0 Recommendations
Hi
Any one out there considered or tried Tarceva with Avastin, (not Avastin plus platinum doublet)? it?
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124347.php
cheers,
Ruth
Hi
Any one out there considered or tried Tarceva with Avastin, (not Avastin plus platinum doublet)? it?
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124347.php
cheers,
Ruth
Ruth,
I am doing Tarceva daily with Avastin every 3 weeks. My last CT scan shows me "grossly stable" .
Jim
Dear Jim, hey thanks for that.!!
.. would keen to know more if you are up for it... like where were you at when you opted for that treatment as opposed to others? thanks again and best wishes!! Ruth
Ruth:
My mom has been on Tarceva + Avastin since July 2007 with good results. But the only reason she went with that treatment was because initially, she was on Carboplatin/Taxol + Avastin. When the Carboplatin/Taxol stopped working, they decided to move her on to Tarceva (since she has the Exon 21 mutation). But instead of doing Tarceva alone, we decided to continue the Avastin since she'd tolerated it well before.
No one seems to know for sure what role the Avastin is playing in keeping her stable... but since things are good at this time, no one wants to rock the boat. So we're continuing on with both.
Isabelle
Ruth,
My Cancer resume:
Diagnose Jan 2007 BAC
40% of my right lung removed.
“Just to be sure” Cisplatin & Navelbine.
New tumor in the medialstenium (inoperable)
33 hits of radiation with Carboplatin and Taxol
No change to tumor
Currently doing Tarceva & Avastin
Grossly stable (the cancer not me)
To tell the truth I have been doing what the doctor recommends. Like you I check this board to see if my doctor is doing the normal stuff.
Best luck
Jim
Hey Jim.
jeeezzzzz. grossly stable sounds good. thanks v much for writing again.
How are you feeling?
did you start the tarceva after you'd been on avastin or other way round? ie were you able to figure out which of those you are responding to or if its the combo?
cheers
Ruth
Ruth,
I started both drugs at the sametime. So I don't know who is doing what to me. But I feel good. I understand that Tarceva will stop working someday, but while it is working it is great. It has some side affects but they seem to lessen as time goes on.
Thanks for the link, it was very interesting. I am always amazed at how little the experts know.
Jim
Hi there Jim. Sorry meant to write back right away but for some reason couldn't get on through the computer I was using.
Hey just wanted to say thanks for writing.
and
That's excellent that things are good at the moment!! (Also god you are a tough $#%$# aren't you!?!)
cheers
R
I have ben told that Avastin is used for Non squamous cell cancer and has not been tested for squamous cell, which is what I have. I am on Genzar, Carbo + avastin and received my first treatment last week I also am on Tarceva,.
If you know anything about Avastin and squamous cell nsclc , please let me know
Hey there,
thanks - nope, sorry I don't know anything. that being said - what I know is that "they" know very little and we are all kind of guinea pigs, which means - it could work - GOOD LUCK!!!! Ruth
Thanks Ruth, I read the article from the link in your post.I t does mention that avastin was approved for non-squamous cell nsclc. I dont know why my oncologist atarted me on it, but I went for a second opinion and the oncologist said I should not be taking it since mine is sqaumous cell. So who do I believe??
what a nightmare.
Alice
Hi Well here's what i think i would do
1) I'd make sure the doctor who wants you to take it expained the mechanism and why he thinks it might work....and if poss the one who said no, why not
2) I would get a third opinion - if you get can to one of the major cance centres or get a remote "second" opinion that might be worth it - I know Sloane and Dana Farber or Mass General in Boston will do these
3) I would keep track of what you think the options are, what the different ways are the drugs work and make sure each doctor expkains it to you.
4) I don't know anything about squamous cell, but I did start looking at clinical trials - there is a clinical trial search service - but I am not sure how great it is , I think its a start at least.
It sucks some of them are utter pricks and treat us like brain dead idiots who should follow their advice like religious deovtoees - and - we don't have the training... but, its helpful to get enough of an understanding yourself if you can that you know what they do and don;t know when you try something. that's me. so far. I sometimes ask the same question repeatedly and i am sure that irritates them, but ... oh well.
ok - and I really hope you are feeling ok. At least that makes the present more bearable, and make sure you are doing somethng you love for yourself - whatever it is.
regards
Ruth
Hi Alice,
I come across your message accidentally and not sure whether you have found out the reason why Avastin is not suitable for squamous cell lung cancer.
Please refer to this link, http://www.fda.gov/cder/Offices/OODP/whatsnew/bevacizumab200610.htm.
There were increased risks of serious(or fatal) bleeding for squamous cell lung cancer patients in a phase 2 trial of Avastin.
I hope the message is still informative and wish you well in your journey.
Regards
Ong
Diagnosed 10/07
Six rounds of carbo/taxol/avastin. Some said I had some regression, some said stable.
Then we began something else for maintenance (although it turned out that it did start growing!)--tarceva and avastin (3 wk cycle). I've been on that since 6/07.
Not FDA approved to combine avastin with tarceva, but my doc doesn't think it'll hurt...
Good luck!
--Stephanie
Hi Stephanie -
thanks. god its stressful! hey what do you think about Alimta? was that one of the things you discussed? I am wanting to see if there is any evidnece even from individuals about tarceva plus alimta or alimta alone with th tarceva starts to fail. its in trilas, but I know there are people already doing it.
(sure would be something if all these individuals ( us) had our data collected so it wasn't lost to toher!) anyway - thanks for replying - and lots of luck and love! Ruth
My doc really went back and forth between doing the tarceva next or the alimta. I didn't have the EGFR mutation, but he took a chance and it has paid off so far. Since the side effects are mostly nuisances, I can really live my normal life, which makes a big difference. My doc never made mention of trying the tarceva and alimta together.
Yeah, it would be nice to be able to trace all this and see what trends come of it...
Take care!
--Stephanie
Thanks Stephanie - FAB that the Tarceva is working!! wish they had some idea why ther others do or don't work!! lots of love to you and your family!
Ruth
Add to the discussion