new member/recurrance/avastin |
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western girl 
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Joined: Aug 02 2010 Status: Offline Points: 4 |
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 Topic: new member/recurrance/avastinPosted: Aug 02 2010 at 11:20am |
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just joined. have my second chemo cycle this morning (taxol & avastin) for a recurrance of my stage 3c tnbc. was wondering if any of you are also taking avastin and have made any treatment decision changes since the FDA panel vote last week?
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Debris
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Joined: Jun 07 2010 Location: Forsyth,Georgia Status: Offline Points: 756 |
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Posted: Aug 02 2010 at 11:33am |
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Hello there!
Glad you joined - sorry you had to!
I am also on Taxol + Avastin, for my Stage IV TNBC (have had 3 treaments so far, 4th one this week, hopefully). I asked my Onc. about this situation - his advice was to continue with the plan as laid out until such time as it is definite that the FDA will withdraw approval, and I'm inclined to agree with him. As this is the plan he feels is best suited to my situation, I want to get as many treatments in as possible before the plug is pulled.
(Avastin, while having side effects, appears to be no worse than many other chemo drugs. If it was much worse, it would be pulled for all cancer treatments, not just breast cancer. It is still approved for lung, brain and colon cancer. Therefore, it's not for the side effects that its approval is being withdrawn. It is because the panel feel that the "survival rates" for breast cancer do not warrant the cost of the drug. But it does for me!!!!)
Good luck with your treatment. Hope all goes well for you.
Deborah.
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4/12 Xeloda/Tykerb
2 Carboplatin 12/11 Dx IA 9 Gemzar/Taxotere Dx IBC:FEC 5 Ixempra/Sprycel 2 25 Rad 10/10 BRCA1-/2suv 9 NED 6 Stg4 Grd3 many nodes no Sx/Rad. Taxol/Avastin 06/08 Dx DCIS 0/SN Rads/AIs |
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trip2
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Joined: Jun 03 2007 Location: Under Palm Tree Status: Offline Points: 8549 |
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Posted: Aug 02 2010 at 12:00pm |
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Hi Westergirl and welcome to our community,
I have not been on Avastin but there are several here who have or are currently using it. Try going to the "Talk" forum and starting a new post, more members may see it there. Also use the Search feature near the top.
Feel welcome to post, check out our TNBC News/Resource section and the Resource link above.
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Stage 2 2003
Stage 1 2007 BRCA 1+ |
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unklez
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Joined: Sep 05 2009 Location: New Jersey Status: Offline Points: 1000 |
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Posted: Aug 02 2010 at 9:58pm |
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Hi WesternGirl,
My wife was on the ECOG 5103 trial which gave Avastin/Placebo along with standard/DD AC->T. She got 4 doses of Avastin before she developed a reaction to Taxol due to which she had to withdraw from the trial and continue with Abraxane. All through the trial and later we have had doubts of the benefits of Avastin. The only advise I can give is to read up as much as you can and make an informed decision that you feel is best for yourself. The known side effects are only half the side. The other side is whether the drug is beneficial. Hope this helps. |
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Wife Dx: Jul/09. Age: 37. Size: 3cm. BRCA: -ve. Lumpectomy: Aug/09. Micromet 1/9 node. Chemo Start: Sep/09. E5103. DD ACB-> DD Abraxane (Taxol reaction). Zometa (S0307). Canadian Fraction Rads.
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overwhelmed
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Joined: Apr 06 2010 Location: Greenville, SC Status: Offline Points: 490 |
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Posted: Aug 03 2010 at 8:39pm |
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I am in a Phase 3 trial for early breast cancer. I am in the Avastin arm of the trial. I get Taxotere and Cytoxin with Avastin every three weeks for six treatments. Avastin will continue every three weeks for a year. I had some serious concerns about continuing once I heard about the possibility of the FDA pulling it's approval. My onc said, without a doubt, he has seen women benefit from Avastin. It's not the drug for everyone, but he feels it doesn help. They haven't had large early breast cancer studies with Avastin, although that is now starting. Because a drug doesn't work with later breast cancer doesn't mean it won't with earlier breast cancer. I am still hoping that Avastin will be a drug that can help those with TNBC. I don't know. But, I thought that I probably wouldn't be worse off if I get it and may end up being much better off. Who knows? It's so hard to know if we are doing the right thing.
It's so hard to know if we are doing the right thing at any given time. If my cancer recurrs, would it have come back no matter what drug I used? If it doesn't, was it the Avastin or would it have been gone regardless? Without a crystal ball we can't really know we are doing what is right for our particular cancer. We can only trust in our doctors, educate ourselves as best we can, and make the best decision for ourselves at the time. Even then, we will doubt.
Good luck to you.
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DX ILC TNBC 3/10 at 50, Stage IIb; Grade 3; 5.1 to 7 cm,SNB neg;TC-6 rnds, 30 rads, Avastin-18 rnds, BRAC 1&2-
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unklez
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Joined: Sep 05 2009 Location: New Jersey Status: Offline Points: 1000 |
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Posted: Aug 03 2010 at 9:59pm |
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Dear Overwhelmed,
You summarized the quandary very well. Some questions you may want to consider asking your oncologist at the next possible opportunity. Has he quoted from his use of Avastin for breast cancer or other cancers? As a single agent or in combination with other drugs? I am not doubting him but the statement that "women benefit from Avastin" seems to be a bit ahead of the available medical data and I am curious to know his personal experience. |
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Wife Dx: Jul/09. Age: 37. Size: 3cm. BRCA: -ve. Lumpectomy: Aug/09. Micromet 1/9 node. Chemo Start: Sep/09. E5103. DD ACB-> DD Abraxane (Taxol reaction). Zometa (S0307). Canadian Fraction Rads.
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western girl
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Joined: Aug 02 2010 Status: Offline Points: 4 |
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Posted: Aug 04 2010 at 9:53pm |
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thanks to all who responded and welcomed me to the forum. Pat - I am not that savy with the whole chat forum stuff, but will try your suggestions. You sound like you know your way around the chat/forum/web thing far better than I.
Dear Overwhelmed - You really hit the nail on the head with your statements about doubt and trying to make tough decisions and hoping we get them right. I fnished up my treatments this week and will stick with the Avastin/Taxol combination and wait on my follow-up scans to see if it is working before making any changes. this was the original plan anyway - and I will keep hoping that the insurance company does not pull their payment of the Avastin.
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Carol (Tenn)
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Joined: Aug 06 2009 Location: Paris,Tennessee Status: Offline Points: 2707 |
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Posted: Aug 05 2010 at 8:08am |
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Welcome western girl,
It's good to see you here. It's sad that any of us need this site but soooo happy it's here. Please join us on the Spiritual Support thread if that is something you might be interested in.
Unklez,
It's so good to see your post. I think of you often and wonder where you've been. I hope all is well with you and your family.
Love and Prayers,
Carol
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St 2 Gr 3, A/C/T, DD
Radiation x35 Rec chest wall 07/09 Radiation x28 NED 10/24/11 NED 10/5/12 NED 03/15/13 |
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overwhelmed
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Joined: Apr 06 2010 Location: Greenville, SC Status: Offline Points: 490 |
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Posted: Aug 05 2010 at 10:39am |
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unklez,
My onc works with 20 other oncs in a multi-disciplinary clinic. He said they have not seen a situation like this (probably because the approval was accelerated). He said he and the other oncs in the clinic have seen women benefit from Avastin. But, as far as I was concerned he felt that even if these studies showed no benefit for metatasized bc, it doesn't mean it won't work for early breast cancer. Those studies are happening now and they probably won't know for sure until they analyze the data over the next few years. I still have hope for Avastin or a drug like it.
From what I have read on this site, there are some women getting the drug now who feel it is helping them, and are very concerned about the possibility it will be pulled. The two studies which have resulted in the vote to pull the approval are based on about 2000 people total. I don't think Avastin with later breast cancer got the typical Phase 3 studies where there are a few thousand in the study. I could be wrong.
I also spoke with someone who is in involved in the research dept at a large hospital in the NE. She talked to one of their oncs about my situation. He said as long as I wasn't having any serious side effects from the Avastin, he would have recommended I continue. He basically said the same thing my onc did. They really aren't sure what this means for early breast cancer. So, I am continuing with the study in hopes that Avastin will help. It may not be a drug that works for all breast cancers, but through the study they may find that it works for a subtype of bc.
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DX ILC TNBC 3/10 at 50, Stage IIb; Grade 3; 5.1 to 7 cm,SNB neg;TC-6 rnds, 30 rads, Avastin-18 rnds, BRAC 1&2-
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trip2
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Joined: Jun 03 2007 Location: Under Palm Tree Status: Offline Points: 8549 |
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Posted: Aug 06 2010 at 2:27pm |
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Many thanks to you, Overwhelmed and the other ladies who participate in trials...I admire you so much.
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Stage 2 2003
Stage 1 2007 BRCA 1+ |
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overwhelmed
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Joined: Apr 06 2010 Location: Greenville, SC Status: Offline Points: 490 |
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Posted: Aug 06 2010 at 2:41pm |
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Thanks, trip2,
It's so hard to know for sure if I am doing the right thing, but for now I feel I am.
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DX ILC TNBC 3/10 at 50, Stage IIb; Grade 3; 5.1 to 7 cm,SNB neg;TC-6 rnds, 30 rads, Avastin-18 rnds, BRAC 1&2-
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trip2
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Joined: Jun 03 2007 Location: Under Palm Tree Status: Offline Points: 8549 |
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Posted: Aug 06 2010 at 2:57pm |
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Overwhelmed, that is what is important, that you feel for now you are doing the right thing. That is all any of us can do.
This is no easy journey, we all have our doubts now and then. The trick is to not let cancer win. We can give our doubts a few minutes then rid your mind of cancer, let life take over.
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Stage 2 2003
Stage 1 2007 BRCA 1+ |
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overwhelmed
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Joined: Apr 06 2010 Location: Greenville, SC Status: Offline Points: 490 |
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Posted: Aug 06 2010 at 3:52pm |
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Those are wise words. The doubts and fears do creep in, but we just can't let them rule our lives.
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DX ILC TNBC 3/10 at 50, Stage IIb; Grade 3; 5.1 to 7 cm,SNB neg;TC-6 rnds, 30 rads, Avastin-18 rnds, BRAC 1&2-
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