Avastin in combo with what?

[doh2pa]

Hi All,

My short stint with Navilbene/Herceptin has come to an end with my liver once again acting up. So I started on Abraxane, Carbo, Herceptin and Tykerb. I'm thinking about Avastin in some combo as a next step.

Can any of you that have been on Avastin tell me what you combined it with and how you did on the combo?

Thanks so much,
Donna

[Sheila]

Donna
I was on Herceptin (have been on it continually for 4 1/2 years, Avastin and Taxol...it completely blasted my supraclavicular nodes, but I did end up on B/P meds with a really high B/P from it...the B/P is almost back to normal after being off the Avastin for a couple months! Steph N is on it right now, and I know Irene was on it...they are 2 more...Chrisy was on Tykerb Avastin and it kept her liver mets in check for some time before she had to switch to Ixempra which she is on now. Hope this helps.

[chrisy]

Sheila girl! I think the decadron withdrawl has made you mix up your Avastin sisters! Although I think we were pretty mixed up before anyway...

I was on a trial of Tykerb/Avastin which did keep my liver mets in check (stable) for around 8 months. Others in the trial had better (or worse) responses, so as with everything, the response is very individual. Note, this was without a chemo! When the cancer woke up, I switched to the Trastuzumab-MCC-DM1 trial, which I am still on.

For me, I think the Avastin/Tykerb combination was not enough of punch without chemo but I would try it again in that setting. Part of the action of Avastin, in addition to inhibiting formation of new blood vessels to feed the cancer, is to normalize the existing vasculature - which I think "exposes" the cancer more to the chemo.

As far as tolerating the treatment, I found it very tolerable although I also had to be medicated for high BP after taking this. Also, it did the nosebleed thingy...Sheila and I had to request extra kleenex in San Antonio!

So, Avastin + what? I think the Avastin trials were with Taxol or Abraxane...

Donna, you've got a pretty good blockade going with the Herceptin, Tykerb, Carbo, and Abraxane. I wonder if adding Avastin to this would be too much (or just the right thing?) The key is to completely shut down all the avenues of growth/escape and Avastin certainly does one. As it has not been tested in combination with all those other agents, it would be challenging to try and add this now - and again, I'm not sure it would be a good idea anyway.

Hopefully Donna, the arsenal you are currently throwing at this will put it down for a while - you've got some big guns in that fight. What you really need, it seems, is a break! Slap those mets into oblivion and take a nice long holiday with NED.

Irene was on Avastin either alone or with Tykerb and is now on Ixempra (I think!). Hadn't heard of StephN being on Avastin although I have been off the boards for awhile - but I know Lolly was on Avastin/Abraxane so I think Sheila may be thinking of Lolly instead.

So many sisters....so many drugs....so few really good chocolate martinis (although I wouldn't know on that last one since I've never even had on and am officially "on the wagon" now due to treatment!)

Take care
Chris

[lilyecuadorian]

Donna two good opinion from Chrissy and Sheila ...and my prayers .....

[doh2pa]

Hi Ladies,

Thanks so much for your responses. Very helpful, as always. Chrissy, I was not thinking of adding the Avastin to my current, but perhaps replacing the Herceptin/Tykerb with Avastin, since I suspect that a lot of oncs use Avastin with a taxane and if I use a taxane now without it......

Don't know, at this point in my disease it's like throwing darts at a dart board. Thanks so much for your help and kind words.

[Mary Anne in TX]

Donna, whatever it's like.....dart or what......sometimes those ol' darts hit the bullseye!!!!! Here's praying that is what is happening for you! ma

[SoCalGal]

Hi Donna-
I am on Tykerb-Herceptin and just started Avastin. And you know - the whole gluten free/dairy free/marshmallow diet plan plus all the vitamins and supplements.
xo Flori