The use of Avastin for Glioblastoma grade IV

Hello My mother experienced what seemed like stroke like symptoms in June of 2011. We found out within hours that she had a mass in front left temporal lobe. (Effecting her speech and Comprehension.)

So far she had surgery to debulk the tumor. Then Radiation and Temodar. Then Temodar. After 2 months on the Temodar the tumor progressed. So now she is on Avastin. 

Most of her side effects she is experiencing right now are from the Steroid. Because the Avastin has an anti swelling agent they are tapering the Steroid.

Wondering what experiences are out there regarding the Avastin.

Avastin will reduce edema (swelling), and without the side effects from the steroids, in our experience. As for stopping tumor growth, it has a temporary effect in about 40% of patients. Right now it is working for us. I hope it will work for your mom too. We have not noticed any side effects, but with some people I think it causes fatigue.

sibling, when you say temporary, do you mean to say that it lasts briefly after treatment, which is why you keep doing treatments every few weeks?  Or that eventually treatments will become useless?

So far it seems to be working and she hasn't been fatigued. But I think the steroid is masking any fatigue. So far she has had 3 treatments and her speech and comprehension is starting to improve again. We go back to Dana farber on the 21st to do another MRI. Is is possible the tumor may reduce again. It has been such a roller coaster.

I was wondering how long this form of treatment has worked for other patients.

My wife had all good experiences wwith avastin, BUT, there comes a time where it loses it's effect.

The effects are dramatic with the first few infusions, then the effects were not as dramatic and then it lost it's effect all together..

So, they stopped it for awhile and are getting ready to start it again just to be pro active,,but man is it expensive and I am not sure  the results are worth the cost....But there was great improvement initially and that is worth taking it I think all in all.

http://finalthirddotcom.wordpress.com/

Dear distancerunner, is your wife Methylated ? I really hope this new round will be better for her. Hope above all! best Cris

Krystalbleu, it has worked for us so far for five months. Babzini, yes, eventually everything stops working. Just the nature of this nasty disease.

Hi, my husband has been on Avastin since December. After almost 4 years since his surgery, the tumor started to grow again and 2 types of chemo didn't help (Temodar and CCNU). The side effects seem to be mostly fatigue and a slight loss of appetite. Scott sleeps more now than he is awake, but is of good cheer when he is awake. I've noticed this week that his balance is off and he is no longer using his left arm that much. I don't know if that is from Avastin though, more likely the GBM progression. He woke up with a nosebleed yesterday, but again, I don't believe that is from Avastin.

Good luck with this, Scott is not on anything else except anti seizure meds, Dilantin and Keppra. He is at 49 months survival now, not in any pain or discomfort and we are grateful for the time we've had and hope for more.

Libra

My husband has been on Avastin for a year now. It is a God send. Medically retired, he is at home on the computer each day, doing what he loves. Avastin is keeping him alive and well. He is MGMT negative, so temodar did not work for him. We keep our fingers crossed that it keeps on working.