Avastin And Alimta For Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Has anyone on chemo also used Avastin for non-small cell lung
cancer treatment? I am Stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer
treatment patient. I had part of right lung removed nearly 10
years ago. No chemo or radiation was involved for 5 years. About
4 years ago, same cancer came back in left lung and I have been
on various chemo's since that time. I am currently on Alimta and
tumors continue to remain about same size. With the approval of
Avastin for nsc lung cancer, doctor has recommended that I also
start using Avastin along with the Alimta. Has anyone out there
have any information for me that have used this combination? If
so, please provide information that will help me in my
forthcoming treatment. 68 year old Grandpa

My dad has non-small cell lung cancer Stage IIIB. After treatment with carboplatin and docetaxol, the cancer spread from right lung to left lung. He recently was treated with Alimta and Avastin as recommended by oncologist at UCLA Oncology Center. Within 1 week, his coughing / spitting up significantly reducted. Today he received his 2nd treatment with the two drugs. His oncologists believe the reduced symptoms is good sign that treatment is killing cancer. He will have CT in 1-2 weeks so we will know at that time if the drugs are shrinking the tumor nodules.

So far, he has had less side effects than the initial chemo with carbo / Dox. However, he is extremely fatigued which is one of the major side effects.

Hi, I was readying your 11/28/06 message.  What happen to your Dad and did the CT confirmed the improvement?

John

After my mom's cancer continued growing with Tarceva the doctor's are considering switching her over to Avastin coupled with another chemo. She has two have a few radiation treatments and then she will start that regime. Do you all have any updates on how Avastin ended up working? And any info on side effects?

I hope all is well with your families...

Nicole