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krisvell · 10-15-2011, 11:08 AM

Diane,
I’ll share with you how I came to getting Avastin. It might not be the right treatment for everyone. YES, the brain blood bleed risk was mentioned by my oncologist and she was initially against it and recommended Herceptin/tykerb. I initially was going to try the Hyperbolic Oxygen Chamber(HBOT) but an Mri detected a suspicious nodule and HBOT wouldn't be the best treatment for that. With my symptoms getting worse (6th nerve palsy, left side nerve pain and right face nerve damage), I really didn't have too many options.
I looked into a Clinical Trial at Dana Farber, Boston MA for brain mets using Carboplatin, Avastin but didn’t qualify because the nodule was not measurable (has to be at least 1 cm).
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01004172?term=Carboplatin+and+Bevacizumab+%28Av astin%29+for+Progressive+Breast+Cancer+Brain+Metas tases&rank=1
I was at the point where there was a suspicious nodule, increasing necrosis and worsening sytmptoms. I decided to try Avastin based on my Neuro Oncologit's experience with it and the fact there was a clinical trial using it as well.
Hope this helps.
Kris….

10-15-2011, 11:08 AM	#14
krisvell Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Kensington, CT Posts: 394	Re: Anybody heard from Krisvell? Diane, I’ll share with you how I came to getting Avastin. It might not be the right treatment for everyone. YES, the brain blood bleed risk was mentioned by my oncologist and she was initially against it and recommended Herceptin/tykerb. I initially was going to try the Hyperbolic Oxygen Chamber(HBOT) but an Mri detected a suspicious nodule and HBOT wouldn't be the best treatment for that. With my symptoms getting worse (6th nerve palsy, left side nerve pain and right face nerve damage), I really didn't have too many options. I looked into a Clinical Trial at Dana Farber, Boston MA for brain mets using Carboplatin, Avastin but didn’t qualify because the nodule was not measurable (has to be at least 1 cm). http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01004172?term=Carboplatin+and+Bevacizumab+%28Av astin%29+for+Progressive+Breast+Cancer+Brain+Metas tases&rank=1 I was at the point where there was a suspicious nodule, increasing necrosis and worsening sytmptoms. I decided to try Avastin based on my Neuro Oncologit's experience with it and the fact there was a clinical trial using it as well. Hope this helps. Kris…. __________________ 06/08/09 - 55, IDC, IIIA, ER+/PR-/HER+++ Nottingham 6/9 - Grade 2 5.2cm, several nodes 06/23/09 - Neoadjuvant - TCH Herceptin til June 10/07/09 - Finished Chemo 10/27/09 - Mastectomy RB Path Report: RB No residual tumor pCR, 2 of 15 pos - .5mm largest micromets 12/18/09 - Radiation started (28) 02/05/10 - Finished Radiation 01/11/10 - Started Femara 06/22/10 - Finished Herceptin.. My son's 22nd BD. Hope it's a sign! Hoping for the best. 11/15/10 - Started Walter Reed BC Vaccine trial at 1/04/11 - Sibley Mem. Had to withdraw due to met 01/23/11 - Stage IV - Brain Met 1.6cm 1.7cm 02/03/11 - Gamma Knife (2 fracts to minmize necrosis) 03/01/11 - Gamma Knife 6/11 - Necrosis 7/11 - Necrosis stopped & Tumor progression 8/11 = Now think it's really necrosis 9/11 - Avastin every two weeks -- It's working!! Necrosis is shrinking. 12/11 - Necrosis gone AVASTIN worked. 12/11 - Bone &CT found Oct '10 - Ran Hartford 1/2 Marathon to Thank Dr. Slamon for Herceptin!