cycle of this, so hoping it works.
There is some quite good info on how Avastin works on the Cancerbackup site that you might find useful.
Hope this helps
Cathie
Hi
I had avastin with tax and continued the avastin for a month after the tax until we could be sure that the hormonals were working. My onc wanted to keep moe avastin in reserve because it is potentially so toxic. He is running a trial on avastin so I’ll be interested to see how they think it is working - though unfortunately I suppose the results won’t be clear for several years…
Barbara
Barbara - where are you having your treatment?
Geraldine
Hi Geraldine
I’m being treated at the Nuffield Hospital in Cambridge through BUPA, but my onc is based at Addenbrookes where he was running a trial. I don’t know if this is still ongoing. The problem with getting results from this sort of thing is that they look at 5 year survival rates - and of course it’s too soon to tell… I had to have some really serious checks on my heart function before they would put me on it as the side effects can be dramatic. I just had some minor nosebleeds, nothing worrying, put he is keeping his powder dry.
Barbara
Thanks Barbara - its interesting to hear the treatments everyone is getting. I had a nosebleed last week but nothing to serious. The rest of the side effects I had were I think Tax related! Geraldine