avastin

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Permalink Reply by Sandra on March 10, 2008 at 1:58pm

Hi Laeitita,

I wish I could give you some info, but I am not familiar with those drugs. I was drawn to your post, though because I also have a brain stem tumor. Mine is pressing on the twelfth cranial nerve which controls the tongue. The left side of my tongue has lost about 40 percent function. It wouldn't be as big a concern if I weren't a professional singer/actress. For now, I'm just doing MRI's every 4-5 months. I'm curious, did they say if yours was a schwannoma or meningioma? Do they know? Has it grown since you were first diagnosed. Terrifying diagnosis, isn't it? Sounds like things are calmer now and it isn't causing you too much trouble in your daily life. Sending you tons of love and well wishes. Sandra

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Permalink Reply by laetitia on March 10, 2008 at 4:55pm

Hi Sandra,
Sorry about your tongue, are you able to reeducate it?
My vision problem is actually a huge drag as I also am an actress and I have to wear an eye patch all the time and the vision problem makes me tired, fortunately I still do some voice over work. I belong to a fabulous choir but would or call myself a professional singer.
Mine is a Polycitic astrocytoma, what is yours? It is the first time I hear of schwannomas.
How and when were you first diagnosed?
My story is very long so I think I will post it on my page so I don't have to rewrite it every time I meet someone new!!!
Peace,
Laetitia
PS : If you live in LA there is a free brain tumor conference at UCLA in April.
Laetitia

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Permalink Reply by Whole_Body_Healer on March 10, 2008 at 6:39pm

Hi ladies. Laetitia, glad your side effects are tolerable. Sandra, I seemed to remember that you were to be doing a singing gig recently or soon? I hope it went/goes well. Such challenges we have to adapt to! I haven't taken Avastin, but here's an article by Ralph Moss, who's fairly well respected for his opinions on chemotherapy drugs. Avastin Report

2 options I'd wondered if you ladies had explored...one is Poly MVA...I have heard this has worked well for people with brain tumors, however, I don't know the specifics of sub-types. The other, since you are both open to healthy eating, is nutritional oncology. I am working with a woman, Jeanne Wallace, who specializes with nutritional oncology and has had VERY good success with brain tumors. In particular, she has been able to stabilize tumor growth so that her clients can live with the tumor, vs. having to completely get rid of it. Here's her website if you're interesting in exploring it: Jeanne Wallace site
Wishing you both much success in your healing journies.

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Permalink Reply by laetitia on March 10, 2008 at 7:17pm

Thank you very much, I will definitely look both up.
I am thrilled and thankful for all the great info I get on this forum,
Peace,
Laetitia

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Permalink Reply by Lauren Leigh *AKA * Chemo Brain on March 10, 2008 at 7:13pm

Hi Laetitia

I have done avastin ! I was in the study last year to help get it approved with combo therapy ! My chemo was a little different than yours I had taxotere along with avastin. I used avastin for 9 months to shrink bone tumors over 100 of them...they are gone now.... *wink*...I had some High b.p but that was basically it..When I finished the avastin the b.p went back to normal...I didnt have HOLEs in my stomach like the news is saying. My doctor had me doing c.ts to check all that ,although it is a side effect ,Ive only heard of one person having such a experience with avastin and she had colon cancer... Avastin has been around for quite some time but new to the breast cancer treatments....I hope it shrinks your tumor like it did all of mine!!! Im soo thankful for avastin and the study!!!

You are in my prayers !!
Lauren

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Permalink Reply by laetitia on March 10, 2008 at 7:18pm

Thank you so much Lauren,
You are giving me hope!!!!
Peace,
Laetitia

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Permalink Reply by Lauren Leigh *AKA * Chemo Brain on March 10, 2008 at 7:21pm

You are very welcome !! Hang on to that HOPE !!!

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Permalink Reply by Whole_Body_Healer on March 10, 2008 at 7:22pm

Alright Lauren! Glad to hear Avastin zapped your bone tumors! Yipee! Nice to hear some positive news.

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