Latest Conventional Treatments discussions http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/cancer-treatments/conventional-treatments/1,0,129,123.htm Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ In cancer medicine, it's not a case of throwing "targeted" drugs at the problem. It's knowing "what" targeted drugs and "how" to use them in "individual" patients (not average populations). The problem is that few drugs work the way oncologists think they do and few of them take the time to think through what it is they are using them for.Case in point with Avastin is a perfect example. Serious adverse events, including fatal events, of tracheo-esophageal (TE) fistula have been reported in association with use of Avastin clinical trials of small cell lung cancer (SCLC), non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and esophageal cancer.Avastin should be permanently discontinued in patients with tracheo-esophageal (TE) fistula or any gastrointestinal fistula. There is limited information on the continued use of Avastin in patients with other fistulas. In cases of internal fistula not arising in the GI tract, discontinuation of Avastin should be considered.The interesting caveat about Avastin with colon cancer - gastrointestinal perforations. If Avastin is given within at least 28 days following major surgery (or before), it results in an abscess formation. This is due to the impaired wound healing induced by Avastin.By Avastin working like it's supposed to work, not only does it cut off blood supply to the tumor, it also cuts off blood supply to the colon entirely causing the tissue to die. Avastin can cause you to loose your colon. What's distubring is oncologists' comment that this is common with Avastin, but is never mentioned until it is too late.Most bowel perforations with Avastin have been in cases where there is tumor going right through the wall of the colon. Avastin causes the tumor to melt away, leaving a hole. With Avastin, the tumor dissolves, but scar tissue won't form because it can't make a blood supply.The same thing applies to bowl perforations with Avastin in advanced ovarian cancer. Advanced ovarian cancer commonly involves bowel walls. The problem is a direct result of the drug's ability to kill tumor cells that have replaced healthy bowel tissue, leading to a dead area that then perforates.With conventional chemotherapy, as the tumor melts away, new connective tissue forms a patch. But Avastin can inhibit the growth of capillaries into newly forming tissue, as well as in tumor tissue. If one does not have any known bowel involvement, one would probably be okay.And now, Avastin is one of the most popular drugs used in combination with Camptosar (CPT-11) for brain tumors. In a small percentage of patients, Avastin can cause neurological side effects ranging from headaches and blurry vision to potentially fatal seizures and brain swelling.VEGF normally protects the specialized cells that create a seal between the brain and spinal column and thus prevent fluid from leaking into the brain. When VEGF was blocked in mice, these cells died and the animals developed brain swelling. Researchers suspect that Avastin's side effects in humans may be caused by a similar phenomenon.Whiz bang therapies often get a pass on toxicities because they are just so darn cool (Herceptin and CHF in the adjuvant setting is another example). Again, the problem is that few drugs work the way oncologists think and few of them take the time to think through what it is they are using them for.Meanwhile, it's hard to tell a medical oncologist (and patient) to ratchet back on the anti-VEGF drug they're using when the disease setting is stage IV lung, ovarian, or pancreatic cancer. Therapy-related, late onset sequelae are becoming a very real problem. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,22087,0.htm Gdpawel Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi there,Can anyone give advice about the drug Avastin? I live in the UK & it is unavailable here & my 69 year old father would like to try it. My father has Met Colon cancer. He had a colon resection about 5 years ago followed by Folfox treatment regime for 6 mths. A couple of years later he had a lobectomy after a spread to the left lung. He underwent another course of Chemo - Folfox for period of 6 mths as a preventative measure. He was clear for 3 months however the cancer showed signs of progression again in the same lung.. Doctors are recommending we wait to see what symptons arise so that my father can have a rest from the chemo. The next treatment regime would be Folfiri for advance stage cancer. During treatment my father has had very limited symptons & generally managed the treatment well therefore would like to try this new drug which is reported to show positive results. Can anyone validate this? Has anyone had experience with this drug (or combination) & seen an improvement? Would anyone out there recommend it? Reading my fathers chronology can anyone relate to what he has been through? Can this drug be purchased for an annual supply? Can anyone help this confused daughter who has no idea what to do now... I would appreciate any guidance to help me with some important decision making I need to make.Look forward to hearing from anyone.   http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,20515,0.htm Complete Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Any information or comments;would be appreciated! Cancer is angiosarcoma. Other 2 treatments didn't work. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,13781,0.htm Sonmae57 Mon, 25 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT Another important message regarding the power of Big Pharma and the price of drugs http://v.mercola.com/blogs/public_blog/Trillion-Dollar-Healt http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,13684,0.htm Shemay Thu, 21 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT Another important message regarding the power of Big Pharma and the price of drugs http://v.mercola.com/blogs/public_blog/Trillion-Dollar-Healt http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,13683,0.htm Shemay Thu, 21 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT My name is Ben Shtang from Israel. I am ill with metastatic GIST (Gastro Intestinal Stromal Tumor) in a very advanced and serious condition.I was operated twice and treated with series of the most advanced medicines which did not help and the disease is progressing rapidly. My oncologist consulted leading physicians and Gist experts in the USA and Europe who unanimously pointed at Nexavar as my next and only chance for cure or at least remission.  The cost of Nexavar is in between 6,000 to 8,000 dollars per month which are not within my financial means. I hereby ask each and every one of you for help: If you have any leftovers of NEXAVAR (200mg pills), and are ready to donate them to me, please let me know. May God bless you all Ben Shtang, Israel  I am ill with metastatic GIST (Gastro Intestinal Stromal Tumor) in a very advanced and serious condition.I was operated twice and treated with series of the most advanced medicines which did not help and the disease is progressing rapidly. My oncologist consulted leading physicians and Gist experts in the USA and Europe who unanimously pointed at Nexavar as my next and only chance for cure or at least remission.  The cost of Nexavar is in between 6,000 to 8,000 dollars per month which are not within my financial means. I hereby ask each and every one of you for help: If you have any leftovers of NEXAVAR (200mg pills), and are ready to donate them to me, please let me know. May God bless you all Ben Shtang, Israel  http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,12507,0.htm Ben7890 Tue, 29 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT I know that Revlamid is now a treatment for Myloma, but have they used it on relapsed patients with lymphoma? http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,11731,0.htm Patwolf Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT My wifes Doc want's to start her on vectibix just by it's self next week, I would like to hear from anyone how has been on it and there side effects. Thanks and God Bless you all. Johnny http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,11196,0.htm Gbigsurf Wed, 11 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT My husband has colon cancer that went to his liver. He has had surgery to remove part of his colon, he is on chemotherapy to shrink the 2 tumors in his liver so he can have surgery to remove them from his liver. He is so sick with the chemo. He gets it every 2 weeks. Starts on a Wed and ends on a Fri. then he is sick for a least a week. We went to Boston for a consult and it was awful. He was told that he would live 1 year without treatment and 2 years with treatment. There was no cure. Is there anyone out there that has this? How are you doing? How long have you had it? I was hopeful till we went to Boston. His chemo is 5FU, Leucovorin, Oxiplatin. (Folfax 6). He cannot take Avastin yet because he is still slowly healing from his surgery. He takes Reglan and Ativan for his nausea which has helped with the vomiting, but he cannot eat. He continues to loose weight. After the Boston visit, he is thinking of stopping chemo because he is so sick with it. Does anyone who has this type of cancer have anything hopeful to tell me? http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,3920,0.htm Need2hope143 Tue, 03 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT Dear Sheryl, I'm glad your husband is doing well! If you don't mind me asking, what is the chemo combination? Like mine, "avastin/xeloda"? any side-effect? Did it show in the cat scan any shrinkage? Did he had resection of the colon? and liver or just colon for now? I'm open to all suggestions, if you have time please fill me in. Thanks again and best of luck 1 "behind all this, some great happiness is hiding" we must believe.... Eaperanca http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,2086,0.htm Esperanca Tue, 17 May 2005 00:00:00 GMT