Avastin clinical trial for Stage 3 BC

myrtle1
myrtle1 Member Posts: 29
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

Hello friends

Was wondering if anyone else out there is part of the Avastin clinical trial for stage 3 bc patients.  The point of the trial is to see how it prevents recurrence in stage 3 cancers.  The trial had 3 "arms".  You had a chance of getting the Avastin along with your course of chemo, you were getting Avastin along with chemo & then it would continue on for another several months after chemo ended, or you were getting placebo.  I was getting Avastin along with chemo and ended with chemo.  My diagnosis was 11/08, had lumpectomy which showed 2 of 4 positive sentinal nodes, had to have 2nd surgery to remove 27 additional nodes (8 more positive for a total of 10 positive) and more breast tissue.  I have been NED since!! Had no real negative side effects from Avastin (bloody nose while on it).  Have more long term side effects from chemo, neuropathy in feet, very poor memory, etc....Just wondering if women are still being enrolled in this clinical trial and wondering how those of you that may have been in it are doing....God bless all of you!!!

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  • bak94
    bak94 Member Posts: 1,846
    edited December 2011

    Not in the Avastin trial but did take abraxane/avastin and my mo wants to continue just avastin for up to a year by itself. I would love to hear more about stage 3's that have continued to take it,. trial or not.

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  • littletower
    littletower Member Posts: 333
    edited December 2011

    I was on that trial. Turned out I was in the Avastin arm and after two cycles with A/C, ended up with a reduction of my Lvf from 60 to 35. Was taken off immediately, put on meds to increase Lvf function. Was told I had congestive heart failure and that it was permanent. continued with cardio 5-6 times per week and now off my meds and with a fully functioning heart.





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  • myrtle1
    myrtle1 Member Posts: 29
    edited December 2011

    Thanks for posting, Adele

    My lvf dropped as well, but not till I was done with chemo & avastin.  It went to about 40%, returned to normal about 6 - 8 months after everything ended.  I feel fortunate to have received the Avastin, even though it's getting a bad "rap" out in the press.  My feeling is anything that you can throw at my stage 3 cancer, the better.  Glad you are doing well!! :)

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  • MiniMacsMom
    MiniMacsMom Member Posts: 595
    edited December 2011

    I was initially offered the trial by another onc, but ours refused for us.  We were going to refuse anyway because I didn't want to risk being on the "AC" only arm which wasn't an aggressive enough treatment by our or our Onc's standards.   I am surprised they are still running the trial, though the meds from avastin are free, some insurances won't cover complications due to avastin now because it was revoked by the FDA (we had been told). 

    Tower:  Wow, thats terrifing, its wonderful to hear you are doing well.

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  • myrtle1
    myrtle1 Member Posts: 29
    edited December 2011

    Avastin lost it's FDA approval for treatment of Stage IV breast cancer only.....still an approved drug for several other cancers....lung cancer being one of them.  I had no problems at all on Avastin, had very aggressive chemo along with it

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  • BlueCowgirl
    BlueCowgirl Member Posts: 667
    edited December 2011
    I was steered toward this trial by my first onc, and thought long and hard before declining to participate. In hindsight, I believe it was a wise choice for me, as I had cardiac complications from the A/C alone.

    MiniMac'sMom, I am wondering what your more aggressive treatment was? I got dose dense ACx4 and Tx4, which would have been the same, with or without the Avastin study...Did you do something more aggressive?
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  • MiniMacsMom
    MiniMacsMom Member Posts: 595
    edited December 2011

    One leg of the trial (that was proposed to us) was just the AC, no AC-T or  AC plus avastin.  Our onc didn't the the AC was a strong enough approach.  I still have a superclavical node and some pet scan low grade activity in my armpit that my surgeons from home missed.   I am now on Taxol x12 the FAC in February.  Its routine chemo for MDA.  :)  I know I could pull out of the trial if I got the AC leg, but I just didn't feel comfortable doing that.  Also, I would have had to move to a different city or travel for a year if on the avastin :(

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  • myrtle1
    myrtle1 Member Posts: 29
    edited December 2011

    My chemo plan was 4 dose dense AC (2 weeks apart) followed by 12 weekly taxol & 35 rads.  That was the cheo I was getting reagardless of the Avastin trial, it's about the most aggressive you can get.  I was fortunate that the Avastin trial was being offered where I was getting chemo anyway. Good to hear from you all on this topic! I appreciate your posts!! Good luck to all of you!

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  • Kay_G
    Kay_G Member Posts: 3,345
    edited December 2011

    I did not have avastin. I did 4 DD AC, was supposed to be followed by 4DD taxol and Herceptin for a year. because of allergy, taxol got changed to taxotere. I am six months into Herceptin and my ef dropped to 45 to 50 from 65. I am really glad to hear that your heart function returned to normal. Hoping the same happens for me.

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