My first chemo started October 2021. It was carboplatin, paclitaxel, and Avastin (bevacizumab). I also had HIPEC in April 2022. My second chemo started December 2023 and was only carboplatin and paclitaxel. My oncologist felt Avastin was too risky because I had had blood clot in my lung. So my 2nd chemo was less than the first. But the side effects were much worse. They say the side effects are cumulative. The more times you receive each drug, the worse they get.
The first time I went through chemo, I lost my hair and got mild neuropathy in my fingertips and feet. But I was fine otherwise. I was able to go back to work the day after each treatment.
During the second course of chemo, I got severely anemic and neutropenic. I was hospitalized for neutropenic fever. I had two blood transfusions. My neuropathy is worse. And I have debilitating fatigue. I’m still having a hard time even walking down the hall in my house. I’m getting very depressed.
The good news is, my PET scan was “all clear” (!) for the first time in 2 and a half years. I know it doesn’t mean I’m cured, but it’s the first good news I’ve heard since diagnosis.
Going forward, I’m supposed to get Avastin every three weeks for two years. I saw in one of these forums someone said the Avastin maintenance therapy caused her great fatigue…and that just makes me more depressed…then I feel guilty for being depressed after having such good news!
Which chemo drugs you get depends on what kind of ovarian cancer you have. Mine is epithelial carcinoma. It also depends on your response to carboplatin. If the cancer progresses while on carboplatin, your cancer is platinum-resistant, and they choose different drugs for the next round.
How are you feeling? Is long-term Avastin as debilitating as I’ve heard?