Hello all. I'm new to this forum. Was looking for some input. My father was diagnosed with Anaplastic Astrocytoma in April of this year. He had a craniotomy removing about 95 percent of the tumor and then the 6 weeks of radiation and temodar. All went well. He developed fevers for weeks the end of Aug. No positive text results. Had his first maintenance cycle last month. Did ok. In between all of this he needed a shunt due to hydrocephalus. The other night he had taken his first temodar of the second cycle. I think he had a reaction--fever, chills, redness in face and itchy. Tonight he is taking a lesser dose to see if he had a reaction again. If so then Oncologist says Avastin is next step. I was wondering what side effects people have experienced. Is it painful? Does it knock you down? All questions he is asking! Any help would be appreciated!
Avastin effects
- By HaVeHoPeAlWaYs · October 22, 2012 at 9:54 pm · 9 replies
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- By HaVeHoPeAlWaYs
- Reply 3480892
- October 23, 2012 at 5:50 am
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Thank you! Best of luck to you also. You are in my prayers. Do you have a port or do they insert and IV each time?
- By benswife1974
- Reply 3482882
- October 23, 2012 at 6:18 pm
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Hello "H", so sorry about your dad having to go thru this. We know how you feel bc my husband has a GBM4 and just received his 4th Avastin treatment yesterday thru the port he had inserted in early August. And other than very little stomach discomfort the day after the Avastin treatment, he feels really good with no other side affects. The port is so easy, clean, and painless, he wishes he wld have done it sooner. I don't want to bore you with details, but am happy to answer any questions if we can. Rita
- By HaVeHoPeAlWaYs
- Reply 3482967 · In reply to 3482882 by benswife1974
- October 23, 2012 at 6:53 pm
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Thank you Rita. Any help would be appreciated. He is very worried about side effects. I hear there can be fatal side effects. Blood clots. Do they always do it through a port or will they at times do the IV? Isn't there risk of infection with port and then you can't shower? Just anxious about it all. I'm glad to hear your husband is tolerating the Avastin.
- By ckostik
- Reply 3483321
- October 23, 2012 at 9:05 pm
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My 6yr old daughter is getting Avastin infusions every other week along with Temodar to treat GBM; she has really had no side effects from the Avastin, or Temodar. Just a mild rash during one of the infusions, that went away quickly. She has been on this regiment since July. She has a port and is given the infusion via the port every time. With the port there is not many reasons to have an IV anymore. We were told that she can shower or bath and even swim in pools with chlorinated water, no lake swimming though. Of course everyone is different when it comes to drug side effects, so there is good reason to be cautious. Prayers that your dad will be a survivor!
- By SEALCWO
- Reply 3483758 · In reply to 3480659 by SEALCWO
- October 24, 2012 at 12:03 am
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I had the port put in. As much as I didn't want to do it, it is really the best choice. Very easy procedure.
- By HaVeHoPeAlWaYs
- Reply 3484200
- October 24, 2012 at 7:54 am
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Thanks for the input. Best wishes to all through this journey!
- By ABTA_Mary
- Reply 3485746
- October 24, 2012 at 3:49 pm
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Most people have few to moderate side effects with Avastin. Some of the side effects that may occur with Avastin are high blood pressure, protein in the urine, poor wound healing and a potential for blood clots. The doctors and nurses will monitor you carefully every two weeks for these effects.
Mary Lovely, PhD, RN
- By pemaster
- Reply 3486136
- October 24, 2012 at 6:21 pm
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My husband will have his 3 infusion with Avastin tomorrow. The major side effect is extreme tiredness and short term memory loss. Not sure if it is the avastin or possibly the tumor coming back..I pray not..ABTA Mary has said it all..those are the major side effects Dr. worry about..blood not able to clot..so be very careful not to get injured..even brushing teeth..
Best of luck. My husband also takes lomustine every 6 weeks as a trial..
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Hello,
Temodar did not work for me either. I was not sick but it just wasn't doing the job. I am having no problem with Avastin and it seems to be working, or at least keeping my tumor stable. I have an AA3 they could not get all of. Best of luck to you're Dad.