Avastin without Decadron?

HeatherBLocklear · August 2008

Great big camel greetings to all --

Yet another question: is it essential to associate Decadron with Avastin? I'm asking because I'm seeing the oncologist tomorrow morning, and he will want to know if I'm OK with continuing the Avastin until the end of February 2009. Until today, I had decided to go the whole route with the clinical trial. However, DH has asked me if I'll be taking more Decadron before each Avastin treatment. I don't know the answer.

However, I do know that I will NOT, repeat NOT, take any more Avastin if I must also take Decadron. I never managed to make my medical team understand how painful, distressing, and frightening the kidney freeze was that resulted every time I had Decadron together with another treatment. By the way, I don't believe they didn't give it to me the last time I had AC - I'm convinced they didn't tell me the truth ("Oh, she's just a patient. What do patients know? In addition, she's a female patient. We all know females are hysterical by nature!").

I am aware of the studies that predict better survival in patients who take Avastin. However, I'm afraid of dying from the Decadron before the Avastin can cut off blood supply to any tumors that might form in the future.

Any insight?

Thanks,

Annie Camel Hiatal Hernia

otter · August 2008

Annie,

I know for sure that Decadron (dexamethasone) is supposed to be given along with Taxotere (docetaxel), which you received in conjunction with Avastin during your first phase of neoadjuvant chemo.

Did you also get (or were you supposed to get) Decadron with the AC, during the second phase? Were you also getting Avastin at that time? I'm wondering if it was the other drugs you were getting that necessitated giving dexamethasone.

I haven't been able to find anything about giving Decadron regularly with Avastin. I did some google searches, and I checked www.rxlist.com under "Avastin". Nothing I found said anything about needing to give a steroid along with Avastin.

Press your onco on this. If it was the dexamethasone that was causing the problems for you, maybe you'll be in the clear this time.

otter

carolynf · August 2008

Annie,

I am on my 6th treatment of Avastin alone and receive no premeds with it. They do the solution at the end to make sure I get all of the Avastin. But no meds with it. Counting down to only 4 more to go!!!

Carolyn

badboob67 · August 2008

Annie,

I have never had to do dex with my avastin. I also get plain saline after the infusion. By itself, I've really not had too much in the way of side effects with the avastin, save some bone pain and a little bit of blood in the tissue if I blow my nose. My bp hasn't been a problem with it either. It IS very important to stay hydrated with the avastin. I have been doing it along with xeloda and have found I need to drink water almost constantly or my saliva is nearly non-existent and my output of urine is very little.

Good luck!

Diane

otter · August 2008

Annie, what did your onco say about the Decadron?

otter

HeatherBLocklear · August 2008

Hi Otter,

He said we can do the Avastin without Decadron. So I'm doing the Avastin. I also found out that there was apparently one relatively small remaining area of cancer within the cocoon of dead cells in the primary tumor. They cut it out. The lymph nodes were really all clear. However, I'm concerned about that small remaining neoplasm -- ca. .5 cm. If that survived the chemo, then other cells could have survived too. Do you know how common it is to have some remaining cancer after chemo?

Love,

Annie Hoof in Mouth

Avastin without Decadron?

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