Hello all
I havnt been since my surgery, which went well except the infection! the anti-biotics made me feel dreadful but feeling much better now. Saw Dr today re: Chemo, it seemed to finally hit home, treatment, hair loss sickness etc, why it has decided to hit home now is beyond me but there you go. I think I have spent so much time making sure everyone else is coping, I dont think I had let it sink in. Have yet another appointment at the Cancer Centre on Wednesday [thank God for good employers] to talk the treatment through & decide wether I want to take part in any clinical trials. Has anyone else been offered a drug called Bevacizumab, which is given along side the chemo but has to be taken even after the chemo starts.
Also the question is bald or wig???
Well ladies it’s nice to be back & I hope you are all doing ok. Thanks for all the support.
Lynn xxx
Take care
Hi Lynn
Can I ask was the trial called Beatrice Trial?..
Bald or Wig…mmmh I do bald at home and Wig out. Glad you are feeling better. The chemo is doable and you will be fine. So what chemo regime are you having?
Take care
Paula x
Hi there,
Bevacizumab is also known as Avastin. Its role is to block the blood supply to cancer tumours so that they cannot grow. It is only used at present in the clinical trial environment and has not been generally approved in this country for the treatment of breast cancer.
Jenny
Good morning. I did a lot of reading about clinical trials. My Onc surgeon’s hospital is a teaching and good one. I chose it because they were rated #12 in the nation in dealing with cancer. No. 1 was in Maryland and that seemed awfully far away for routine visits. The Onc Surgeon is from that hospital though (John Hopkins). In any case, I opted out of clinical trials. The hospital seemed to be pushing it, actually a few different CTs. I listened, my OH listened, and it was after I read the volumes of material they gave me, that I could not put my body through that. It seemed, to me, like I was being a free lab trial for the pharmaceutical companies. So, they were astonished, but I said no. I am also taking other medication for other stuff – and the idea of having layers of meds on top of chemo on top of variable drugs was just too much for me. But I am older (61) and those are circumstances that not everyone has. If you feel it gives you an edge, talk to your Dr. and READ those papers, and decide.
All that being said. Avastin has been approved in US – just in February or March. Very recently. But then again the FDA approves many things I would not put into my body either! I did sign up for a clinical trial that made sense to me – for tissue analysis when I undergo surgery. I figured they would be throwing the tissue out, so why not have it help someone.
Wigs. I bought a cool wig that everyone thought was my own hair. They think it is real hair – but it is synthetic. However don’t really wear it much. A bandanna or scarf is much more comfortable, cooler and just feels less phony. Haven’t had the courage to go bald yet…
Good luck to everyone!
Emily
xxx
Trials?I turned down one for a new anti sickness drug.I would have wanted Avastin if offered cos being triple neg I’d try anything!I am also older at 64[dx at 62]
Hi, Emily Jane,
Here in the UK we don’t have the same system as you regarding conversation with ONC + Drs . Our ,s tend to tell us what we are having and ( if we are lucky) explain why.
Have you heard of or had Oncotype Dx test. Is it routinely given in the USA?
Whats the general opinion of this test.
No one here sems to know much about it. I too am in my 60’s. Is amazing how much that can alter ones decisions too . isn’t it?
All the best to you
Coleen
Coleen -
This is the definition of Oncotype Dx that I found from the American Society of Clinical Oncology:
This is a test that measures multiple genes at once to estimate the risk of breast cancer recurrence for patients with early-stage, ER-positive, node-negative breast cancer. Patients with a low Recurrence Score may only need to be treated with hormone therapy and can avoid chemotherapy.
I am triple negative so there will be no hormone therapy for me. The disclaimer for this test is that everyone is different and it is a guide, not to determine the final Rx by the oncologist but to be considered. Thanks for bringing this up…I will ask my Onc when I go for my next chemo just in case.
Emily
xxx