Hi all,
I know there's been a lot of discussion of Avastin, but I'm wondering if anyone is on the same trial that I'm on - six cycles of IP/IV cisplatin and taxol with IV Avastin then 11 more months of Avastin alone. (No placebo - everyone gets the Avastin.) Preconditions were Stage II or Stage III with optimal debulking (NED) and no prior chemo for ovca.
I'm not asking about side effects, etc. since that's all been discussed. I guess I'm wondering whether anyone else in my situation - NED after 6 cycles - is going through such a long process with the Avastin. While it hasn't been nearly as hard for me as the other drugs, I'm still tired and have high blood pressure and joint pain and I am not in a position to go out and look for a full time job because of this drug, which makes me wonder whether I'm doing the right thing to stay on it all the way through to October.
I know a lot of you need the drug and can't get it so I feel a bit bad getting it for free and then thinking about giving it up. However, it is most definitely affecting my quality of life, and there's no way to know whether I'm getting a benefit from it. Treatment is all a balancing act, and a blind one at that. Perhaps I am being way over treated for this (I was stage IIC) and should just be enjoying life without putting myself through 7 more months of pain and financial stress. However, I keep thinking that I want to do all I can for myself, and that it may help others to get more data on Avastin since it seems like it might be a hugely important drug for this disease.
I know this isn't exactly a clear question but thanks for any thoughts anyone might have about it.
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Avastin trial
- By Dee09
- Posted March 27, 2009 at 12:49 am · 4 replies
- In Clinical trials
- Shared with the public
Explore topics in this discussion:
Cancer Taxol Pain Cytoxan Avastin Meditation Physical therapy Stress
4 replies
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- By Stacy7
- Posted March 27, 2009 at 10:31 pm
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Hi,
Sorry to hear the Avastin is so hard on you. I am starting it on Monday and pray it is not so hard on me. Obviously, only you know what is best for you. I did IV/IP chemo without the Avastin after optimal debulking and had a recurrence after 10 months. I wished in hindsight for a maintenance drug. However, I was stage IIIc. Quality of life is a huge thing and sounds like yours stinks on this drug. I know that any cancer can have a recurrence, but I wonder what the likelihood of recurrence is for stage IIc after IV/IP chemo. I only looked at the data for stage IIIC. Good luck to you. Sounds like a tough decision, you will make the right choice. Stacy
- By Elaine1
- Posted March 28, 2009 at 11:42 am
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Hi
VEry quickly...my immediate reaction is that it sounds like you could really benefit from a second, highly qualified opinion. Are there any major Cancer Centers available to you, or reliable GYN/ONC listings in your area?
Thinking good thoughts for you...Stage 11 usually doesn't require the aggressive protocol that you describe...especially following NED, after the 6 successful IP / IV Taxol / Cisplatin Sessions you've had. Combine that with Optimal Debulking, and it does beg your questions...( and mine! )
Please let us know what you decide.
Hugs, Elaine
- By Gia
- Posted March 28, 2009 at 1:59 pm
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Dee, After reading your situation all I can say is that if I were in your place I would continue with the therapy . Optiminum dulking does not mean microscopic cancer cells have been removed as well as NED-therefore you have had the best IV and IP therapy----then the chance to have avastin with this therapy has given you the best of the best. It only takes one---1--- cancer cell in the body to start the disease building----
You might find after a couple of months of recovering from the IV/IP therapy of cisplatin/taxol with those side effect you might find just avastin a little easier for you. I am on Avastin and oral cytoxan and have few side effects so far---blood pressure can be an issue but they can treat that and it does not happen in everyone---monitor.
I do not know what type of job you are trying to get ---is there some paper, article, book you might write during this time----have you tried temporary disability for $$---anything to help you keep this regimen going. Stage II is better than stage III for sure but it is not stage I-----this cancer is a recurring cancer do as much as you can at the beginning---the longer you can stay in remission before recurrence is critical to the overall prognosis. Good Luck to you, Gia
- By Dee09
- Posted March 29, 2009 at 3:22 pm
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Thanks so much everyone for your thoughts. Mostly I lean towards Gia's perspective - and Gia I appreciated your thoughtful articulation of the reasons for continuing and the calmness in looking at the financial situation. Elaine, - you're right about second opinions but I don't think that this situation calls for one. I am at a major cancer center (MemorialSloan Kettering) and have fantastic doctors who have never once pushed me to do this trial. They've laid out the pros and cons and I chose to participate and can leave at any time. And because it's a trial the outcome is by definition unknown - I'm not following medical advice really.
I'm going to take this one cycle at a time. For now, I can go another round. I'm starting physical therapy to deal with the joint pain, will keep exercising and getting lots of sleep, and will look into some other ways to reduce stress - yoga, meditation, etc.
Stacy, good luck with the Avastin. Let me know how you do on it.
All the best to everyone.
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