Archived Topics - avastin/abraxane questions on continuing

avastin/abraxane questions on continuing

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Topic: avastin/abraxane questions on continuing

Posted By: cpyogini
Subject: avastin/abraxane questions on continuing
Date Posted: May 18 2009 at 6:37pm

Hi everyone,

I have been reading your messages for a month or so and finally decided to join you. I know you all have the knowledge and I hope that I can share some too! But, right now I have a question....

I was in contact with Hayley a month or so ago and told her about my story for an old media storyline posted here. I realized the post was quite old - but, then she invited me to write a spotlight story. I was honored to be asked and honored to do so. Anyway - my history is on there - but, my question is on my future.

My latest PET scan showed that one area in the lymph nodes in the hilar region was still there - so, after some discussion - I am doing a new radiation called Novalis for that area. I go for 5 days in a row and am on day 4 tomorrow. I am hoping this knocks out this area that has been hanging around since my December PET. That is when I restarted Abraxane and Avastin. Last time - all of the cancer in the nodes was knocked out by 2 months worth. This time I have been on it for 6 months - with areas still hanging around. Hence, the novalis. I also had a suspicious area in my Left (affected side) ribcage show up on the bone scan - we are just going to watch that until the next scan...ugh!

FINALLY TO MY QUESTION......I am wondering if the chemo is still working. My doctor thinks it is - because things are getting resolved little by little - but, I am wondering. I have been doing some research on Avastin after seeing the reports on this site - and don't feel too great about continuing with it. I have high blood pressure now from it and take a water pill, have a higher SUV in my espophagus than I do in cancer spots due to the heartburn (is that the avastin?) and I had brain mets and am scared about the affect on that.....

Please share your thoughts - whatever they are. I know it is my decision and that I should talk to my doctor - and I have and I will....I just want to do as much research as possible and get some feedback from you all!! Any suggestions on chemo to try next? What about just doing abraxane?

I will get another PET and bone scan in July - so, that will be a real indicator of how things are going....but, I am supposed to get back on my a/a regimen two weeks after this novalis stuff....so, I am just trying to figure it all out!

Thank you for taking the time that you do for sharing with people - I am grateful and hope I can help too!

I have done - A, C, Taxol, Gemzar, Abraxane, Avastin. Looking for the TN wonder drug!!

Thanks so much!

love and light,

christina

Replies:

Posted By: trip2
Date Posted: May 19 2009 at 9:42am

Hello Christina and welcome to our forum. You could not find a kinder grop of members who will help you if they can.

I myself have no experience with those chemotherapies so cannot help you. But I wanted you to know you are in my prayers that everthing

works out perfectly.

Best Wishes to you, someone should be along soon who can help.

-------------
Stage 2 2003
Stage 1 2007
BRCA 1+

Posted By: cpyogini
Date Posted: May 19 2009 at 5:10pm

Thank you Pam - I really appreciate your kind words and your welcome. I am so happy to have found a place that is so welcoming and understanding.

I hope to hear some thoughts on avastin and on other chemos that have worked. I have read that carboplatin is good for TNC - but, I guess I will just have to work it out with my oncologist. But, again, I would love to hear anyone's thoughts!

thanks so much again!

best,

christina

Posted By: trip2
Date Posted: May 20 2009 at 5:35am

Christina,

You might also post this in the "talk" forum. There are many women here using Avastin.

-------------
Stage 2 2003
Stage 1 2007
BRCA 1+

Posted By: dmwolf
Date Posted: May 20 2009 at 6:03am

Christina, I'm hardly an expert, but my sense is that there are several measures people go by. There are some who consider a chemo to be working until there is obvious progression. So, stable or minimally responsive disease would not be a sign to move on to something else in that case. Others use a measure more like yours, requiring a faster response. The latter is preferred, of course, but the problem might be that there is no guarantee that the next drug will do any better, and might even do worse. There is probably no black and white here, unfortunately. It is true that most TNs have a good response to the platinums, so that's not a bad place to go from here. I don't know. I wish you all the luck and fortitude in the world, and of course good health and a long life. I read your spotlight, by the way, and am impressed by your dedication to yoga and ability to express yourself.

Love,
Denise

-------------
DX 2/08@43 stg II IDC; gr2,0 nodes. Neoadj chemo, first ACx2 (fail) then CarboTaxotereX6(better). Lump, Rads done 11/08; Clodronate. False alarm queen: PetCT lung & TM marker. NED. PBM w/recon 9/10.

Posted By: cpyogini
Date Posted: May 20 2009 at 10:06am

Dear Denise,

Thank you so much for your reply and for your thoughts. I think you are right - and I will probably just go on from here until my next scans at the end of July. But, I am just not sure of the Avastin. Maybe I will follow Pam's advice and post my message in the Talk section too.

Thank you for reading about my in the spotlight. Yoga has been a real gift to me and I love to share about it!

Thanks again for everything!

love and light,

christina

Posted By: cpyogini
Date Posted: May 20 2009 at 2:49pm

I have added my same message twice to the Talk section and then when I go back and look - it is gone. Any suggestions on what I might be doing wrong?

Thanks so much!

Christina

I just realized there was another page of topics...oops!! So, now I have posted three times - haha!! Sorry about that!!