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Hi 小路：
There are cases that useing AVASTIN alone after standard Chemo, and he was cancer free for 18 months. My mom has 肺癌第 IV 期， 于7月27日开始化疗: 吉西他滨+顺二氨络 （gemcitabine + carboplatin +Avastin）, and so far her nodules were shrinked by 50%. Here is the link: http://shareyourstory.livestrong.org/siteapps/personalpage/ShowPage.aspx?c=ijIVI2PFKoG&b=738859&sid=9iIKL0NFLbIUIaMGLmE JUL 2006 -- Good health except Meniere's Disease since 1994. Age 71, former Air Force and airline pilot, smoked 6 years 1957-1963.
AUG 2006 -- Developed persistent dry cough, x-ray showed fluid or mass around right lung, 1 liter drained in outpatient
thoracentecis,
had CT scan, loculated fluid or mass still visible, unable to drain any more fluid, no cancer detected from fluid analysis. Exploratory
thoracoscopy
and
thoracotomy
on 8/31/06.
SEP 2006 -- Home from hospital 9/4/06. Diagnosis:
NSCLC Stage IIIB moderately-differentiated adenocarcinoma
(2 clinically separate tumor nodules middle lobe right lung with invasion through visceral pleura into parietal pleura; massive bloody pleural effusion with fibrinous exudate stranding the pleural cavity). Met with medical oncologist 9/12/06 and radiation oncologist 9/19/06. Had brain MRI plus bone scan 9/20/06 and port installed 9/22/06. Chemo to begin early October. MRI and bone scan were negative, so no radiation for now.
OCT 2006 - JAN 2007 -- Began first chemo cycle on 10/3/06 with combination of
Taxol, Carboplatin,
and
Avastin,
plus standard premeds. Neulasta injection the next day. Given prescription for Ativan to use at home. Desired regimen is to repeat every 21 days for a total of 6 cycles, then stop the Taxol/Carbo and continue with Avastin. Infusions were trouble-free; only noticeable effect was drowsiness and slurred speech during the Benadryl premed, which gradually faded throughout the remainder of the session. Post-infusion side effects were relatively minor during cycles 1 thru 4, but more pronounced in cycles 5 and 6.
No nausea
at any time, but still took Ativan the first few days of cycles 1 and 2 as instructed.
Hair loss
began two weeks after the first infusion. Most predictable effect:
Fatigue,
which began the second day after infusion and continued thru the first week and sometimes beyond. Other effects were sporadic during the cycle but generally concentrated in the first two weeks. These included:
Constipation,
usually resolved with stool softener at bedtime and prunes in the morning.
Tinnitus
(ringing) in both ears, rather loud at times, on top of "normal" tinnitus which I've had 24/7 in left ear due to Meniere's Disease the past 13 years.
Increased drainage
in tear ducts, nasal passages, and throat at random times throughout the day. Effect similar to
dry eye syndrome,
in which eyes feel dry and scratchy in spite of tear flow and vision is blurred.
Mouth tissues and tongue
irritated and sensitive, causing loss of taste with many foods and discomfort eating spicy foods or food with hard edges.
Sensitive skin,
in particular:
thoracotomy and port incisions
pinkish/touchy and irritated by clothing sliding over them;
blisters, rashes, sore spots
appearing on feet in a seemingly spontaneous and random manner.
Joint and bone discomfort
during cycles 1 and 2.
Shortness of breath,
not a problem during cycles 1 thru 4 but very noticeable during the second and third weeks of cycles 5 and 6 when first standing from a seated position. Discussed with onc before cycle 6 chemo session. No adverse changes in blood pressure, blood counts, or lung sounds that would account for SOB. Possibly a cumulative effect of chemo over the past 3-1/2 months.
Neuropathy,
mainly in the feet, which began a few days into cycle 6. Feet numb with pins and needles, and some weakness in legs. Walking painful and balance poor -- using a walker helped. Onc called in a prescription for Neurontin. Significant improvement after 2 days, walker no longer needed.
FEB 2007 - PRESENT -- Treatment with
Avastin only
began 2/6/07 and will continue indefinitely at 21-day intervals with scans every 2 or 3 months. Haven't noticed any side effects from the Avastin-only therapy other than generally slow healing -- main observation at present is that being off the Taxol/Carbo has helped me feel better than any time since July 2006!
TEST RESULTS AFTER START OF TREATMENT:
Blood counts:
All very good.
11/8/06 chest x-ray:
Situation stable.
11/28/06 CT scan:
Existing masses/densities/lesions have decreased in size and no new areas of concern have developed.
12/16/06 chest x-ray:
Stable, no adverse changes.
1/30/07 CT scan:
All existing masses/densities/lesions are stable and nothing new of concern has appeared. Right hydropneumothorax somewhat smaller with slightly less fluid in the right pleural space.
Cleared for Avastin only!!
4/2/07 CT scan:
Another spurt of improvement after 3 cycles of Avastin only. Less fluid in right pleural space. Existing lesions are stable or somewhat smaller. None are larger and no new areas of concern have appeared.
6/25/07 CT scan:
Stable, no change from previous scan. Continue Avastin, scan again in September. My translation: 2 more months on Easy Street. I'll take it!! | 
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发表于 2007-9-12 15:07:19
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发表于 2007-9-13 10:17:19
