4 posts tagged “avastin”

Barney2 08122008

2 comments

I am now on my 6th new chemo cocktail.  The onc didn't like the reaction I had to the last one and didn't want to up the steroid take because of the problems steroids cause, so he changed one of the cocktail ingredients and put me on a weekly infusion.  I am now taking the combination Abraxane and Avastin.  Abraxane is another Taxol derivitative, but different from the other two Taxols, so it's not supposed to cause as many side effects.  I will still lose my hair, but that's fine.  Side effects incude hair loss, Low white cell count, neuropathy of the hands and feet, fatigue and weakness (nothing new), low red blood count, and sore mouth, along with others.  I also had the doc up my dosage of oxycontin, and so far that has been one of the best things - I have had no pain since yesterday morning.  That makes a big difference in my day.

I will be going out to lunch with the neighbor and really looking forward to it.  I have an appetite again and had not lost any more weight, but hadn't gained any either.  The onc was glad to see no more loss.

Tomorrow I will expect to see any side effects of the chemo.  It feels like it might not be so bad and will hopefully be the combo that puts these cancer cells in remission!

Graffitti

1 comment

I have already been up longer than I was at any one time yesterday.  So - I must be feeling better.  LOL  The scary part to me is that the onc is trying the chemos with the mildest side effects first.  If they get much worse than this, not sure that it is going to be worth doing.  Of course, if the side effects only last two or three days, then that makes a difference too.  The side effects of Doxil and Avastin, so far, have been: fever, sore throat, ear aches, swollen glands around the neck, bone pain in the back, ribs, neck, legs, and of course, the aches from the fever...and let's not forget itching.  When the pain meds did work, all I wanted to do was sleep.

Not much to say about the weather other than it is hot.  For us to have a stretch of more than two days or so of hot weather is unusual.  But, I hear that tomorrow is supposed to be the hottest day then we will be in for a cool down.  I can't even claim to be speeding through books with this round of side effects - can't stay awake long enough.  LOL

Waterlily

2 comments

After 5 hours at the cancer care center, I was ready to be home and in bed.  The first infusion of the Avastin was 1 1/2 hours.  It will be only an hour the rest of the infusions.  The Doxil was an hour.  So now I know, it will be 2 hours of infusion every three weeks.  Now that the chemo has started, I plan on getting my hair buzzed this weekend and start wearing my little coal boy caps to bed to catch the pricklies as they fall out. 

Talked to my youngest chick yesterday and he said that both he and my oldest chick were doing good.  I was glad to hear that since I haven't heard from the oldest in quite some time.

Facetree

Got to see the onc yesterday and get my infusion of Zometa.  Also found out that the tumor markers are still rising, so I am going to start a new chemo regiment tomorrow - Doxil and Avastin.  Doxil is the chemo, Avastin does something to the blood cells to kill the cancer.  I am already familiar with the side effects of the taxol drugs, so I don't expect too many surprises, but not looking forward to the combo.  Of course, one of the major side effects is fatigue...so, what's new right?  LOL  Thank goodness I don't have to run any marathons!  I will receive the infusions once every 3 weeks.  I will lose my hair (not a bad thing in the summer).  I will continue getting the monthly infusion of Zometa and see the onc once a month.

So, other than that, there has not been much going on.  I have not wanted to get out much and can't seem to get enough rest.  And that's without starting this chemo!  The good news was that as of yesterday, I no longer have to do the oral Cytoxan that I have been taking.  Unfortunately, there is no break - stopped the Cytoxan yesterday, on to the new cocktail tomorrow.  Ah - the joys of cancer....NOT!  LOL